Absolute amateur

[GHS]

Hi guys,

Completely new to this and getting an head start before I begin my first brew.

Moving house in the new year which will allow me to brew easily due to a useful increase in space!

Any tips would be most welcome.

Love my craft ale such as Brew dog and especially enjoy the double ipas such as Jackhammer and King Slayer.

Nice to meet you all 😀

 

[simon12]

Hi, are you planning on kits extract or all grain? Don't think you will get many tips without knowing what you want to do. Double IPAs you could do by juicing up kits with extra extract and hops but would be far better with extract or all grain. Main difference is time and equipment needed, a juiced up kit less than an hour, extract 3 hours all grain most of a day all approx.

 

[GerritT]

Good evening and welcome! I hope you will have many good brews!
Tips? Start with 5 gallons capacity! Wish I had done that
Get books, keep a log, make time, start easy, extract is not a shame, grain is good, find storage place for hops, try not to purchase for more than 4 months of hops and yeasts (unless it's a really good deal), share good deals here :mrgreen:, same goes for recipes.
But most important: start easy. A proper IPA could be done with 2 grains and 2 hops, or even 1 of both.
But don't forget to keep reading, asking and listening.

It's FUN!

 

[terrym]

First, welcome to the forum.
My advice, start simple to get the basics right, don't be too ambitious. Get the hang of it with a few kits under your belt, Youngs American premium kit range might be a good start, all done with a few items of basic kit.
This might help
Basic beginners guide to brewing your own beer from a kit - The HomeBrew Forum
When you decide homebrewing is for you, and you think you more or less know what you are doing, you can branch out into extract or all grain brewing, or stay with kits.
Above all enjoy it. :thumb:

 

[yeastinfection]

as above, keep alog, i never have done, which is why im not sure what ive brewed and why it went wrong,,
start easy learn from your mistakes ,,,and allow plenty ive time if your doing AG, if you dont think you can do it in the time you have,do it another day,otherwise it makes for a stressfull brew day.
Oh also ...dont drink and brew:lol:

 

[simon12]

Don't think you will get many tips without knowing what you want to do.

How wrong could I be?

 

[GHS]

Amazing tips guys, really appreciate it.

My dad does the kits but I'm really keen on the grains idea.

I've watched loads of YouTube videos and downloaded Home brewing for idiot's guide 😂

Will definitely start with smaller batches like advised.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

Welcome to the forum :

 

[GerritT]

Amazing tips guys, really appreciate it.

My dad does the kits but I'm really keen on the grains idea.

I've watched loads of YouTube videos and downloaded Home brewing for idiot's guide ������

Will definitely start with smaller batches like advised.

Just this: imagine having made the best ale you had in decades.
..
..
..
and instead of 20 litres you only have 4.
Small batches? Prepare for larger, you can always brew smaller. Not the other way around.

 

[LarryF]

Welcome to the forum GHS, I think you'll as as many opinions on what and how to brew as there are members on the forum.

 

[Leemond]

if you dont think you can do it in the time you have,do it another day,otherwise it makes for a stressfull brew day.

A very good piece of advice. I spent 6 hours on a brew and then (being rushed along by the other half) ended up pitching the yeast at a few degrees higher than I should and overfilling my airlock, leading to it leaking into the beer

If going down the AG route I would recommend reading a few guides in full first (I used this one: http://www.thehomebrewforum.co.uk/showthread.php?t=314) so you know what you'll be dealing with at each stage. I'm still only a relative novice so can't say too much more!

Welcome and good luck! :thumb:

 

[Clint]

Great advice so far.
Yes,start with a few kits to get the basics right such as cleaning,sterilising, dealing with and observing fermentation etc. Then try a few smaller batches of grain or extract.
I would however do all this in full size pots. ...don't want to be buying twice!

 

[Gerryjo]

Hi and welcome to the forum....