Calling all Home-brew specialists...

[BAD_S197]

I just got back from dropping 60$ on some Gordon Biersch Pilsner, Black Butte Porter and some random microbrew 22oz bottles.

Which brought me to a conversation with my gf.

We could make, after the initial layout for equipment, a lot of beer for 60$ and have fun in the process.

I posted about 11 months ago about this and it's revisiting time and purchasing time.

I really like the kits on www.morebeer.com, specifically the http://morebeer.com/view_product/159...Starter_System kit.

Will this be a good start?

I'm not really into piecing a kit together since we've never done this before and the kit seems to have everything needed.

I would use my grill outside which has a side burner, so that should be sufficient for boiling the stuff up?

Any comments on this kit?

We have almost 3 dozen bottles (small and large) that can be washed and used along with what comes in the kit we should be set for a nice batch of beer.



Any suggestions?

I could goto the brewmaster place everyone raves about but thats pretty far away just to brew some beer and it might be more fun at home.

Thanks
Jake

[katonk]

Those look like some pretty nice kits. Sadly, all my actual beer knowledge involves drinking it. I was considering starting with something a little more modest:

http://www.mrbeer.com/category-exec/category_id/4

[atomrat]

That kit from morebeer.com would be perfect to start with. You will be able to make great tasting beers.

Here is a link to hopefully find a homrbrew club in your area. http://www.beertown.org/homebrewing/listings.asp

Also check on brewcommune.com for someone that lives in your area.

You will need about 50 12 oz. bottles, but not the screw off type. Or about 30 24 oz bottles. Sierra Nevada or Stone bottles work great.

You can contact me if you need any help. I live to far to be able to show you in person.

[mcinvale]

do not start brewing beer to try and save money!!!! seriously dude, you're going to get hooked and spend WAY too much money on it... start brewing because you want to know more about beer, have a lot of fun and impress your friends.

[BAD_S197]

We are doing it mainly for the fun but if you look at just the ingredient kits, 30$ average is pretty good for 5 gallons of brew.

I already have a label created in photoshop for the first batch.

[el_d00der1n0]

get the home brewer's bible. start with the malt extract if you have a home brew shop near by. i got my glass carboy from mexico, but i'm sure you can get on from the brew shop for not too much. you'll also need the 6 gal food grade bucket with a spigot. give that a shot, and if you like it, then move on to steeping grains. you'll still use the malt extract, but it's an easy process that produces some good brew.

i'm still looking for a decent stainless 28 quart brew pot. one day i'll build my lauter-tun and conquer the world!!! ah hahahahahah. muah ah ahahahah.

above all, have fun and don't worry about sticking tenaciously to the recipe. my wife once dumped in the whole bag of hops that was supposed to be like an eighth. man that brew was good!

[BAD_S197]

I assume the bucket with the spigot is the one you put the beer into when you want to add the stuff for bottling? and the spigot is used to help fill the bottles?

I've been reading up on it and it appears that you move it from the boiling pot to one container and then into the fermenting container and then into something that you add the sugar to and drain into bottles and cap them.

1. cook it
2. transfer to container for ??
3. tranfer to fermenting container
4 transfer to another container and add sugar, bottle/cap.

[el_d00der1n0]

http://homebrewmart.com/instructions_beer_brewing.php

cook it. steep grains, boil hops.
pour into primary fermenter (glass preferably). add finish hops.
don't add yeast until the wort has lowered to room temperature. you'll kill the little guys.
primary fermentation with airlock (do the hose in the bucket of water trick first; a lot of stuff will come out)
transfer to bucket via siphon with thing on the bottom to keep from sucking up a lot of precipitate.
pour in fermentation jump starter ( i used the powdered malt extract for this)
yes, the spigot is to fill the bottles. it's a good idea to get one of those bottle filler things. it'll make your life so much easier, and they don't cost much. they displace just enough beer that you fill the bottle with the tube in it, and there's a perfect amount of space for expansion when you pull it out.

i always pour a bit out into a glass to get the filler going. and i drink it. if you don't have a problem with flat beer, it's pretty good. it gives you an idea how different it'll be after a couple of weeks in stage 2 fermentation in the bottles.

oh, you'll need a capper and about 50 pop top bottles. my favorite bottles are newcastle and pacifico. the labels come off easily. i've always found someone willing to help out with this stage -- not to mention emptying beer bottles.

man i miss making beer. i think you've inspired me to head down to the home brew shop today.

[BAD_S197]

I got a kit on order and it should be here this week. We are going to start making it when we go on vacation. I'll have a week to perfect the termperature fermentation problem in our rather warm apartment.

I found a igloo cooler mod that helps keep temps down and or find a fridge that will hold one carboy.. I don't need a large one.

Not sure. but ithink thats the biggest problem we have to confront.

[KeepsWhatHappens]

Originally Posted by BAD_S197

Not sure. but ithink thats the biggest problem we have to confront.

Keeping everything sterile is the toughest part of brewing.

Don't mean to be a party-pooper but unless you really enjoy the brewing process and have lots of time to spare...it's easier (I've found after brewing for years) and more cost effective to just buy good beer. I'll admit though it is impressive to hand your friends a bottle of homebrew...assuming it's good.

Good luck and have fun!