Whats a good kit for my first homebrew?

I say that an good IPA is usually the best to start with. The hoppyness helps to mask any off flavors. But, what styles do you like?
My first brew was an Amber ale. Came out good, and most of my friends liked it as well. It tasted similar to Abita's flagship beer, Amber Lager. Which, in the mid-late 90s was really the only well known craft beer in the NOLA area. So, when my beer came out similar to something that my friends already liked, they wanted more. That was a big confidence booster.

 

My first home brew was an Amber Ale that I spiced up to be a Holiday brew. I added cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, etc. It actually tuned out pretty good and it made a nice present for folks.

My advice would be to do a porter. A well made porter is a beautiful thing and a so-so porter is still pretty good too!

Whatever you do, have a blast and let us know how it turns out!

 

The first place I always recommend is your local homebrew supplier. But if you don't have one in your area, I like Midwest. I'm not sure what part of Texas you are in, but there is an Austin homebrew supply. You can google them. Personally, I feel it is always better to build a relationship with a local supplier. A local supplier is someone you can ask questions to (in person) and they know other homebrewers and homebrew events in your area.

 

To answer both questions. I bought the Essential starter equipment kit from Northern Brewer. It came with a choice of 3 beer kits. I made the Caribou Slobber which is an American brown Ale. Very forgiving. Came out great.
They have great service as well.

Now. Texas. I would not order any kits from Northern Brewer with liquid yeast included. Too hot for shipping.
You could order the kit and use a dry yeast like US-05. Or, you could buy yeast locally from your LHBS.

 

I love austin homebrew for ordering kits and ingredients. (this coming from a midwest guy). The best part of Austin Homebrew is their easy website for ordering partial amounts of grain to your bags. I would go with an IPA for your first kit- but honestly once you see all the websites out their with recipes and ratings, and download beersmith- your own recipes will be a lot more fun!

 

From the Northern Brewer site:

"We ship all liquid yeast with complimentary ice packs during warm weather. Frequently the ice pack will be melted by time the product is received at your address. Rest assured that it kept your yeast cool during its journey."

 

Agree with this. IPAs are hard to really mess up. My first beer was the Dead Ringer IPA Extract Kit w/ Specialty Grains from Northern Brewer. Very simple recipe and it came out great.


http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/recipe-kits/extract-kits/dead-ringer-ipa-extract-kit.html

 

I used to recommend brown ales exclusively for first time brewers. As noted above, they are very forgiving. Also, when I started brewing, brown ales were still an exotic style. The only commercially available brown ales were Sam Smith and Newcastle. A brown ales was my first homebrew.

It's still a good choice, but I also recommend ambers and hefes. They're fairly easy and also forgiving if (when) you don't make a starter or ferment too warm.

 

Yes. Experienced this last month. I ordered when they had their free shipping on 3 summer beer kits deal. My 3068 was pretty warm. The "cold Pak" was not cold or cool. And I live a lot closer to Minneapolis (Chicago) then anyone is Texas.

Another good choice BTW. I brewed Northern brewers Petite Saison extract kit using Safbrew T-58. This was an easy brew and came out great. Nice summer "lawnmower" beer for these hot days.

Note on this yeast "A specialty ale yeast selected for its estery, somewhat peppery and spicy flavor. This yeast forms a solid sediment at the end of secondary fermentation, and is therefore widely used for bottle and cask conditioning. Optimum temp: 59°-75° F"

I was able to keep my fermenter in a swamp cooler at about 70. Helpful when its hot outside

 

I made a celebration clone for my very first. It was hoppy, but not super-hoppy. It was an all-grain split batch I did with a friend who showed me the ropes. My 2nd batch (1st solo) was an English IPA, fairly hoppy but not really IPA hoppy.

I would recommend making an APA, IPA, wheat, blonde ale, brown, amber, or something along those lines. Simple recipes are a good thing for your first batch. Moderate ABV, dry yeast (US-05 #1 choice), nothing complicated procedure wise, and nothing fancy recipe wise.

 

While I am a big advocate of using your closest home brew supply shop, I understand that not everyone has a supplier as close as I do (10 minutes away in both directions). I did use Northernbrewer for a kit once in the past and while initially there was a mistake in my order they handled everything well (giving me a replacement kit for free and a gift card). Their customer service was great. Additionally, my buddy uses them all the time and he has had zero problems. The kits he's brewed from them have always came out solid. So I'd say check them out.

www.northernbrewer.com

 

Midwest Supplies is solid. Their Lawnmower Saison is excellent. Add a little zest in there and its gold, Jerry, gold! Try a Saison, you dont need any REAL temperature control, wrap it in a couple t shirts and a room that's 70+, shouldnt be too hard to find. Also, dry yeast is fine to use, but if you have your heart set on liquid, find a homebrew store nearby. Dont hate the dry.

 

Depending on the beer and what you're adding, you could add it at all different times. Here's some example of fruit/spiced beers I have done and when I added things (let me preface this by saying I am not an expert brewer, I am still a rookie with only 20 brews under my belt, and I was even more of a rookie when I did the beers below. So perhaps someone with more experience would like to chime in here. With all that said, the below beers did turn out pretty darn good).

I did a mango IPA where I added pureed organic mango right into the primary fermenter after the wort had cooled.

I did a peach wit where I added pureed peaches to the primary fermenter after the wort had cooled AND to the secondary fermenter.

I did an apple brown ale where I added both pureed apples and cinnamon into the boil during the last 5 minutes.

I did the aforementioned holiday spiced ale where I added all the spices in the last 5 minutes of the boil.

I did a vanilla porter where I added an entire vanilla bean in the secondary fermenter (I think this was my most successful addition of fruit/spices)

I hope this helps!

 

After you have brewed several batches.

 

I will recommend to do a Saison, here is why. IPA and stouts will cover flaws, but they may not cover up ferm temp issues. You are in Texas in mid July. Saison yeast can take the heat and not produce rocket fuel, the hopping additions aren't as intricate, no dry hopping, and if your sanitation isn't spot on your beer will still be good.