Getting Started in Homebrewing. What do I need to know?

This type of question gets asked a lot. Here is a fairly recent version: http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/best-brew-kit-for-beginners.73927/

And check out howtobrew.com

 

These threads would be a good place to start...
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/getting-started.49813/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...d-in-home-brewing-where-to-shop-online.49108/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/is-starting-out-with-extracts-really-necessary.54361/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/noob-help.31245/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/going-to-start-homebrewing.80299/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/posts/1077232/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/homebrewing-where-to-start.70838/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/equipment-where-to-start.58486/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/what-to-start-homebrewing-what-do-i-do.42144/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/what-kit-to-start-with.27498/

And of course...
http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html

 

I'd say your best bet is a local homebrew store if you have one within an hour of your house. They'll have kits and starter gear. They'll also be able to help walk you through the process.

What's more important than the ingredients is good brew practice: You want to cool your wort quickly, pitch the appropriate amount of yeast, control fermentation temp within 2F and be sanitary on your cold-side brewing.

 

http://www.howtobrew.com/

Really enjoying this myself right now.

 

^^^ What he said... +1^^^

Herb, I have stolen your "Noob Template"

 

I started 10 years ago by hearing that a co worker at the university I worked at homebrewed. I struck up a conversation and he invited me over for a brewday. and the rest was history. I did buy and read the complete joy of homebrewing which was a standard back then. Howtobrew.com is extremly helpful for a beginner nowadays. www.austinhomebrew.com
www.northernbrewer.com
www.morebeer.com
www.midwestsupplies.com
are the big 4 homebrew online shops. I have ordered from all 4 and I am lucky enough to live within 20 minutes of the austin homebrew shop. ingredients from all places have been real fresh and customer service is great at these places as well.
See if there is a place local first and ask around and google to see if any homebrew clubs or events are in your area. for the first several years after learning the basics from a coworker I brewed by myself. I made ok beer, but didnt start making award winning beer until I joined a homebrew club and learned from others who have been doing this for many, many years.

 

I would also recommend:

This is from this year so far.

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/recomended-materials-for-beginners.72840/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/homebrew-novice.79446/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/just-another-noob-recipe-recommendations.78667/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/want-to-get-into-homebrewing-what-to-get-and-tips.76666/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/homebrewing-where-to-start.70838/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/absolute-noob-here.56172/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/how-do-i-start-homebrewing.62630/#post-853379
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/absolute-beginner.22189/
http://beeradvocate.com/community/t...ewing-where-to-shop-online.49108/#post-632027
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/start-up-cost-for-home-brewing.43242/#post-544831
http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/best-beer-to-brew-for-a-first-timer.82162/#post-1228253

If you will be starting with kits, Homebrew42's extract notes are mandatory.

Here are HB42's Extract Brewing Tips...(Courtesy of Vikeman)

http://beeradvocate.com/community/threads/how-do-i-start-homebrewing.62630/#post-855434

First of all it's important to realize that good quality, fresh extract alone can brew fantastic beer as long as your recipe formulation and brewing technique are good. One of the best beers I've ever brewed, extract, all grain, or otherwise, was an abbey singel that was nothing but pilsen DME, a little table sugar, a touch of hallertauer, and wyeast 1214. I've brewed show stopping English bitters with nothing but Muntons extra light DME, a touch of crystal, some goldings, and wyeast 1968. And nothing is more popular than my simple extract hefe, which is nothing but 6 lbs of wheat DME, an oz of noble hops, and wyeast 3068 (it doesn't get any easier than that, and it's a great beer).

if you want to brew great extract beers, the following guidelines are imperative:

1) FULL WORT BOIL.

I can't stress this enough. If you're doing concentrated boils, you're never going to produce flawless beers, no matter what else you do. If you're brewing 5 gallons of beer, you MUST start with at least 6-6.5 gallons of wort, and this is ESPECIALLY true for very pale colored or very hoppy beers. Late extract additions are helpful for those who do concentrated boils, but they're not a sub for a real FULL wort boil.

2) Use only high quality, extra light, light, or pilsen extracts, and I much prefer dry extracts over liquid, as they tend to be fresher and lighter in color.

Every extract beer that you brew should be based on either extra light DME, or pilsen DME. When an all grain brewer builds a recipe, they start with a pale base malt and work from there, even for the darkest beers, and a great extract brewer should do the same. Extra light extract is nothing but basic good quality 2-row, and a touch of carapils, while pilsen extract is 100% pilsner malt, and either of these are a fantastic slate on which to build any amazing beer. If you want to brew beer like an all grain brewer, then you need to think like an all grain brewer and build your recipes from the ground up.

3) Use only FRESH extract!

Don't buy extract kits that have been sitting on a store shelf for who knows how many millennia. This is especially true with liquid extract, which has a much shorter shelf life than dry and tends to darken and taste stale over time. This alone is a good reason to completely avoid liquid as far as I'm concerned. And try to find a retailer that moves their product and always has fresh inventory. For example a larger online homebrew supply may be better at providing fresh products than your stagnant local shop.

4) Do NOT scorch your extract.

This is yet another reason why I prefer DME over LME, as DME floats while LME sinks to the bottom of the kettle. If you decide to use LME however, remove the kettle from the burner and FULLY dissolve your extract before putting it back on the heat.

5) Know which grains can be steeped and which can't.

The only grains that can be steeped are crystal/caramel/cara malts, and roasted grains like chocolate malt, roasted barley, and black patent malt. EVERYTHING else really needs to be mashed. Doing things like trying to steep oatmeal or munich does nothing but load up your beer with unconverted starch, which is not doing your beer any favors. If you want to include other grains in your extract beers, then do a mini mash, NO exceptions.

5) DO A FULL WORT BOIL! Partial boils kill beer. Seriously.

6) Keep your yeast happy at all times.

It's very important to pitch healthy yeast in adequate numbers, and use yeast that's appropriate for the style. Many extract kits come with a packet of generic "ale yeast" that is typically of low quality. You're never going to brew a fantastic English bitter with an old, stale packet of characterless "ale yeast". Get familiar with handling liquid yeast strains and making starters, and pay attention to proper pitching rates and proper fermentation temperatures, as both are extremely important for producing high quality beers devoid of off flavors.

7) Never ever rush your beer.

Great beer takes time, and most beers will benefit from spending some extra time in the fermenter and in the bottle. This means at least 2-3 weeks in primary before either bottling or moving to secondary, and if you're bottle conditioning give your beers at least 6-8 weeks in the bottle and you're sure to see a great improvement.

And for shit sake, get yourself a bigger kettle! That, along with getting some decent ingredients, are the best things that you can do for your extract beers.

And don't let anyone tell you that you can't brew great beer with extract, because that's BS. Some of the best beers that I've ever brewed were extract beers, no question.
by: Homebrew42

 

Unfortunately, this can be hit or miss, and it can be difficult for a beginner to tell the difference (even Alton Brown alluded to this in his 'Amber Waves' episode -- which I think you can find on YouTube). I'm fortunate enough to be within 20 minutes of two excellent homebrew stores and one so-so store that has insanely convenient hours (I can replace a broken hydrometer or pick up some hops till 11 pm Monday thru Thursday, midnight Friday and Saturday, and 8 pm on Sunday, if the need arises)

 

Saturday, May 4th is National Homebrew Day, with many clubs doing demonstrations and group brews. See if there is one in your area:
http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/pages/events/national-homebrew-day

 

Homebrewing that caters to the insomniacs? Sounds like a very specialized group.

I'd agree that the chances of getting skunked are definitely up in a homebrew shop. I think that if you don't know up from down in brewing that there's no better way than getting your hands into it and having it explained piece by piece by someone who's done it before. To be a broken record, Mcrago, you should try to find a local homebrew club and ask to sit in on a brew session. This will answer most of your questions about process and gear you'll need for your first batch.