looking to get into home brewing...

http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html priceless information (but it's free)

 

The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Papazian... in addition to How to Brew by John Palmer

 

The complete Joy of Hombrewing by Charlie Papazian is definitely a good start.

IMO you should just start and learn from your mistakes...there will be a a lot of them xD

 

Or, learn the right way the first time... but simply realize that practice makes perfect.

 

Or this Find a homebrew club in your area (if there is one) We have one that meets once a month and brews one extract and one all grain. You'll learn more watching it done or doing it yourself than you will from a book.

 

Paraphrased: "You'll learn how to brew faster by watching it done correctly the first time than you will from reading a book."

OP: There are a lot of decent brewing videos on youtube, some by Northernbrewer, some BA's on this forum, etc. if you're in a hurry.

 

I learned to brew from the internet.

howtobrew.com is a good site. This forum is great. There are also a ton of videos on youtube that deal with homebrewing, a lot of which helped me tremendously. It's one thing to read about it, but seeing it done really helps you apply the concepts.

 

I found that to be especially true when the time came finally to switch from extracts to mashing grains.

 

as said, i'd contact a local homebrew club and see if you can sit in on someone's brewday. Someone will be more than happy to show you their process, you should meet some cool people in the process, and it'll make more sense watching, rather than reading and trying it on your own the first time.

 

I watched hundreds (it seemed) videos of how to brew videos... Lots of conflicting info, but you can figure out who knows what's up after watching a bunch of them. I also partnered up w/ a guy who is an award winning Home brewer in my area... He has taught me so much. After 11 batches of extract I am going all grain and I only have been brewing since sept 30th...

 

If you order some type of kit off midwest supplies they send you a very nice and free dvd which intros into extract brewing, all grain brewing and wine/soda making....i think northern brewer sends a similar dvd with purchase of brew kit.
Also all the books/internet as mentioned works great! Papazians complete joy is great for begginners.

 

dont stress, even if you screw up you'll make beer. The most important thing is to just be sanitary. clean everything with starsan (available at homebrew shops) dont use bleach. i purchase the majority of my supplies through northernbrewer.com and ocassionally through morebeer.com. I would recommed an ale extract kit, lagers require some additional equipment and are more tempermental.

Enjoy the process and start your next batch as soon as you have an open fermenter, you'll be surprised how quick 5 gallons goes.

rdwhahb (relax dont worry have a homebrew)

 

People learn in different ways and when you become a homebrewer, you will develop preferences based on whether you liked tomato juice as a kid. This is what religion is all about. Incoherent rant complete. R, BAHB