Reddit reviews How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time
We found 26 Reddit comments about How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
BREWERS
How to Brew 4th edition
I do a little. It's not too difficult, it's pretty much like cooking anything - follow the recipe at first until you figure out what to change on your own to make different flavors. I'd recommend starting out with How To Brew by John Palmer. It has a good blend of technical plus practical advice.
Get yourself a simple kit, some grolsch style bottles and an ingredients kit. The most important part of brewing beer is sanitation - clean and sanitize everything! You don't want any stray bacteria getting into your batch and ruining it. If you've got a basement, that's a pretty good place for fermentation, otherwise a closet works just fine. The biggest problem I have is finding people to drink 5 gallons worth of beer.
Head over to /r/homebrewing for even more advice.
How to Brew is the only place to start.
Congrats on your first batch. Extra water will lower the alcohol content a bit, but will give you more beer. If that's the only mistake on your first batch, you done good.
One thing I recommend for all new home brewers is getting a copy of How to Brew 4th edition, by John Palmer. It has all the information you'll need for quite some time.
https://smile.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=sr_1_3?keywords=how+to+brew&qid=1574294688&sr=8-3
Stick with your Mr. Beer kit for a few more sessions. Refills are $20 for two gallons which seems reasonable. Just stick with ales and don't brew lagers. The more flavorful the beer is supposed to be the easier flaws are turned into tasty features. I'd go with this porter: https://www.amazon.com/Mr-Beer-Churchills-Homebrewing-Sanitizer/dp/B01D5J7ZIW/ref=bdl_pop_ttl_B01D5J7ZIW
The amber ale and stout would be on my list too. If you like IPA's try that.
If you want a piece of equipment I'd buy a hydrometer or a bottle capper. https://www.amazon.com/Homebrew-Guys-Hydrometer-Specific-Potential/dp/B012YLS62G/ref=sr_1_21?s=home-garden&ie=UTF8&qid=1524334825&sr=1-21&keywords=brewing+hydrometer
Make sure you do a good job sanitizing everything and you'll be 90% there. Star-san is an excellent sanitizer. I don't know what Mr. Beer uses. Bleach or iodine can also be used if done correctly.
If I were to suggest one thing to buy, it would be a good book. The John Palmer How to Brew is an excellent choice. What you learn will apply to Mr. Beer kits and as advanced as you want to go. https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1524335575&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=palmer+how+to+brew
Lastly, I'll double down on my advice to stick with flavorful ales and stay away from lagers and pilsner. Best of luck.
I recommend How to Brew 4th edition.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1526519348&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+brew
Welcome! Northern Brewer and the like sell some decent $100-$150 starter kits. They'll get you into the process with extract pretty quickly to see if it's right for you. Please check out the FAQ and Wiki for a lot of information....or just use the search bar. You'll want to learn about yeast health, fermentation temperature control, and bottle conditioning for your first brew.
As for the types of beers you like: If you have 0 experience, you won't try to make a sour for awhile. They're a bit more involved and require knowledge and some extra equipment. I can't say I know what a "polish beer" is but a Belgian style shouldn't be too hard for your first couple of brews.
Either way, give NB or More Beer or someone a look at check out their starter extract packages. You need a 5-7 gallon pot and a place to crank up the heat. Just don't make the same mistake I did and think that you could get a full 5 gallons up to a boil on a gas stove. I was better off trying for 2-3 gallons and topping off with water :).
Edit:
Almost forgot about How To Brew.....
https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
I'm at work so here is a quick and dirty list.
Compleat Distiller: Your Technical Resource
Excellent Forum
How To Brew: Tips on fermentation
The Joy of Home Distilling: Good Resource in general
Moonshine!: Great beginners Guide with simple recipes
The definitive explanation. He really breaks everything down and it is a treasure among books. When you are done here, you can REALLY go down the water hole and read his 300 page book on water!
Northern Brewer was bought by AB-Inbev. Those are the guys that make Budweiser and whatnot. They're extremely focused on profit margins and so they'll provide the cheapest product they can get away with. I suggest you look into alternatives, including Adventures in Homebrewing, MoreBeer, and of course your local homebrew store if you've got one.
If you aren't entiiiiirely sure what you should be doing I suggest buying the newest edition of How to Brew https://smile.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356 or at the very least look at the guy's site www.howtobrew.com
If you're just going to look at the site I very, very hardily recommend against secondary. While his concerns are fair, the average beginner has nothing to even worry about. You'll know when you need a secondary just from experience.
Also, don't use a snowbank for cooling. Just... Just don't.
You should never worry about beers going bad. With the exception of extraordinarily hopped beer you won't have to worry about them "turning" (and even with really hopped beers it's not so much turning as much as it is losing the hop nose on it). As a matter of fact, some beers require aging of a year or even more! You're more in the danger of running out of space than your beer going bad.
So what do you like drinking? Got a style or a brand you've liked in the past? I might be able to whip up a decent, low-cost pack that will get you through it.
Also, what's the biggest pot you've got at home, and are you willing to pay for a new one?
Tasting Beer by Randy Mosher is my go-to intro guide that covers a huge range of beer topics.
The Brewmaster's Table By Garrett Oliver would probably be good for you if you're working for a grocery store, as it could help you make pairing recommendations.
The BJCP Style Guide is a good online resource for styles. It's designed for judging homebrew competitions, so it isn't the last word on the more flexible world of beer styles that may be available, but it's about as good as it gets for a general guideline on what's out there.
Palmer's How To Brew is a classic guide to the basics of how brewing works, though there are also a quadrillion other good homebrewing books out there.
The Brewing Elements series of books is more technical, but I'm a big fan of them. They cover a lot of the how and why of beer.
If you can, find a local beer tasting group and kick it with them. That'll help you get a sense of what's cool and new in the beer world so you can stay ahead of trends. You'll hopefully know what the biggest sales are from your work itself, which should cover most of the beer just fine, but the best beer selections have the things that sell well today and at least some things that will sell well tomorrow.
https://www.amazon.com/Brewing-Classic-Styles-Winning-Recipes/dp/0937381926
https://www.amazon.com/Designing-Great-Beers-Ultimate-Brewing/dp/0937381500/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_t_1?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TKTBXHX5PXA5KM2XJRBT
How to brew is worth reading to learn good process, recipe is really not that important in the grand scheme of things that can (and usually do) go wrong with novice homebrewers: https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=pd_lpo_sbs_14_img_2?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=TKTBXHX5PXA5KM2XJRBT
You are asking an excellent question.
Extract is good starting point; most of us started with that and made very drinkable beer. It is nice as all of the variables are taken care of for you - all you need to do is boil the extract, add the yeast, and make sure kept everything sanitary. If you follow the directions, you will have a beer at the end of it.
It is my belief that most people will encourage that route as it is a nice way to ease into homebrewing.
The downside of extract kits, especially in Canada, is that they can be pretty darn pricey. My LHBS (local home brew store) sells the Brewer's Best 5 gallon extract kits for between $80-90 a pop (probably cheaper other places - don't get me started on my LHBS...) whereas I can throw together a similar 5 gallon all-grain brew for around $20-40 depending on what I am making.
Most brewers will transition from a few extract brews to all-grain, or at least to the BIAB (Brew in a Bag style) all-grain brewing. And, most people will then need to purchase a larger kettle, somewhere in the realm of 8-10 gallons is often suggested.
I would have no qualms about someone jumping straight into all-grain brewing right away. Most of us get there anyways, and really it is not all that difficult after you get the hang of it.
Pick up a copy of John Palmer's How to Brew and Brewing Classic Styles and you will be set with a good resource on brewing and quality, tested recipes. A bit reading, this sub, and YouTube will make a good homebrewer out of you. Also, Homebrew Talk is a great resource for all things beer making.
Others want to just dabble in some beer making before spending that kind of cash on a set-up to discover that they actually don't like doing it or don't have the time/space/patience for brewing.
So, my personal recommendation is, if you are up to the task of taking on all-grain brewing sooner than later but want to do a few extract brews first, is to buy a kit that doesn't have a kettle and instead purchase an 8-10 gallon kettle separately. It will handle extract brews and all-grain. Everything else that comes with the basic kit you will use whether you are an extract brewer or an all-grain brewer so you don't lose anything, and are actually ahead if you do go all-grain.
https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1497567677&sr=8-1&keywords=palmer+brewing
start here, he breaks it down high level then deeper then down a the nitty gritty. really and truly do not be afraid if you can do sour dough you can do this
>what do I need to know before I start on my journey?
Aside from this forum and the FAQ, there are two books to choose from that are both fantastic but are from different points of view. For more engineering minded people I suggest How To Brew by John Palmer. For more art minded people Mastering Homebrew by Randy Mosher is fantastic. Either way you'll get a wonderful introduction introduction to brewing your own beer.
>What kit should I get?
There are many beer kits out there by you can also start with a simple cider instead. This will teach you about the basics of fermentation and help you find out if this type of activity is for you before you spend more than you need to on a kit. When you do go for a kit you will probably start with an extract kit. Just look for a style that you like to drink and go for it.
>What types of beer are best for learning?
To me a classic SMASH (Single Malt And Single Hop) is a perfect way to learn all grain brewing. For extract just any kit that you want to drink should be fine. Be sure to use a good online retailer if you don't have a local homebrew shop. MoreBeer is a popular, independently owned online retailer that I've had good experiences with.
>Anything else that you think may help.
RDWHAHB - Relax, Don't Worry, Have A Home Brew. This line from the great Charlie Papazian is probably the most often repeated line of advice in homebrewing. It's important to not freak out about anything. Brewing beer has some weirdness when you're new to it. There's a lot of vocabulary, acronyms, techniques, style guidelines, etc. Don't let it overwhelm you. Take it easy, follow basic good practices, and you will make beer.
Also, don't be afraid to look for local homebrew clubs. I didn't join one for many years and kinda regret that now. Some clubs are competition focused, some are social, some are event-centric. Look around for one that fits your interests and make some friends!
Finally, do not get tied down to styles or what beer is "supposed" to be. Brew what you want to drink and kick the haters to the curb.
Welcome to the obsession and cheers!
You're welcome! Hope you're able to connect with some folks to help you get started... but if you can't, watch some YouTube video tutorials, get yourself a starter kit and John Palmer's How To Brew, and jump right in!
FYI that link is an older version there's a newer updated one out now:
https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=dp_ob_title_bk
How To Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time https://www.amazon.com/dp/1938469356/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_LOFNDbTQ8KM55
This book has been recommended to me by multiple people. It's well written and breaks everything down in a way I believe is easy for anyone to understand. It's been a great resource so far.
A lot of people have recommended How to Brew, and I cannot recommend that enough. Click this link to start reading the free version of the book. This was my single best resource when I started last year. Here is a link to the book on Amazon. The book is less than $17 and worth MORE than every penny if this is a passion for you. I hope you enjoy, and feel free to message with any questions at all that you may have.
This is the newest, updated version of How to Brew. Now to be fair, I haven't read the 4th edition of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, it could have been modernized a bit. But the folks I deal with sure could use an upgrade in their new-brewer processes.
Sure, tons! In no particular order:
Also, How to Brew is based off a blog, and a lot of the book is on there. If you don't know which book you'd prefer start with A Crash Course in Brewing and decide if it's for you or if you'd like something a little more readable.
Sorry if that's a total data dump, I just love chatting about and getting new people into brewing. If you ever give it a try, let me know how it goes!
No problem. I'm relatively new to brewing myself, the kit gave a beer which is decent enough, the last kit I brewed was a single hop IPA with a Mangrove Jack's brew kit. I've bought worse beers in a pub so I was pretty happy with the result. I've now moved onto extract brewing which is basically a kit but with more DIY. Next step is all grain brew.
If it's the theory and the process you want to learn there is no better starting place than "How to Brew" by John Palmer. Here's a wee link - https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/1938469356/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_ljhoDbJMM5HP0 or there is a website with the whole book on there -
http://www.howtobrew.com/
Everything you need to know is in that book from sterilisation (the most important part) right through to your first full grain brew
Hope this helps
Had to do your own math. How to Brew by John Palmer is a good place to start.
> Mash at about 153F at a ratio of about 1.5 quarts to 1 lb of grain in a pot. Keep the pot in the oven at the same temperature to maintain the temperature. Stir occasionally.
This is a very low ratio. To take the highest target OG you've done, 1.070, Palmer chapter 19 recommends mashing at a ratio of 2 quarts to 1 lb of grain, which should give you 71% efficiency. For lower gravities you should mash at an even higher ratio for even higher efficiencies. At a ratio of 1.5 quarts to 1lb of grain you'd expect an efficiency only of 64%.
Increase the amount of water for your BIAB, sparging should not be necessary. Palmer has a table for different amounts for a 6 gallon batch, you can scale it up and down for different volumes.
Edit: was looking at the wrong table, adjusted the numbers.
Check to see if there are any local home-brew shops or brewing clubs in your area, pop in and start picking their brains, I've found the brewers in my area to be very open and welcoming to people interested in picking up the hobby. Other than that John Palmers book ( https://www.amazon.com/How-Brew-Everything-Great-Every/dp/1938469356/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1519527151&sr=8-1&keywords=how+to+brew ) is a great read and you'll learn a lot from it.
This books techniques are outdated. I recommend How to Brew by John J. Palmer. It's for beer brewing but the idea behind brewing combined with an in-depth look at the theory. Every time I brew mead this book is next to me because it's a great all around reference. I haven't picked up The complete meadmaker more than a few times.