I thought there was a thread on this but I searched and got nothing and went 30 pages back and didn't see it. I am interested in giving this a try. I think it would be something I could do with my dad (he is getting old and needs to do something). I really do not know a lot about it but what I can learn online. Any suggestions? Ideas?
I know ThreeC does some homebrewing. This is also something I have grown an interest in over the past few months. Would love to give it a shot.
If you're in Columbus, you can get everything you need here in Clintonville (High + N. Broadway or thereabouts): http://www.winemakersshop.com/ I've had success with this site: http://www.midwestsupplies.com/brewing-basics-equipment-kit.html . I'm sure there are 100 more online that are just as good, but I can attest to that one. There's equipment plus complete recipes for certain beers or clones. And you can find recipes all over the internet, and then just buy the ingredients piece-wise. You'll probably want to make an Ale as it ferments at approximately the temperature of your basement. Lagers are more work because they require a temperature closer to 55. If you look at those "kits" they put together for you, all you really need is a 5 gallon bucket with an air tight seal. The rest of the stuff really depends on how you're going to carbonate your beer (ie. in bottles, in a glass carboy, in a keg). If you're going to go into bottles, which is common, start saving them (ones that require an opener as opposed to typical domestic screw top). You can buy empty bottles but that's kinda soul crushing if you ask me. You'd be surprised how easy it is. The majority of the work is with waiting. You'll invest maybe 2-3 hours initially, and then you just have to let it sit. Isn't Brook the authority for homebrew around here? The trademarked CrewBrew, no?
I've been homebrewing for about 6 years. I used to have a new batch for every other home game. However, the last 2 years of law school and studying for the bar exam really hurt my production rate. I'm looking forward to doing more here soon. The best thing for starting out is to just buy the standard kit with the two 6 gallon buckets, air lock, siphon hose, capper, etc... You can probably find them at a local brew shop and it will be called basic starting kit or something. They aren't that expensive, easy to store, and if you stick with brewing it is really easy to add nicer things piece by piece (and if you quit you're not out too much money). You'll probably want like a 5.5 gallon stock pot. I was able to find one at TJ Maxx for like $60. Check places like that or that restaurant supply shop on High Street in German Village. I've known people that have just boiled like 2 gallons of water with whatever pots they have around and then add 3 gallons cold water (also helps cool your wort before pitching your yeast), but this is not ideal. Spring for a pot if you can. When you first start try a couple of the pre-measure kits. They're easy and you get the feel for it. Also, if you do it right they turn out pretty good. Stouts are the easiest to brew. They are also ready to drink the quickest. If you do it this weekend, they might be ready for the CCL game... and you can give me some The problem with Columbus is that I have yet to find a good homebrew shop. Gentile's in Grandview never EVER has the hops I want. And the Winemakers shop in Clintonville is a little better but not great. I had a great shop in Cleveland, but have since started ordering on-line (which kills me because I want to support local business but they never have what I am looking for). Here is where I "shop"- http://www.northernbrewer.com/brewing For starting out, I would bet that Gentile's and/or the Winemakers Shop would both have some pre-measured kits handy. So, give the a try. You can probably buy a starter's brewing kit and a good recipe kit at either of them.
I've got 2- 5 gal glass jugs you can have excedingly cheap and may have a couple of other things also.
Winemakers in Columbus will get you started and the gal there loves to help out newbies. Do a few batches from a kit to get started and once you get it figured out look online for your ingredients. Oh...and relax and have a homebrew!
I actually recommend a book called How to Brew: Everything you need to know to brew beer right the first time by John J. Palmer. My girlfriend got it for me for Christmas, and it is extremely informative. It gives you in-depth info on every step and is really easy to read. Getting ready to brew my first batch here fairly soon.
On our agenda for the HSH meeting I brought up the idea of a Home Brew Contest. I've sent out some e-mail "feelers" to a couple local businesss about sponsoring the event. Sound like it might be something you guys would be interested in?
YAY!! Homebrewing! I've been homebrewing for about four years... absolutely love it. First things first... read http://www.howtobrew.com/intro.html (Palmer's How to Brew). That is everything you will need to know to make your first batch. Do not follow the instructions included in whatever kit you buy! And if you want an endless vat of knowledge on the subject, go to homebrewtalk.com There you can learn new techniques, tricks, DIY equipment builds and thousands of recipes. That's where I learned how to make my $10 mash tun out of an old rubbermaid cooler
Columbus Underground discusses home brewing: http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/topic/home-brew-where-to-buy-supplies
I decided to take the plunge into homebrewing. I just ordered a beginners kit and a Belgain Witbeer ingredients kit from midwestsupplies.com. I still need to get a 5+ gallon brew kettle and eventually a couple corny kegs, but I may wait on the corny's until after I'm sure that this is something I'm interested in for the long run. I'm excited!
Just finished a yummy 5 gal keg of my German Dumpfbier (German steam beer) with friends this past week. It was very good.
You may also want to attend a SODZ meeting: http://www.sodz.org/ The local homebrewer club has a couple hundred members, and some very, very good brewers. It also has good relationships with local professional brewers.
I can't find any 22 quart stock pots in the area. I've found a 20 quart: http://www.target.com/p/Chefmate-Stainless-Steel-20-Qt-Stock-Pot/-/A-12737461 Would I be better off holding off and trying to find a 22+ quart and just using my 3 gallon pot for now or should I go with the 20 quart pot above?
I've been brewing for years and never used larger than a 3 gallon pot. I certainly don't think you'll see any difference at all between a 20 and 22 quart pot.
Yeah I believe mine is a 20 quart pot i pretty much just brew 3.5-4 gallons. then add cold ice water (purified if ya can) at the end to help rapidly cool it and bring it up to 5 gallons to pitch the yeast. My brother, refuses to do this, but had the money to buy a bigger pot and a fancy copper wort chiller. But I have had no problems. I was able to get my pot at either TJ Max or Marshalls (forget now) and it was pretty cheap. I'd check those places out.
You've been brewing for years and only do partial boils? Come on man, make the jump! Piss off your wife by spending hundreds of monies!
Ha! Seriously though, my buddy and I produce incredibly good (and remarkably inexpensive) beer using partial boils (and some other really effective process shortcuts*). We've done full boils on smaller batches and the quality difference just isn't worth the effort, except perhaps with high gravity, age-able brews like an Imperial Stout, Barleywine, or Tripels. That said, we do NOT produce lagers, which I imagine really need full boils, expensive cooling contraptions, climate controlled fermentation conditions, and @#&%ing black magic. But our Porter and Honey Ale will knock your socks off... *For example, we haven't used a glass carboy in... ever actually. Get rid of them. They're evil!
Just got this is an email, not sure if you've bought yet. http://www.beer-wine.com/products/polar-ware-20-qt-stainless-steel-brew-kettle Save $10
I haven't bought a brew kettle yet, partially thanks to my idiot dog who ate my entire bag of Carapils. For those of you who have experience brewing, what would be the result if I just brewed without the carapils, or would I be better or finding another 8 oz of it either at a shop or online?
8oz of carapils shouldn't make a huge difference. It doesn't really add much in the realm of flavor/aroma, it just helps with body and head retention. And on a side-note, you should be more careful with your hops than with your grain. They are incredibly toxic to dogs in their non-isomerized form.
