My first homebrew!

So I wanted to taste my first home brew a few days ago, but Randy gave me shit about it. He said I gotta have patience! But we popped one open anyway.

Only after a few days, the beer was pretty carbonated! It foamed out all over the damn carpet. So I think we did well with the bottling!

Come to find out that Randy and Rollin popped open one each last night, so I figured it’s only fair that I have one, too. Patience my ass!

It’s a good beer! It’s pretty basic, tastes pretty much like what I thought it would taste like, but it is good! It’s dark, not black, and has a nice hoppiness to it. It’s warming, got a good head, and smells like a simple dark ale. We named it “May Be Ale” because we made it in May and we weren’t quite sure if the end result could actually be classified as ale. Hence the pun.

First pour of my first homebrew!

I think I love homebrewing!

I’ve read the first few chapters, and so far at least one message is abundantly clear:

> Relax. Don’t worry. Have a homebrew!

This message does help me relax about it, as there’s a lot of information to absorb about brewing, and at times, it can seem somewhat intimidating. However, I’m not too worried about it, as I won’t be discouraged if my first few batches aren’t the greatest.

But it seems that a beginner can start with a brew kit, which is basically a mix of ingredients in which all the work has pretty much been done. Simply boil some water, add some powders, ferment, bottle, wait, and drink.

This type of brewing doesn’t seem all too daunting, but at the same time, I feel like it’s just a bit of a cop-out. Sure, I have no problem using pre-malted barley, but going with a full-on kit makes it feel more like I’m making Kool Aid. I’d rather not make Kool Beer…

Regardless, I’m digging this book. It’s written very well, it’s readable enough to sit and chill with like a fiction book, and it’s pretty comprehensive. The attitude is nice and light, also, and I’ve adopted Charlie’s mantra.

So check it out if you’re getting started with home brewing. If you know of any other books that are great resources for the beginner, please recommend some in the comments below!

And as always (in the words of Charlie), Relax. Don’t worry. Have a homebrew!

First, I did a bit of research. I’ve read through several sites on home brewing, materials, ingredients, and I think I’ve got enough of an idea to make my first batch. I’d like to brew a nice witbier, but I’m just gonna go with a standard old pale ale; supposedly it’s a great first time brew, as it’s not too hard to mess up.

I’m sure my batch won’t be the greatest, but I’ll drink it anyway. Unless, of course, it’s just awful. But as long as it’s carbonated, I’ll drink it.

For my first brew, I’m gonna follow this nice beginner’s guide over on Brew Your Own. This article gives enough info for me to at least take a stab at home brewing, even if I do foul it up something awful.

I’ve got a pretty good collection of beer bottles, and I’ll be cleaning them out this or next weekend. Crossed fingers!