[Third Person]

IPA drinker thinking about homebrewing... any FReeper recommendations on how to get started?

Thanks all!

[pennyfarmer]

IPA drinker heh. :)

Do you have a homebrew shop nearby? If so visit them. Expect to spend at least $100 for your equipment minus a pot and bottles. If you drink beer that uses crown caps you can save them and be green by recycling. :) If you know someone at a restaurant that serves those types of beers then you can get some free ones from them. I have a restaurant that saves me wine bottles. You will need a boiling pot of at least 16 quarts, but for an IPA you will really need to have at least a 20qt or larger pot to get good extraction on your hops.

Lots of technical stuff but your local homebrew shop will be more than willing to help. There are several good books and forums that offer lots of help.

One last thing, start simple. Don’t try to do any complicated clones of commercial beers that you really like. Stick with something that is extract about 9 lbs of malt extract 2 oz bittering hops maybe 1 or 2 lbs of specialty grains and 1-2 oz of finishing hops. Go with a quality liquid yeast even if you purchase a kit with dry yeast. If you start simple you will be much happier.

[Red_Devil 232]

First thing you need to do is get the equipment you will need. Start with a basic kit you can get the basics for less than $100. This decission will depend on what you want to spend. Like the different kits from here:

Standard

Then you will need ingredients - some starter kits come with an Extract Kit just have look around the internet searching for home brew or homebrewing to get your best price. There are many on line stores most charge shipping and some like the one above have no shipping charges if you buy over a set amount of $.

I started using Midwest Supplies They charge shipping on everything but have good Extract Kits. it is up to you

[knews_hound]

I wrote a easy to use, step by step article on homebrewing. You might like it.

I went for the low buck, easy to do method.

http://knewshound.blogspot.com/2007/11/homebrewing-1a.html

Cheers,

knewshound

[castlebrew]

I started with a copy of The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, by Charlie Papazian. And a lot pf hanging out with the local homebrewer's club and the brewing supply store...