Friday, March 02, 2007

Getting Started in Homebrewing - Gathering Information

Now that I've declared the beginning of My First Homebrew Experiment, it's time to figure out how to gather all of the information that I need to in order to make some well-informed decisions. What tools do I need? Where do I buy them? Do I take used equipment from fellow brewers (are they "fellow brewers" before I ever brew my first? probably not!) What style will be my first? How complicated is it? What are the things I need to keep in mind throughout the project? Questions, Questions, Questions. Fortunately, there is a wealth of information out there for newbies like me. You just need to know where to look. Plus, I have the benefit of several friends (and even all of you out there, too) that can provide first-hand experience and guidance to me. So, what have I done so far? Let's see, here's a quick list of resources that I've utilized thusfar, or plan to use as I get further into this. They are in no specific order, just a random list of resources I've come across. If you have more, please feel free to add to my list. Zymurgy magazine - Free copies from beer festivals - Subscription copies borrowed from Adam - Online website resources - Provides much written word on the subject of homebrewing Basic Brewing's - "Intro to Homebrewing" DVD - "Stepping into All-Grain" DVD - Helps to visually set expectations for what's going to (or should) happen during the process Professional & Shopping Websites - AHA (American Homebrewers Association) - Beer Beer & More Beer - Wyeast Labs - Brew Your Own magazine - White Labs - All About Beer - NorthernBrewer.com - Freshops.com Homebrewer websites & blogs - Ben, aka Bad Ben - A Good Beer Blog - BUZZ - Nate - Eli - Brew-Monkey - Jamil Zainasheff - And, perhaps most valuable, first-hand experience from two of my closest friends, Adam & Mark, who have combined homebrewing experience of over 20 years I've digested much of this already and will, of course, continue to research as I go along. But, for now, it's time to take all of this information and get some brewing equipment to do the job. That's next up in this wonderful journey called My First Homebrew Experiment.

4 comments:

Eli said...

I think that's the first time my brewing blurb has ever been called a resource, perhaps mroe as a take on 'what not to do'?

Adam said...

:-)

We're all in it together right? Rock on!

Anonymous said...

Before my first brew, I did something similar to you - read all the resources I could get my hands on, talk to a lot of other home brewers, and asked questions at the home brew shop. What I found after making the first brew was that I way over studied for something that needs "hands on" learning. I mean, one has to do some research, but that doesn't buy you experience. I found that "The New Joy of Homebrewing" was the best for me.

Jeremy said...

I agree... hands on is the best way to learn... Adam taught me!

Good luck... let me know if you want any help. I will be making a California IPA next with a little extra malt... hoping to make it a bit stronger... maybe like an imperial IPA?