RangerClay Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 Well, toddy? It's kind of like having your grandma cook you up some Chicken and Dumplings and then going to Wal-mart and buying some in a can. Sit both those side by side and which one will taste better? I've got money on grandma's. There's something about mass production that seems to lose flavor. Seriously. I'm not saying that AB or Mr. Rocky Mountains aren't good brewerys. I still like that type of beer. But what I've come to realize is that there is literally thousands of different types of beers. Out of thousands of beer, what are the odds that the type sold over the counter, suits your taste buds the best? And with homebrewing, that's the "holy grail". Combining different malts and hops in order to find your perfect "beer". Right now, I'm working on Ales but who knows? My perfect beer could be a Porter? As for the process? The Mr. Beer kit I've got now isn't hard at all, but you don't have much room for creativity. Now, when I get the equipment to go full boil, it becomes a little more difficult. There's literally a ton of information out there that you need to learn before you can do a full boil correctly. Each malt and each hops choice not only affects the type beer, but also the alcohol content, the fermenation temperature, the boiling time, etc. Very well said! I would like to add a little story to go along with this. About 15 years ago a good friend of mine here in NY left and went to join the Dallas Texas police department. As we wrote back and forth, he said the one thing he missed was real beer. A couple years later I went down to visit him and I laughed at him when I saw his fridge was full of Budweiser. I asked him if they sold beers like Labatts or Molson down there. He said yes but somewhere down the line whether it was unchilled trucks or warehouses ruins the beer. Not believing him I went out and bought a 6 pack of Labatts. I was sewer water to say the least and I dumped the rest. I learned my lesson why everyone drinks Bud or Coors down there, it's local. There are many benefits for making your own. Another one that Kevin forgot is cost, homebrew is cheaper (which is nice since I see the price for a barrel of oil is near $147 this morning). Another good reason is that you know what you are drinking. Someone once told me that the Mexicans pee in Coronas. Not to mention the lack of preservatives. Preservatives are what cause most of your hang-overs. The worst enemy of beer is sunlight, that is why it is in colored bottles. Miller has to put a TON of preservatives in its beer so they can give it to you in clear bottles. I can go on and on but one more reason and probably my favorite is the friends I have made. I have gotten together with homebrew clubs like these (http://www.franklinbrew.org/clublinks.html#Oklahoma) and made some of the best friends I have ever known. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
toddyboman Posted July 11, 2008 Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 Well crap now that I am interested I may have to try this on my own.....:D Is is safe to say that the Mr. Beer Kit is the best way to go? For a beginner? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted July 11, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2008 The Mr. Beer kit is definitely for beginners. You really can't go wrong with it as long as you sanitize real good. I recommend buying the kit and reading "How to Brew" by Palmer.(I believe his first name is John??) Anyway, you won't really need to read the whole book because some of it covers grain brewing and advance techniques. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted July 28, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 28, 2008 Brewed first batch tonight! I boiled my first extract brew tonight. I made a Honey Blonde Ale with low IBU's(hops). Had a blast doing it so whether or not it turns out good or not, it doesn't matter. This definitely won't be my last batch. BTW--also have a batch of Apflewein(apple wine) fermenting as I type as well.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 BTW--also have a batch of Apflewein(apple wine) fermenting as I type as well.:D That sounds yummy! Let me know how it comes out! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerClay Posted July 29, 2008 Report Share Posted July 29, 2008 BTW--also have a batch of Apflewein(apple wine) fermenting as I type as well.:D BTW--also have a batch of Apflewein(apple wine) fermenting as I type as well.:D That sounds yummy! Let me know how it comes out! BTW, I placed my order for my grape juice this week. I will have my pinot noir and syrah in early Sept. :D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted July 30, 2008 Author Report Share Posted July 30, 2008 Not big on wines but the SWMBO() possibly could be so I'm giving it a try. Do plan on doing some muscadine wine come that time of year though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevebeilgard Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 alright!!! we need an official taster, a duty for which i am highly qualified. send all entries to..... lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted July 31, 2008 Report Share Posted July 31, 2008 alright!!! we need an official taster, a duty for which i am highly qualified. send all entries to..... lol Oh no Steve, I think I may have you beat in that category:eek::D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 3, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Oh no Steve, I think I may have you beat in that category:eek::D:D Yep, I should have at least three different beers for you to taste test come November.:D My Honey Hole Ale, Typical and Non-Typical(caramel vanilla cream ale for Christmas). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strut10 Posted August 3, 2008 Report Share Posted August 3, 2008 Just found this thread. I've got 5 batches (I do 'em gallon at a time) of wine working down in the dungeon. 3 of red raspberry and 2 dewberry. These are my first efforts ever. 2 of the red raspberry get their last shot of sugar tomorrow and go to sit 'til Christmas or so when I'll bottle. Just got done tossing a batch of dewberry together not 15 minutes ago and took it down to start festering. It's danged addicting. I see berries............I get ideas. There's gonna be a bumper crop of elderberries this year. There I go again.............. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Mark_85 Posted August 6, 2008 Report Share Posted August 6, 2008 I've had the homebrew beers before had a orange juice beer that was like wow. and had a root beer actual beer it was mmmm and a cherry flavored beer all of them tasted great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 7, 2008 Report Share Posted August 7, 2008 I picked up 3 kegs last night, CHEAP, anyone interested??:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 I picked up 3 kegs last night, CHEAP, anyone interested??:D I'll give you ten bucks a piece plus a six pack for shipping.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 I'll give you ten bucks a piece plus a six pack for shipping.:D Make it a 12 pack and you got a deal!!!:D 6 will just tease me:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Make it a 12 pack and you got a deal!!!:D 6 will just tease me:eek: Yeah, but we're talking a 6 pack of 6 point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Yeah, but we're talking a 6 pack of 6 point. And your point is???:eek: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 And your point is???:eek: I forgot.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 I forgot.:D AHA!! To many 6pts last night???? LOL!!!:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 AHA!! To many 6pts last night???? LOL!!!:D Nope. I've only got a 12 pack of homebrew left. Having to do with BMC.:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 Nope. I've only got a 12 pack of homebrew left. Having to do with BMC.:D BMC????? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 8, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 BMC????? "Bud, Miller, Coors"....its a term homebrewers use for all crappy commercial beer.:D:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gator Posted August 8, 2008 Report Share Posted August 8, 2008 "Bud, Miller, Coors"....its a term homebrewers use for all crappy commercial beer.:D:D:D Gotcha. Yeah, all them are crappy!!!!! I'll stick to my Busch Light!!!!:D:D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JKAPP01 Posted August 13, 2008 Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 #1 rule of thumb when it comes to brewing beer is sanitation. keep EVERYTHING clean or you will be in for a world of hurt. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCH Posted August 13, 2008 Author Report Share Posted August 13, 2008 keep EVERYTHING clean or you will be in for a world of hurt. Not just clean...sanitized. You can wash your equipment with 100% bleach and leave it out over night and they could still get contaminated. I use Iodophor and One Step. Both are "no-rinse" sanitizers. Seem to work great. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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