So you want to be a Home Brewer?

Recently I've had a few people reach out to me through social media and ask me how I got started and any tips or advice I could give them. 4 years ago I received my first "Brew Your Own Beer Kit" for Christmas from a family member. It was a Mr. Beer Kit and my first batch thickened up to the consistency of molasses and caramel forcing me to throw away the batch along with the pot I was boiling it in. I realized I had burned off too much water and did not add more to balance it out. Where a lot of people might have chalked it up as a failure and quit there, I couldn't wait to try again and within a couple days had purchased another ingredient kit and moved forward, this time successful. I even went to my local home brew store to pick up some additional cascade hops to add to the boil to give it a little more character. An old friend of mine who shared the same interests made himself available to me to help answer any questions I had and steer me in the right direction as I began my journey as a Home Brewer.

Which leads me to the advice that I normally give out to anyone looking to explore home brewing themselves.

#1. Bigger isn't always Better. If this is your first time, Start with a 1 gallon kit. You can pick one up through a few different online retailers or sometimes your local Whole Foods or other retailer. Brooklyn Brew Shop has a great 1 gallon all grain kit and Northern Brewer offers 1 gallon liquid malt kits. It will normally include everything you need to brew you first batch with the exception of your kettles or pots to boil in. If you try it and realize you hate it (which you probably won't) you just lost $40 instead of the $100-200 you're going to pay for a 5 gallon kit (not including the larger pots you will need to purchase since you probably don't have at home). You're welcome, you can thank me later.

#2 Everything you need is Online. No really, there isn't a question you will need an answer to that you won't be able to find online. There are literally thousands of websites and forums by Home Brewers that have been doing this for years posting answers and advice to anything you might be unsure about. If you're not tech savvy, you're in luck, because there's thousands of books too. Highly recommended is How to Brew by John Palmer. This book is practically referred to as the Bible of Home Brewing and is highly referred to as a reference on many sites.

#3 Don't give up. You're going to mess up a batch at some point. Everyone does. Stick with it and remember why you started.

Additionally I normally advise to start with an all grain kit if possible instead of a liquid malt kit. My first brew kit was a liquid malt kit and they're generally a little easier. Granted an all grain kit takes a little more time, But It's the real deal. It's how beer is brewed at your favorite breweries.

Cheers.