Thread: New Year's brew is fermenting... it is starting to smell a lot like Christmas!

Any chance of sending a sample to the East Coast.....I bet its GREAT!


Just kidding!

Originally Posted by TomSD

As for the age issue you need to be old enough to drink it before you can brew it, lol.

Not necessarily. I started when I was 18 (16 yrs ago). It depends on who you know.

Here's a link for an online book that's full of excellent info. I've got the actuall paper copy but you can get a lot of questions answered here if you polka around.

How to Brew - By John Palmer

I was just quoting the law on the matter... I mean you can do pretty much anything if you know the right people, lol.

Originally Posted by wpfontenot

I brew an Irish red and a stout for myself that average 8 - 9%

A man after my own heart. If I was 21 of course.

Sanitation can't be over-emphasized, and especially if you are making an audacious dark beer (my favorite sort to brew) that requires a longer aging, getting a skunk batch would really suck.

The other thing I would add is don't put in too much carbonating sugar, you can wind up with burst bottles, and nobody wants to clean that up.

I opened my first bottle of a Burbon Vanilla Imperial Porter that I brewed in early September the other night with my parents for my birthday. It is crazy, thick as cream and just as smooth, without the almost chewy character of some of my favorite stouts. Me and my buddy put in oak chips, vanilla beans, and about a cup of maker's mark for flavor.

Anyways, you can make the most fanciful concoctions on your own, and if you are into truly great designer beers, this is the cheapest way to get them (I still have to tip my hat to some of those 100+ year old european beers for their solid greatness, but they aren't nearly as much fun as microbrew stuff)

So yeah, I'm new here, but I would recommend brewing to anybody Ive seen on this forum so far.

I really want to give it a try now. I love a great stout. But I fear that will have to wait until after college.

Yeah the lack of space and privacy is why I waited so long to start. Now that I own a house though I get to do all those projects/hobbies I've been putting off, lol.

The new batch of mead is just around the corner well see what its like

Another home brew supplier. Everything from basic starter kits up to more advanced equipment.

William's Brewing, fine homebrewing since 1979. @ Williams Brewing

Once you've bottled a few batches, and are tired of bottle washing, and capping (unless you're into competitions or bottling for gifts), get some stainless steel kegs and CO2. Once you've tried kegging, you'll never look back. An old refrigerator and a temperature controller is a great addition too.

BTW, get ready to spend some money Yeah, I want one of those stainless conical fermenters too. 14.5 gallons no less....

this is where i get my stuff from

Welcome To The Grape and Granary

they are located in ohio. i have never made beer myself (i usually do wine) but i have friends back home who make beer, and i cant wait to get back there for some christmas ale mmmmmmm. and just a little tribute to great lakes christmas ale

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8kwF-TvMi_Q