Know this has been asked 100 times

I'm looking at getting started at home brewing I've wanted to do it before but something always happens. So now I'm going to start and I'd like some advice on whats the best starter kit to get for brewing? I see there are a lot out there so I thought I'd ask. Another question is what beer would brew best in a ice cold basement? I live in North Dakota its winter so its going to be cool. Also what beer is a good one to start out with?

Beer I like

Black Irish beer had one kind brewed with vanilla beans that was the best beer I ever had and its want I want to remake Guinness with vanilla beans.

I like the Irish red beer, American pale ale, Cherry wheat, would not mind making something like Miller light just to have around also.

Thanks for the help! I'm looking to buy the gear soon pay check comes in Tuesday and it will be my x-miss gift for myself!

I don't think I am the best at advising as to which is the best kit, but I'd take a look at what Austin Home Brew and Northern Brewer have to offer. Someone might be able to jump in and offer some more places to look.

Unfortunately I think you're going to be looking at lagers to brew if things are that cold. Ales tend to like the 70 degree range to make the yeast work.

Good Luck!

Thanks I might keep some ale in the bedroom where its always 70 degs+. I'v checked out the Northern Brewer and there kit is nice I was about to buy it but I thought look around first

Go here: http://www.howtobrew.com/

He covers the basics very well, including equipment you need to start. Pick a kit that has all the items he lists.

An ice cold basement would probably be best for Lagers.

As to what kind of beer to brew, pick a kit that sounds like what you like, but try to keep it simple.
You really don't want to do and oak cubed, all grain, almond watermelon stout for your first brew.

I am only a couple months into home brewing.
I bought the deluxe starter kit from Northern Brewer : http://www.northernbrewer.com/shop/brewing/deluxe-beer-starter-kit.html

It came with everything I needed for my first brew (extract) except for a pot, spoon, bottles and priming sugar.
You will use everything in the kit, there isn't anything they send you that you will throw in a cabinet and never need.

I would then add stuff as you advance and need it, wort chiller, grain bags, scale, etc. I would highly recommend seattleducati's thread here: http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_1_171/1245012_How_I_brew_with_Pics.html about BIAB brewing. This method works great, with minimal expense over the starter kit.

I am also new to the game but just purchased this....

http://morebeer.com/view_product/15912/102142/Personal_Home_Brewery_%234_-_Bottling_Super_Deluxe


I just wanted a kit that truly came with everything needed in the process. I run a bartending school and Im doing this more out of personal research on the process to I can then turn around and educate others. If I fail, it was fun trying it.


Ill post more later...

Support your local home brew shop! Look in the yellow pages or google for your local.

If you don't have one, I recommend MY local, Adventures in Homebrewing. I always go there to buy my stuff, but I believe the vast majority of his business is online mail order. I've been friends w/ the owner since he opened and I decided to stop into his shop instead of studying between classes at college. I drank a lot of beer there! Since then, another longtime friend has become an owner.

If you like vanilla beers, he's got a Vanilla Porter and a Vanilla Imperial Stout, which is described as "Tyler's elixer". Tyler happens to be one of the best homebrewers that I know (and SE MI has a LOT of good brewers!) and this beer is fantastic! It uses Wyeast 1056 which has a temp range from 60-72F. The Wyeast descriptions says it throws citrus flavors below 66 degrees, which would be a problem in an Imperial! Might want to keep that one up stairs for the ferment!

Good luck!

K

Just to add a few things that haven't been covered yet...

What are we talking when we say "ice cold?" Obviously, you're pipes aren't freezing, so are we talking 40-45*F? If so, you can lager, maybe with a little help. You can also run ales just fine, using a carboy heater like a brew belt. Some people even say that it's better to ferment ales like that because you get very good temperature control. 70*F is a bit on the hot side for most beers, but you can run most English and American yeasts up that high without anything funky happening. Just check the yeast temperature range before you buy.

Next, give up on making Guinness. It's easy to make a good "dry Irish stout" (the style). The trick is to use very, very fresh roasted barley. If you can, make it yourself in the oven.

But Guinness is a special breed. You have to brew it twice. The first batch is a double-strength small batch (say, in a half-gallon growler) that, upon maturation, is innoculated with malo-lactic bacteria and soured. After the MLF, the soured ale is pasteurized by heat (LT/LT is 145*F for 20 minutes). Meanwhile, you make your regular batch of 5 gallons. Upon completion and aging, you mix in 3% of the soured ale - or about 1 pint in 5 gallons. Keep the other 3 pints around for your next batches - you won't want to drink it by itself. Now, keg the mix up, and let it mellow under a CO2 blanket for 2-3 days. Now you have to nitrogenate the beer. If you don't have a nitro system, go out and buy one. It's about $250 to start, and the sky's the limit here. You need to press up to 40psi and shake. And shake. And shake. For about 2 hours. You'll get maybe half a volume of nitrogen into solution, max, depending upon temperature. Then you vent and press up to 30psi with CO2. Shake for ~10 minutes. Vent. Hook it up to your beergas (CO2/N2 mix in a special tank) and press it up, probably around 7 or 8 psi depending upon your dispensation system. Oh, yeah, did I mention? The draft system is different, too. You need a restrictor tap to partially degas the beer. A nice, adjustable one runs about $100 just for the tap spout. After that's all done, you'll have delicious, homebrewed Guinness clone.

My take? If you really, really like Guinness, find a bar that pours it right and go buy it there.

That goes for a lot of beers, BTW. If you really like something, just go buy it. Brew YOUR beer. Don't try to copy someone else's. At least at first. Tribute clones, or doing it for the experience or education... perfectly fine. But if you try to clone someone else's beer for the sole reason that you just want to drink it cheaper... you're bound to be disappointed.


Anyhow, don't let that dissuade you. Go find a dry Irish stout kit and start there. If you want to make use of your cold basement, maybe even go for a black German lager. If you've ever had Kostritzer, it's a great style. Black German lager is not very common in the US, and that might be a really cool way for you to start out because you'll get to experience something completely new.

Again, word of advice: Freshness of ingredients is KEY, and don't be afraid to ask the vendor how fresh/old something is.

That's crazy.

Ya have not had Guinness that much around me since it costs around $12 for a 6 pack. I'm not trying to copy Guinness 100% its the type of beer that I like I also like oatmeal stout. Like almost all the dark beers I have had I really dont care so much for the ones that taste smoked. Basement to the house I'm guessing stays around 40 degs or so not 100% sure I can always keep the beer upstairs since I'm the only one living in the house.

The world of Stout beer is awesome

Try milk stouts (also known as sweet stout).

Guinness is known as a Irish dry stout. (incase u are buying the brew kit).

Worse case, they sell heaters for the carboys. I never tried them, maybe someone can give a review on them.

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