As others have posted start with extract, but avoid kits. Brewing is easier than it sounds, if you can make tea you can brew.
Recommendations:
- Keep a log, record every recipe and track results, this will allow you to repeat what works and ID mistakes
- Start with ALE, Lager is tricky and small discrepancies are readily apparent, with ales ( dark ales particularly) the complexity of the profile lends more room for success and it is pretty exciting to watch an Imperial stout develop
- Create good habits, in regards to sanitation and organization. I was working in a bakery when I started and discovered similarities in regards to having all your tools ready and the Rhythm of the process.
- Unless you need fancy pants flip tops NEVER buy bottles. I had loads of fun pillaging recycling bins while my first was bubbling away, you can not only score some nice bottles you can also learn which one of your neighbors has taste and who does not.
- This is a hard one and not very pleasant, but perform thorough and rigorous research….in the field. I went all the way to Brussels on beer holiday er I mean to perform research. Some people record their findings…some of us ….well…have to go back and repeat the experiment for verification
- Start small, take your time and enjoy the process. You will learn with every batch, I found Myself bottling one batch and boiling another
- for your first few batches create a distraction free environment, turn off GD, throw the wife kids and animals out of the house, lock the doors and focus
After that create Rituals- I like Jazz and Turkish coffee when I brew, harmonizing the trinity of hops, barley and yeast. I know one cat who has a special shirt he wears and another who has a favorite hat.
Also do not be surprised to find yourself growing your own hops and standing in the produce section one day, seeing not food, but fermentables.
Brewing is a grand hobby, it makes for cheap and unique Christmas gifts and good barter. My ex wife could take bottles of my brew to the farmers market and come back with whole meals. You are about to embark upon a glorious adventure, embrace your inner mad scientist and secret artist.