Salanis' acceptance into brewing school has motivated me to go ahead and start home brewing.
It's something that I've been wanting to try for a long time. I think my kit should be here this weekend.
So like the title states, what are the best homebrew forums? The more GRM-like the better.
Any fav recipes/tips/tricks/etc welcomed as well.
I like homebrewtalk.com. Which reminds me, I really need to start brewing another batch.
My neighbor brews his own beer. I have my own basement office with a full size fridge. I don't need another hobby, but it does sound fun.
My father-in-law made his own wine for years.
How is it that I live in the south and have southern buds, yet I only know one guy who makes his own (and he's from Southern Cali)!? He doesn't have any, either, and I'd like to get my hands on some for a special occasion.
I'll second homebrewtalk.com as well.
Favorite recipe: I love Saisons. Pretty simple style to make. One of the few that turns out well when brewed during summer heat. I've made good use of the book "Brewing Classic Styles" by Jamil Zainasheff. I mostly come up with my own recipes now, but his are very good, and I like having something to compare against.
I recently purchased a copy of the Beer Smith software and really like it.
Techniques and tricks: Do your mash in an oven. "Warm" is generally about 150 degrees. Then keep on checking to make minor temperature adjustments.
Ignore all the talk about need to do multi-stage fermentation. I like single-stage in a 6-gal carboy. Start with a blow-off tube and leave enough headspace for krausen. Once the krausen falls, remove the blow off tube and put on a basic airlock.
The dishwasher is a nice convenient way to sanitize bottles. The heat from the drying cycle sanitizes. Put them in with NO SOAP for a short wash or rinse with heated dry on.
tuna55 wrote: How is it that I live in the south and have southern buds, yet I only know one guy who makes his own (and he's from Southern Cali)!? He doesn't have any, either, and I'd like to get my hands on some for a special occasion.
NASCAR country is Budweiser country. It is so mass produced that it is cheaper than homebrewing. Plus lager beers (like Pilsener styles) are very difficult to do in the heat.
Salanis wrote:tuna55 wrote: How is it that I live in the south and have southern buds, yet I only know one guy who makes his own (and he's from Southern Cali)!? He doesn't have any, either, and I'd like to get my hands on some for a special occasion.NASCAR country is Budweiser country. It is so mass produced that it is cheaper than homebrewing. Plus lager beers (like Pilsener styles) are very difficult to do in the heat.
I like a good Pilsner. My trip to the UK has ruined me - I used to not like beer. Any good recommendations available at Whole Foods?
I have totally hijacked this thread.
Salanis wrote: Plus lager beers (like Pilsener styles) are all but impossible to homebrew.
Fixed that for ya 
They really are.
As for a forum, Northern Brewer's forum is decent. I have shied away from HBT recently...kind of a "my way or the highway" attitude there.
And as for recipes, I think every homebrewer should start by brewing a good stout. Cheap, simple, very forgiving, tastes delicious. Like a Miata, only you drink it. And I have a recipe, too, if you're interested.
^Of course!
tuna55 wrote: I have totally hijacked this thread.
Not at all, I always like hearing about new beers as well. This weekend, the new stuff we tried is as follows: Lobster Lover's Beer from Lithuiania, along with a Boulevard Smokestack Series Imperial Stout, Marshall's Big Jamoke Porter (local brewery).
The Lobster Lover's has a really unique buttery quality to the mouth feel. I'm still undecided on the flavor, I'd like to try another bottle, but it's definitely worth trying.
The other two were excellent.
Oh, and I'm a Porter and Stout fan myself, that's what I drink 90% of the time (excluding outdoors in the heat type activities).
I've already been doing research for a Peanut Butter Porter/Stout recipe. I think properly done it would be insane.
Oh and thanks for the book suggestions.
tuna55 wrote: I like a good Pilsner. My trip to the UK has ruined me - I used to not like beer. Any good recommendations available at Whole Foods?
Around here, Whole Foods has a really good beer selection. A good Pilsener is tough to do. If you can find it out there, Scrimshaw (by North Coast) is probably my favorite domestic pils. Lagunitas Pils is good too, but not quite as clean.
Both are California breweries, and not sure if you'll see them out there. They do have pretty wide distribution.
I don't know as much about the east coast breweries. I like Allagash and Dogfish head, but neither of them has a pils.
NorthernBrewer.com had some good forums the last time I was researching some obscure mead recipes. The folks seem pretty nice too.
Well thanks guys on the recommendations, I still feel like I stole your thread, but I'll keep my eyes on this for any other recommendations as well as some brewing stuff - someday maybe...
Twin_Cam wrote: And as for recipes, I think every homebrewer should start by brewing a good stout. Cheap, simple, very forgiving, tastes delicious. Like a Miata, only you drink it. And I have a recipe, too, if you're interested.
Dark ales are definitely the easiest. Strong malt flavor can cover up or make up for a lot. If not a stout specifically, a porter or malty darker amber is good. My first was a pre-measured Scotch Ale kit because my girlfriend is not into stouts or porters.
z31maniac wrote: ^Of course!tuna55 wrote: I have totally hijacked this thread.The Lobster Lover's has a really unique buttery quality to the mouth feel. I'm still undecided on the flavor, I'd like to try another bottle, but it's definitely worth trying.
You forgot my favorite part, Lobster Lover's is 9%!
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