New Homebrewer

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rbirkle
Boilover Master
Posts: 23
Joined: Mon Feb 25, 2008 10:36 am
Location: Newburgh, IN

New Homebrewer

Post by rbirkle » Mon Feb 25, 2008 1:13 pm

I just wanted to drop a line and say hello. I have finally broke down and ordered my first homebrewers kit from Midwest Supplies. I have been thinking about doing this for years and have finally clicked the order button. If all works out, I may even be able to start the first batch this weekend. If anyone knows of any pointers, please let me know. How does one become a member of the Ohio Vally Homebrewers Association?

Rob

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BM1
Brewmaster
Posts: 378
Joined: Wed Jan 30, 2008 11:40 pm
Location: Evansville,IN

New brewer

Post by BM1 » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:02 pm

Welcome to the brew world.Best tip ever is to be obsessive about sanitation
before and after brewing.Just washing out your equipment afterward may not
be enough{ :roll: from experience}.Bacteria cant grow in a seemingly clean fermenter in between batches an resist standard sanitation techniques.If
your fermenter{usually plastic ones of the kit variety}has an odor from the previous batch,there is a chance that some really ugly bug may have found its source and made a home.If regular cleaning won't remove the odor...
chances are it also won't remove the bug either :shock: Chemicals are available that will rid the odors and stains thant provide breeding grounds
for the brewers enemy,bacteria. :D Also keep records and label everything.
Nothing short of infected beer is worse than making something fabuluos and
not being able to figure out how it came to be. :D :D :D Anyway,pay
attention and don't get too cocky at first...one step at a time.
GOOD LUCK :!:
You gonna stop whinin' 'bout that beer,or you gonna send it to me?
Friends don't let friends brew drunk!
Signed:Steve Sluder.

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john mills
Brewmaster
Posts: 1378
Joined: Mon Jun 25, 2007 2:40 pm
Location: Near the Zoo

Post by john mills » Mon Feb 25, 2008 3:02 pm

First time advice: Watch your boiling pot. Once you have the heat under your pot....don't take your eyes off it. :shock: Nothing is worse than a boilover clean up. The pain caused by your wife beating you with an iron skillet on your mellon will go away, LONG before your done with the cleanup.
Joining OVHA is easy. Go to a meeting. Pay your dues. Look for the sticky note on meeting schedule. Come down Wednesday, meet some new friends.
You gonna buy one, or be one?
.....I'm gonna be one!

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Dwayne_Delaney
Brewmaster
Posts: 1446
Joined: Wed Dec 28, 2005 10:09 pm
Location: Henderson, KY (the d is silent)

Post by Dwayne_Delaney » Mon Feb 25, 2008 5:18 pm

Welcome to a great hobby and welcome to the board! Everyone is welcome to sit in at our meetings; if you like what you see, then feel free to join. You can park in the back of the building and enter the door at the bottom of the stairs. We usually meet in the room on the left.
Dwayne Delaney

"Beer is not a good cocktail-party drink, especially in a home where you don't know where the bathroom is"
Billy Carter

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Jim W
Brewmaster
Posts: 209
Joined: Sun Mar 04, 2007 8:07 pm

Post by Jim W » Tue Feb 26, 2008 11:26 am

Welcome. A few of the things that really helped me get started were:
I read this free book on the internet http://www.howtobrew.com/
[url]. Whenever there was a conflict between the kit's instructions and the book, I went with the book. Kit instructions can be dicey. The other big thing was that I asked a ton of questions on this website, and still do. It is a first class idea generator, and when you to something that makes you think you are an idiot and really screwed up your beer, you will find that someone else did the same thing and it probably did not hurt your beer. Relax don't worry, have a homebrew!
I would kill everyone in this room for a drop of sweet beer.--Homer Simpson
All other nations are drinking Ray Charles beer and we are drinking Barry Manilow. --Dave Barry

JohnD
Brewmaster
Posts: 597
Joined: Sat Dec 31, 2005 8:12 am
Location: Evansville, IN

Post by JohnD » Tue Feb 26, 2008 12:02 pm

Hope to see you tomorrow night at Germania 7 PM :beer4
John Dippel

Barley, water, yeast & hops. The things dreams are made of!!

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