Getting a little over awed

[Aes9471]

Have spent the last few days, a) reading around the site , b) getting really confused with the differing methods people are using for their 'brews' ie differing sugar in fermentation.
So sorry for the rookie questions but:-
Am I better just reading the destructions and following them Deliah Smith like that were supplied with the kit or would I get a better result with a different type of sugar
The thing that puts me off, is the one attempt years ago was like dirty stagnant puddle water. I was thinking of only adding half the amount of water, 20 pints instead of 40, in the hope of a decent depth of brew (body flavour etc) but would that just give me rocket fuel

Secondly looking at all the differing brews you guys have again a) am insanely jealous, have seen more proper beer on here that any man could wish for b) where do you get the starting ingredients from as in the real ale clones or malts etc? Is it via the tinternet or are you all just good friends with head brewers

I'm brewing (or will be) a bitter starter kit from youngs u brew (Wilkinson's as that was the best I could find)

Also is there a list of beginner's do's and don'ts - have had a good look around the site and picked up many a pointer but as I can be very blonde at times, would prefer a bullet list if there is one.

Sorry for all the rookie questions but thanks in anticipation for the help

[andywills]

best pointer is make sure you santise, and rinse...rinse like you've got OCD.

[Jim]

You can improve on the basic method for making up a kit. Your first port of call should be Daab's instructions for making up beer kits.

Using spraymalt instead of sugar (when using the cheaper single-can kits) is also recommended.

Good luck!

[stevezx7r]

I bet he's already read that

As Andy says, sanitising everything is a good start. Don't go looking for the super abrasive scourer as that would be v. bad. If you have thin bleach use that if you have a used fermenter etc. If you have new or already clean gear just use some cheap Youngs steriliser (sodium Met) and rinse....then rinse again.

As for making the Kit, Jim's link will give you all the info you need but as a recap -

Clean everything (again)
Get everything you need and maybe some things you may not
Boil some water
Rest can in sink with hot water (to soften contents)
Pour contents of can into fermenting vessel (FV)
Add desired amount of boiled water to mix malt
Add sugar (Tate and Lyle is a no no if possible) spray malt is the boy or Glucose if your stuck.
Add cold water to required amount ie. 4 gallons if you've already added 1 gallon to mix the malt.
Check temperature. Is it between 20 and 30C? Check gravity. You do have a hydrometer, right?
Add yeast.
Mix like your arms will fall off, then mix some more.
Loosly put lid on so the C02 can escape but nasties can't get in.
Wait 10 days.
Check final gravity (FG)
Transfer to bottles or barrel then wait at least two weeks where it will taste pretty good.
Wait two more weeks where it will taste twice as good.

Edit - Yes, halving the amount of water will make rocket fuel.

Hope that helps.

Edit # 2 - Most on here tend to get our ingredients from Home brew shops. Although some do get them from micro breweries at cost.

[opentoideas]

agree and second all of that other than the sugar

the opinion on here does tent towards glucose or malt extract but I have always just used "Tate and Lyle" - though aparently cane sugar is a must (which it is)

I am experimenting with malt extracts but tbh I have not found the difference to be worth it or noticable on a cheap kit (youngs/Geordie)

this may be my taste, or there may be a benefit with better kits but I wouldn't go worrying if you were planning to use regular sugar - it will be fine.

[mattmacleod]

Go to http://www.howtobrew.com and read through that lot. Even better, buy the recently updated hard copy.

That will give you a very thorough understanding of the brewing process.

[stevezx7r]

The main issue I've found with the cheaper kits has always been the lack of hop flavour/aroma. I would sacrifice using spray malt to use a good dose of hops but, I'm a bit of a hop head so I would say that

You won't make a bad beer using T+L, just in my opinion you would get a better beer with spary malt.