New Guy Note

Gjoseph · Post by **Gjoseph** » Mon Jul 02, 2007 8:45 pm

Figured I would follow in the other new guys steps and post a little about myself.

Greg - 35 - married (at least for the time being - she is a little upset) 2 kids 3 and 5 almost 6. I have been interested in brewing my own beer for a long time mainly because I like beer - more on that later. But never really took the time to learn. I have known Brian Anderson for some time but never knew he brewed beer until a friends 40th I think. I stopped by his place and checked out the setup - got really drunk and pissed off the wife in the process - sensing a theme here? Anyway bought a starter kit from midwest brewing and then actually brewed my first batch last night. Was really thinking I screwed it up until I finally saw the air lock bubble almost 24 hours later. So hopefully in 4-5 weeks I will have my first succesful, bareable to drink batch.

The beer meeting will be difficult for me as Thursday night is the only night I have something going on - either golf league in the summer or dart league in the fall/winter. So unless it is at a bar I happen to play at - or they go past 9 pm - it will be difficult for me to make. But I do get a couple weeks off at the start/end of each season.

The July meeting I will be starting RAGBRAI. On top of darts, golf, biking, volleyball, I am also a gamer. Which is where my name came from. Obviously you cannot have a character named Ilikebeer on a massive online game, so I spelled it backwards and have been using it for the last 7 years. Anyway enough about me, just sitting here drinking up to get my own bottles - had to buy someone elses because mine is not ready yet. Think I made a decent choice with a little Flying Dog - but pop top bottles are getting a lot harder to find anymore. See yeah on the hops side.

bkanderson · Post by **bkanderson** » Tue Jul 03, 2007 8:06 am

Welcome Greg, most of the time the Thurs meetings are from 7-9 but typically they run late but no later then 12-1am. It's a school night you know. I to can get in trouble with the wife...many times it's about beer. Usually, its about me not brewing enough of the stuff she likes, imperial stouts and barleywines. I think Mark R can relate to that comment.

I can tell you a little about myself. I'm Brian and you already know me... is that enough information? I can't believe you didn't know I made beer. Jeez, I've been brewing since 1993. It was Greg's 37th birthday not 40th...but I will let you know you think he's that old.

Hope you can at least join the club. We are hoping to do some club activies, BBQ, road trip, etc. The dues are $20.00 a year but are pro-rated.

Gjoseph · Post by **Gjoseph** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:02 am

I think I got screwed on the pro-ration. Bunch of money hungry SOB's.

bkanderson · Post by **bkanderson** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 8:08 am

How much did you pay? The next meeting is at Matt's house. Just steal something from the house worth about what you think you should get back.

Gjoseph · Post by **Gjoseph** » Wed Oct 31, 2007 1:56 pm

In that case I think I overpaid quite a bit

Bones · Post by **Bones** » Wed Nov 07, 2007 11:43 am

Did not feel the need to start a whole new thread just to say hi and I am also new to brewing. I have yet to purchase the equipment and have had plans to do so for a couple years, but moves have always gotten in the way.

Little on me also. 35, divorced for ~5 years or so, no kids and a motorcycle habit that eats most of my funds to buy bikes and going on trips. Time to curb that a bit and start another hobby so I can meet some new friends.

Recently moved back to Iowa in June of 07, lived in Kansas City, MO for 12 years, and a brief stint in Houston, TX before coming back "home". Home is actually west of Cedar Falls about 15 minutes, but not a chance I'd live back up there.

So any local places to buy equipment or am I stuck buying it all online? I still go to Kansas City now and then, so I could make a stop in DM or KC if there are good places and prices there.

And the million dollar question is....what kit to start with if you actually plan to stick with this and not have to scrap half of it for the good stuff next month? I know how that works, I was into rockcrawling for years and it's a never ending cycle of changes and upgrades that crushes your wallet, but thankfully it crushed my marriage also.

Later
Chris

Gjoseph · Post by **Gjoseph** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:39 am

Both Hy-Vee on Blairsferry Road and Center Point and Benz Beverage Depot have basic kits and supplies available. I would rocomend looking online to get an idea of what you want. The priices aren't to bad and I think shipping isn't bad either.
Here are a couple I looked at:
http://www.northernbrewer.com/starterkits.html

http://www.midwestsupplies.com/products ... 11166&fd=1

If you are going to start with an extract kit and bottling I would recommend one of the complete kits from Midwest Supplies, it gives you the kit, kettle, and bottles, and choice of your first extract kit. It took me almost a month to accumilate all the bottles I needed. Only thing you would need is a burner if you don't have a gas stove.

Stay away from Mr. Beer.

If you are interested in kegging right off the bat I am sure one of the other guys would be able to point you in the right direction.

Bones · Post by **Bones** » Fri Nov 09, 2007 7:47 am

Thanks, Yeah I will likely start off bottling, and once I get deeper into it I plan to keg.

I always forget to stop by Benz on the way home. I guess I will tonight after work to get beer for tailgaiting and shoot the breeze with them and see what's available.

Chris

Mark R · Post by **Mark R** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 7:34 am

Chris-
Welcome to the group. Greg's feedback is right on target. I almost exclusively use nothern brewer, with their new flat rate shipping you can get your equipment pretty reasonably. I started with a northern brewer kit with a few upgrades. One item that I think is worth spending the extra $$ on is a wort chiller, and get as big a pot as you can to boil as much as possible without dilluting. The pots at NB aren't worth getting, I found one at Sam's Club that has a sandwich bottom and nearly allowed a full 5gal boil. Good luck and have fun!

Cheers

Mark

Matt F · Post by **Matt F** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:24 am

Chris-

I also concur with Mark and Greg. I get most of my stuff from Northern Brewer and sometimes from Midwest. Sometimes one is cheaper than the other. The flat rate shipping from Northern Brewer is great and makes larger orders possible. They also have great customer service and if you order by 11:00 am, you usually get it the next day.

Right now, both have limited hop supply. Mr. T said he found some hops at http://www.homebrewery.com/index.html. This place is in Ozark, MO which is near Springfield.

I would add to what Mark said about pots too. I wouldn't invest in the expensive pots from NB unless you were going to a large full boil setup with ball valves and the like. You can usually find a good deal at Sams. I bought a trukey fryer kit that had a burner, stainless steel stand and 8.5 gallon stainless steel pot. The turkey fryer was on sale around Thanksgiving for about $70. I would start like Mark said and get a decent size pot to boil on the kitchen stove. You may have one around the house already.

Bones · Post by **Bones** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:30 am

Thanks guys! No pot near that big around my house.

I am going to see what that sale I am going to at lunch has for supplies and go from there.

If there is any places in Kansas City to buy ingredients, I am going there for New years and can haul it all back. Springfield is a haul from KC though. I'll go get supplies in the summer and go to Party Cove...twist my arm!

Mark R · Post by **Mark R** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 8:55 am

There is a great place in dubuque that i was at 2 weeks ago. He's got a lot of equipment, kits and ingredients and has homebrew on tap for tastings. You can get everything you need right there and support a local business/homebrewer. Definitely worth the drive if you want to see things first hand. He's also a great guy with a lot of knowledge. He knows of our club, I think Jim E has been there and myself. Tell him we sent you!

http://www.bluffbrewhaus.com/

Bones · Post by **Bones** » Fri Nov 16, 2007 10:51 am

Okay, went to the sale. Stuff was just sold, 2 glass carboys, all the pieces and parts and 140 bottles.

I didn't even ask what he sold it for.

If it was a beer nut that found this from my blabber mouth last night, karma will come back to get you.