Hello!

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mtiemann
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Posts: 11
Joined: Thu Apr 23, 2009 1:51 pm
Location: Overland Park,KS
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Hello!

#1 Post by mtiemann » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:48 pm

My name is Marc Tiemann and I am very interested in becoming a homebrewer. So far my only experience with this is watching a friend cook up a batch that never turned out.
I've toured the New Belgium and Boulevard breweries this spring and it re-ignited my love for craft beers, well anything other than the colored pi**water the big guys produce.
My favorites are darker beers and wheats.
I really hit the jackpot with my girlfriend: She loves beer as much as I do and totally supports my desire to brew at home. Needless to say, she's a keeper!!

Marc in O.P.

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Blktre
BrewLegend
Posts: 3125
Joined: Sun Feb 12, 2006 1:23 pm

Re: Hello!

#2 Post by Blktre » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:56 pm

Welcome Marc in OP. Come to a meeting and we will get you started the right way!
Just call me Andy!

Lupulin Threshold Shift
lupulin threshold shift \lu·pu·lin thresh·old shift\ n
1. When a once extraordinarily hoppy beer now seems pedestrian.
2. The phenomenon a person has when craving more bitterness in beer.
3. The long-term exposure to extremely hoppy beers; if excessive or prolonged, a habitual dependence on hops will occur.
4. When a "Double IPA" just is not enough

Greenblood
Brewmaster
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Joined: Tue Feb 14, 2006 2:22 pm
Location: Lawrence

Re: Hello!

#3 Post by Greenblood » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:57 pm

Welcome Marc!
Cheers!

John Monaghan

"If your feelings were grapes I would crush them. And then, after fermentation, drink them down. And quite possibly later, throw them up again."

sherrybob
Homebrewer
Posts: 81
Joined: Tue Feb 21, 2006 10:40 am

Re: Hello!

#4 Post by sherrybob » Fri May 01, 2009 1:44 pm

You gotta watch those beer-lovin girlfriends.. they become your wives and drink you dry :)

Look forward to seeing you both at a meeting!
Beer Haiku:
Delicious Homebrew
Nectar from nature's bounty
No hangovers here

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Travel by the Pint
Homebrewer
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Joined: Sat Feb 28, 2009 9:58 am
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Re: Hello!

#5 Post by Travel by the Pint » Sun May 03, 2009 3:02 pm

Welcome Marc!

That first batch of homebrew seems pretty daunting, doesn't it? Especially since your only previous experience ended in failure. My husband and I recently completed our first batch, and it proved to be a success.

There are probably thousands of approaches to homebrewing, so there are no absolute right or wrong ways of going about it. But I have a few suggestions.

Start out with a kit. That way you'll familiarize yourself with the equipment, and reduce the number of variables. And there are very good kits on the market. The kits I'm referring to are ingredient kits that contain the correct type and amount of sugars, extracts, grains and hops to create the specific style of beer you desire. Of course there are also equipment kits.

Be extra vigilant with sanitation. Poor sanitation practices can lead to fermentation failure.

Have a place prepared ahead of time to place your fermentation bucket that will keep it within the correct temperature range.

Set all the equipment and ingredients out ahead of time, and go through a dry run of the process to ensure you have everything you need before you start.

And don't rush things on the day you prepare your wort and the day you bottle. It takes as much time as it takes and not a moment less. (And bottling too early can lead to disaster.)

Good luck! I'm sure it'll turn out great and you'll be on to batches two and three in no time.

-Sally
Primary: Rauchbier
Secondary: None
Conditioning: Curse of Hathor Fig Ale
Ruins of Olderfleet Oatmeal Stout
Blackduck Shallows Wild Rice English Ale
1 a.m. Hampsterdam Black IPA
Omar's Revenge - Vanilla Imperial Porter
On tap:
Sundog Rye
Rainmaker IPA
Great Harvest Pumpkin Ale
Hill Tribe Herb Beer
Tha(I)PA 1- Herb Beer
Tha(I)PA 2- Herb Beer
Tasmanian Devil - Saison

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