TOPIC:

Hello All,
Just a quick hello... Myself and my Dad have decided to give this brewing lark a lash. He has brewed from kits in the past but I am a complete novice (I'm hoping my qualifications as an Industrial Chemist will give me a bit of a start)

Is there a place on this forum for newbies like us? We need to ask VERY basic questions...like how do we start, what should we buy, where should we buy it from, should we brew from a kit for a while before getting more adventurous???

Looking forward to getting to know ye all and learn from your experiences!

I would start off looking at the Brewing knowledge section at the top of the page, as that has a lot of information about the basics and related ingredients. There is also a list of suppliers in the links section. Most people do a couple of kits, just to get the general process down, but it all depends how adventurous you feel! The more advanced the method of brewing, the longer it usually takes, but the better the results in my opinion.

"edgewalker":2gukuciz wrote: Hello All,
(I'm hoping my qualifications as an Industrial Chemist will give me a bit of a start)

Is there a place on this forum for newbies like us? We need to ask VERY basic questions...like how do we start, what should we buy, where should we buy it from, should we brew from a kit for a while before getting more adventurous???
[/quote:2gukuciz]

As a fellow chemist ( by degree but not work ) welcome to the site.

All newcomers are welcome. Feel free to ask away

Remember: "The only stupid question is one thats not asked"

As Taf said read the guides, try a few of the better kits first then move on through extract brewing and up to all grain [u:2gukuciz]If you want to[/u:2gukuciz] Its your call

A lot of people are happy with kits, a lot are very happy with extract, and a lot have gone all grain.

The basic equipment for kit brewing is still needed at the AG end of the scale.

Cheers

Will

Welcome to the top of a very slippery slope.
My advise to you is like the lads say, read/read/read, it will give you the questions you will want to ask.

Then find a local brewer (one of us) and join them on a brewday. There is nothing like seeing the process in realtime with someone that is only to willing to share their knowledge with you.
I've done this as the newbie and as the brewer and found both enjoyable and a great learning experience.

I'm in the south-east if thats any good to you

I'd like to second the brew day suggestion.

I went to one before I started brewing and it really helped with getting my head straight with the whole process.

I still started off with kits, but the whole experience was worthwhile.

Thanks a million everyone for being so welcoming!
I was afraid this forum was going to be some kind of elitist club where philistines like myself would be shunned!
We are in Co Galway so I'll look out for a brew day and start the reading. It's a mine of information here I have to say - well done to whoever set it up!