New homebrewers, just one tip

Homebrewing — By DJ Spiess on July 21, 2008 at 1:59 pm

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The Brew Dudes posed this question to homebrewers for July? What tip would you offer to new homebrewers?

When first homebrewing, a novice can quickly be overrun with information. You’re told to worry about dimethyl sulfide, make sure you pitch at the exact temperature, sterilize and sanitize till it hurts, don’t boil too long, make sure you boil long enough, and most of all “relax, don’t worry, and have a homebrew”. No wonder new homebrewers are neurotic basket cases screaming for help on internet brewer forums. What are they to do?

Find a Jedi

What is the one piece of advice I would offer a new brewer? Watch someone else brew first.

You can read every book on beer in the universe (I’d recommend How to Brew by John Palmer), but watching someone do it once can really put you at ease.

If you can’t find a friend, locate your local homebrew club. Someone somewhere near you knows how to brew. You should watch him or her. See if you can witness the whole process from boil to bottle.

When you watch someone who has been brewing for a while, they will have plenty of good and bad habits. The important thing to take away from watching someone is it can be done.

If you’re lucky, you might see a few mistakes. You might even catch the brewer doing something brewing books and the internet warn against. Your “Jedi” might even commit some horrible homebrewing sin. It’s ok. That is what you are looking for, because despite all these mistakes the end result will be beer.

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