Kolek planning to go pro
I've been homebrewing for over 25 years. Northern Brewer is a solid supplier and I'm fortunate they have a store in West Allis. If you are in Milwaukee or the Twin Cities where NB is based they also provide classes on brewing. You can also order directly from their website and they will ship to you, don't know if the prices are any different than on Amazon.That starter kit looks like all you need to get started, I prefer to use 5 gallon glass carboys for fermenters instead of those pails but it's a start.
They also have a starter kit with the Glass ones. But it runs an extra 70 or so dollars. Is it worth doing? Also might take a run today to West Allis to look in their store.
Do a couple kits, get your feet wet. When you're up for it, graduate to all-grain. It makes a difference in the quality of what you can do. I'm amazed by how good it can turn out.Keep it clean.Bible: How To Brew: Everything You Need To Know To Brew Beer Right The First Time - PalmerGet it, best reference book available.I like Randy Mosher's thinking about brewing. I have done a couple from his Radical Brewing book.
Beer is one of those things like honey and barbecue sauce that it is just so easy to buy at the corner store. I saw Alton Brown sterilizing bottles and taking weeks to make a 12 pack and decided home brewing is not in my cards.
you're right, to a pointbut I can brew a bit over 2 cases (5 gallons) of Zombie Dust for a fraction of what I could buy it for IF I would have access to purchasing more than single bottles at the store whenever they happen to come in
Good point. There are a ton of recipes online where people have made clones of famous hard to get beers from around the world. Worth checking out if you have a hard to get favorite that doesn't involve barrel aging or wacky brewing processes.
I recommend checking out Spike Brewing. Located in MKE and great products for home brewing. Started and owned by a great young guy.
I feel like Zombie Dust over the last 6-12 months has become pretty readily available. Not sure if they increased production or if demand has settled, or maybe both?
Does anyone here have experience with growing hops? I'm curious to know which strains are hearty enough to thrive in/withstand Milwaukee's climate.
You can usually find quite a few hop varieties at local greenhouses. Many grow readily in Milwaukee's climate. Easiest to find are Cascade, and they are used in quite a few APA's. Soon you will find yourself with more hops than you know what to do with!Southern exposure btw
WaldoYou must have found a different Spike Brewing. Their product is for home brewing and priced competitively in the marketplace. They are a client of mine and a great company.