So you want to brew beer...getting started

When Mike and I started brewing, I didn't know anything about the process. Mike had brewed beer in the past a few times with his roommate. However, the truth is that Mike drank beer while his roommate brewed it. Needless to say, we both had a lot to learn about the process. I had no idea when I bought a beginner brew kit as a gift for Mike that we would have an entire garage brewery that includes glychol chillers and 12 taps. My point being that everyone starts somewhere, and it can be overwhelming to see people's fancy setups. Don't worry! Most people start with plastic buckets and an extract kit. Our blogs this year will show our current brew process, but I hope you remember that there are different techniques, different systems, and different styles of brewing. Go with your comfort level and have fun! 

How we got started:
We started Two Jacks by brewing with a cheap kit that included 2 plastic buckets, bottles, bottle caps, priming sugar, sanitizer, an extract kit, and a large pot. We made our first beer in our kitchen which turned into a hot mess as the wort bubbled and boiled over. It took me an hour to clean up the sticky mess. My point being that you will stumble along the way, you will make mistakes, and you will be shocked at how far your brewing can come in a short amount of time. In the last 8 years, we have gone from plastic buckets to glass carboys to stainless steel fermenters. We have moved from making 5 gallon batches to 25 gallon batches. We have gone from brewing other people's recipes to creating our own. Currently, we are hoping to update our brewery to include a grain mill and yeast collection (we are short on space, though).

Getting Started:
My suggestion would be to start with extract brewing.  Here are a few tips:
1) Buy a home brewing kit;
2) Take a class at a local homebrew shop;
3) Watch a friend brew and join them on brew day!;
4) Start small, especially if you have no experience; 
5) Don't be intimidated; 
6) Have fun! 

It can be overwhelming to see fancy equipment and advanced brewing processes when you are getting started. Don't worry about it. The most advanced and award winning homebrewer started out not knowing anything as well. There are tons of blogs and videos related to questions brewers have. As a teacher, I always approach everything with the mentality that I can always learn and improve. Mike and I learned through videos and trial and error. We have developed our brewing process over the past 8 years and adjust things after each brewing process or whenever we feel we need to update our system. That's part of the journey. So, try brewing...enjoy the process!

Equipment Needed to get started:

A basic homebrew starter kit starts at around $70. The one pictured is from morebeer.com. I would post a picture of our old plastic bucket setup, but we no longer have the buckets. We did repurpose them in the brewhouse for cleaning after we upgraded, but the buckets eventually wore out. With this particular kit, you will also need to purchase bottles, caps, a boil kettle, and an ingredient kit. Most companies make more elaborate kits that include everything; just read what is included and stay within your comfortable budget range.

Another great place to start is your local homebrew store. We shop at Windsor Homebrewing Supply in Costa Mesa (they also have an Anaheim location). They have a complete starter bundle that includes everything you need to get started and a ticket to their beginner's class. The package is currently $200. We like Windsor Homebrew because the owner, Scott, is a super cool dude, and all of his employees are very knowledgeable. We have picked up quite a few tips from his shop and appreciate how many questions he has answered for us over the years. 

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Our equipment:

Our original all grain system: 

Our current brewing system:

Fermenters and Beer Garden

Cheers!

​2JBC