New to Brewing - Saint John area

[bradS]

Hey guys - just getting into brewing (festa kit under belt). I tried an extract brew while in Halifax and im interested in moving up the ladder so to speak. Great site learning lots from the info on here.

[Ian Grant]

Welcome

[bradS]

Thanks Guys - I have the dry in the keg carbonating now. I would like to find a recipe to make a light beer suitable for a summer pounder like store bought beer, I know that guys who are really into brewing dont think to highly of the store bought beers but my tastes haven't matured that far yet. I do like alot of the pumphouse stuff tho.

[bradS]

Starting in May I could as I'm a seasonal camper on Grand Lake. Thats part of the reason getting into makinf beer was the quality that can be made with a festa kit and the prospect of kegging, I can show up with several kegs for the weekend. I am fully set up with CO2, 5 kegs, and a fridge. I figured if im going to get into it at all kegging is the way to go.

[fakr]

Welcome Brad!

Good luck with the festabrew.  They are a good starter kit.  Even with all grain brewing, I'd still consider a festa brew on here and there if I couldn't find the time to brew.

Definitely catch a meeting if you can so you can sample some of the guy's craft brews, you'll be thoroughly impressed....lots of talent with these guys!

[fakr]

Same here...after rounding up over 400 bottles, I realized I didn't like cleaning bottles as much as drinking the beer, so I got into kegging like a lot of others in the club.  I do find now that I make 6 GAL batches so I can fill a keg and have a bit left to bottle for meetings or give to friends.

[Kyle]

Hi BradS,

Welcome to the club. Or first meeting in May is Saturday the 12th at 2pm, we rotate venues between members' houses, and we don't have a set venue for that date yet, but we'll send you the address info ahead of the meeting.

Feel free to post any brewing questions you may have.
 

[Richard]

Looks like we'll be having one at your Camp Site soon

(seriously, we should talk...)

[bradS]

Thanks - I'd check out a meeting when you nail it down. What about membership? Do I need to buy before I go?

[Richard]

I'd heartily recommend it... however we usually allow people to show up to their first to get a feel for the club.

[bradS]

OK thanks - I do like the idea of checking it out first and seeing what other things are avaialble. I just had  my first glass of Festa Brew Dry needs a bit more carbonation but getting very close. I cannot believe how good it tastes! these are not like the old can kits i made 14 yrs ago.

Like I said previously I'm mostly looking to get beer for pounding back on the deck all summer and if making from grain or extract is 1/2 as good as the festa kit....I'm sure I'll be hooked

[Kyle]

When I started brewing, it was with the Coopers no-boil cans, and they were terrible. While you can make good beers with a number of methods, you can make really excellent ones with a method called "all-grain" we can walk you through the process.

[ANGELofDEBT]

Hey BradS

I see you're in Quispam, so am I. We should try and meet up. Another brewer and I are trying to get organized with other brewers around SJ.

[fakr]

Hey Brad,

If you're looking for quick kegs to pound back at the lake, the festa kits are definitely one of the easiest brews to make, and they are good quality.
Doesn't matter if you stay with kits, or go all grain, you're more than welcome here.  There are basic brewing techniques you'll use for every type of alcohol you make, be it kits, extract, all grain, wine, etc.  Sanitization, proper equipment, temperature controll are all the foundation of making great brew.

I remember using the "trial and error" method of learning to brew in the beginning with kits and festas....not a good feeling when you end up pouring out 40+ bottles of beer because of an infection.  I hooked up with this crew and have made great beer since.

WARNING:  If you attend a meeting and sample all the various beers these guys make, you could very well end up with a new obsession....

[brew]

Welcome Brad - looking forward to meeting you sometime!