A Mine Field

That's exactly what this is.  Its difficult coming into something totally new and be able to see the wood for the trees. 
Extract, grain, hops, malt, fermentation, conditioning, steeping.......I found it difficult not to get disheartened and lose interest, thinking "nah this isn't for me, i thought it would have been simpler".

Well, like anything you learn, you need to strip it back, go to basics.  I trawled the Internet and YouTube to get familiar with what the terms were, what the processes were and where it was best, or should I say easiest to start.

Before I got involved with which beer to make, what process to chose, I decided to look at the equipment needed and what they all did.

Basics, learning to drive, you learn how the car works.  Same.

Research, Research, Research

Hours and hours spent online, youtube and every hombrew forum gave an excellent insight into how to get started, what you need, and if you can actually be bothered with it all.

My favourite source of the above was Craig Tube http://www.youtube.com/user/CraigTube straight talking, down to earth, guy from Canada who give a step by step guide to everything, without rambling.  So take a look at his stuff, he goes right back to basics aswell as doing the more advanced stuff if thats what you want.

I like a beer

So, I'm guessing you've arrived here because you share the same sentiment.

Of course you do.



I had'nt really delved too adventurously into different beers at all until about 3 years ago.  I just drank the usual Carling, Stella, Fosters, Bud.  You know, the big commercial gassy beers.



The Kinmel Arms St George



Boxing Day saw the start of an annual trip to the country style pub nearby.  The 3 legged hay bale race and several pints with family has its obvious attractions.  My usual in there was a pint of Peroni, which was not a pint found in most places in the area, and since the World Cup in Germany its always reminded me of a great summer of football, sun and beer.

But not this year.  Four pumps lined the front of the cold marble bar, and a trip from one end to the other and back again was a challenge set by my Father in Law, affectionately known as FIL.  (Mother in Law is MIL).

So there's me, MIL and FIL, and the Wife (designated driver).

I wont bore you with each pint, but they were local ales and bitters which surprised me with how tasty and easy to drink they were.

Boxing Day was a game changer.  I completely went off Peroni and the like, and 9 times out of 10 I will now always have a taste of what the pumps with no name have in store.

That's a brief story of my life in beer, fairly short but nice to account for.