We picked up most of our equipment and two recipe kits at Austin Homebrew Supply. On Friday, February 11, 2011, we brewed our first beer - a Deschutes Black Butte Porter clone. The process was much different than what we were used to with Mr. Beer, but I think it was more satisfying. It was still an extract batch, but now we steeped grains and added our own hops. All in all, it took about 4 or 5 hours, much longer than Mr. Beer.
We should be racking it from the primary to a secondary fermentor this weekend, and bottling in about another two weeks. It would be nice to come close to the Black Butte, but I will be happy if it just tastes good.
Here is a picture of my homebrew/fermentation cabinet.
On the top left shelf is Saint Arnold Divine Reserve 9 & 10, and on the top right is my last Mr. Beer brew - a chocolate stout.
We'll probably brew the next batch - a coconut porter - in early March.
Prost!
