NEW BREWER EAGER TO LEARN

[MikesBrew]

I recently relocated from Oregon to the San Fernando Valley in California. During my time in Oregon, I developed a love for real beer. Prior to my time in Oregon I drank the mass market swill that has since become nothing more, in my eyes, than urine. I got to enjoy, firsthand, microbrews such as Rogue, Deschutes, Calapooia, Hop Valley and BY FAR MY FAVORITE NINKASI. I have been saying for years that home brewing is on my bucket list. Someone got me a Mr. Beer brew kit for Christmas. I realized right away that this designed as a low end intro to brewing. I will run a couple of batches with Mr. Brew but am already searching for and pricing higher quality brew materials. I have researched methods to tweek the Mr. Beer recipes by adding extra hops or dry hopping. One day I hope to be able to duplicate or come close to such fine brews as Ninkasis Tricerahops or Oatis Stout or some of the other fine beers I have come to love. If anyone has any input or could point me in the right direction for equipment and supplies that would be much appreciated.
Cheers

[spiderwrangler]

Some guys more local to you will likely be able to chime in with brew shops that do a good job with educating and helping people get into the hobby. HB clubs (including The BN!) are another excellent way to increase your brewing knowledge. Many of the people here got started on Mr. Beer, but as you said it's an entry point that many people move past pretty quickly.

[TheDarkSide]

Welcome.

MidWest Supplies often has a groupon for a homebrew starter kit. If you don't currently have any equipment except Mr. Beer, it may be a great place to pick up the essentials. Then you can add ( and believe me, you will ) equipment as you improve and grow.

[Bugeater]

Welcome! Being in California now, I would suggest Williams Brewing or MoreBeer for equipment and other brewing stuff. Both are BN sponsors but I prefer Williams for a number of reasons.

Wayne

[cornhole]

Welcome!

[captain carrot]

Welcome to the Asylum!

The AHA has a homebrew supply shop directory
http://www.homebrewersassociation.org/p ... upply-shop
Some offer discounts to AHA members.

Have a blast!

[Dr Octavius]

the closest homebrew shop is in simi valley. i live in the san fernando valley too. i order from midwest supplies and they been pretty good to me. and since your new here theyre a couple of local breweries you might want to check out. there is gold road brewery which is located near glenale and they also sell food and theyre a couple of other ones. also theyre is bigger breweries that have brewpubs too like karl strauss and gordon beirsh and bj's also brew there own beer

[Dr Octavius]

i forgot to mention that i am also new to brewing so i might not able to answer many of your questions but i am really in craft beer and home brewing so cheers to that