It’s safe to say my first homebrew was a bit of a chaotic mess. I clearly had no idea what I was doing. Heck, I didn’t even use all grain I stuck with extract. Every possible shortcut and convenience was at my disposal—and I still managed to do everything as sloppy as possible.
But I made beer. And it was drinkable.
This blog is based on a homebrew kit my family got me from MoreBeer.com (P.S. That site is great—and it’s even in-state for me). I used that kit to make my first batch, and I’m here to pass on a few tips and pointers I learned the hard way.
Proper Prep Prevents Piss Poor Performance
Yeah, it’s a cliché—but it’s dead on.
Have everything ready. I mean everything. Lay out your ingredients. Clean your brew pot. Sanitize your fermenter. Make sure you have a plan to chill your wort (many sinks won’t fit your pot). Walk through the entire process in your head—or better yet, mock it out with your equipment.
You’ll bump into issues you hadn’t even thought of—and trust me, it’s better to discover them before the wort’s boiling.
There’s Going to Be a Mess
Brewing is messy, especially the first time. Have a lot of towels handy (paper or regular), and make sure your dishwasher, trash can, and laundry machines are empty. You’ll need them.
Keep Star San on Metal
If you buy a 5-gallon kit, you’ll likely get a bottle of concentrated Star San sanitizer. This stuff is powerful—30 mL will sanitize a whole 5-gallon bucket. But here’s a warning: don’t leave it on your nice counters.
If you forget it there, it’ll eat into the surface and leave a ring that’s not coming out. Mine lives in the kitchen sink or on a metal tray while I brew.
Buy Ice (More Than You Think You Need)
To cool your wort fast, you’ll need a lot of ice—especially if you don’t have snow outside or a wort chiller. Two bags is a good start.
Once your boiling wort hits that ice bath, it’ll be around 210°F, and it’ll melt ice fast. Add a layer of cold water first—it helps transfer heat better.
Carve Out 6 Hours
Your first brew day will take a while. Plan for about 6 hours.
You’ll hit unexpected issues, get distracted, and just take your time—and that’s okay. Brewing in a rush = bad beer. Once you start the process, there’s no stopping it, so settle in and enjoy the ride.
Stash the Bottling Gear
Most starter kits come with bottles, caps, a capper, and priming sugar. You won’t need those on brew day, so move them out of the way. Otherwise, they’ll just clutter your space—or worse, get damaged.
Final Thought
My first brew wasn’t perfect—but it was mine. The experience taught me more than any YouTube video or article could have. And if I can make drinkable beer with no clue what I was doing, so can you.
Last but not least try to remember to have fun. Cheers!
Got your own brewing disaster to share? Drop it in the comments below—I’d love to hear about it!
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