How can I get started brewing my own beer at home?
How can I get started brewing my own beer at home?
user
The simplest answer is that you just need some grains to soak, and to boil, then strain and ferment.  You can learn more by reading the wikipedia page on brewing beer, or talking to someone who already knows how to do it.
assistant
What kind of supplies will I need to get started?
user
Basically, you need some grain and some yeast.  Once you have those two things, you can use just about any source of water to make beer.  Yeast is usually available in dried form, and you’ll probably want to buy it online, from a company like Royal Brewing.  I think getting a hand grinder would be a good idea, too, to grind the grain, and also to make fresh brewing yeast from scratch.
assistant
What are some good types of hops to buy for beer?
user
The biggest thing is to get some bittering hops, and to experiment and see what you like.  Hopheads can tell you a bunch of information about bitterness and stuff, and I can talk about the chemistry if you want, but to get started you can just read the wikipedia page on hops, and that should give you some good ideas.  Some of the better-known varieties are Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, and Glacier, but you don’t have to use those ones if you don’t like them.
assistant
What stage of the brewing process do you add the hops?
user