What beer should I brew next? (brewers, please chime in!)

[cheezus]

Because I got it as a gift, I'm brewing with the Mr. Beer kit (basically just a 2.1 gallon fermenter with no secondary). For xmas I got a pound each of amber and dark dry malt extract (DME), a hydrometer, and a gift cert to the local homebrew shop (which is actually a make-your-own-wine place that stocks a very small selection of homebrew supplies -- a couple kits and DME, bottling stuff, a new different hops).

I'm thinking an IPA, since it's colder than ever outside. Either that or a wheat beer. Any suggestions?

Any stories of your own brewing you'd like to share?

[EstimatedProphet]

1. I love IPA!

Do you do your own mashing? If so, next time you make a whole grain beer, throw in a pound of rye too. Rye in an IPA is fantastic.
Also, if you make a stout, use chocolate malt and about 6 oz. of baker's chocolate for a real chocolate beer. Yummy!

[sam sarrha]

2. you need to get some Champaign yeast, go to a Bulk Food Health food store

and buy your own malt sugar..its cheap. and get your barley and toast it to the golden brown you like.. in the oven.. you can get hops in a health food store over in the bulk spice section..usually in gallon jars/1/2 gal jars REALLY cheap.. there are large chains becoming popular.. use old champaign bottles and a bottle capper, look in the paper for wedding announcements and show up at the reception and offer to help clean up afterwords for the empty champaign bottles..., but clear plastic soda bottles will work fine..just rinse out with bleach and tap water

you can also just make hard cider out of frozen apple juice.. and bottle with pinch of sugar and a grainier if yeast and it will make sparkling cider...

but i dont drink that stuff anymore.. i had a black out that lasted 32 years... i haven't got another 30 years to waste

[sam sarrha]

3. the story about how Irish Guinness happened is that after a fire in

a barley warehouse.. this guy heard that the grain was free for the removal because it was charred. so this guy figured the Irish dock workers liked dark stout and would drink anything to get a buzz and he could make some cash getting rid of it. He brewed up some black ale with the burnt barley and the rest is history.

[Megahurtz]

4. Do IPA!!!

the hoppier, the happier!:beer:

[jpgray]

5. Russian imperial stout, schwarzbier, or brown ale are my picks. (nt)

[leftofthedial]

6. IPA!!

Always a good choice.