Expert: Dave Nyce - 1/30/2007

Question
Santa Clause was nice this year and I got a homebrewing kit; a brew store put it together for about $125 (not like a toy kit).  I really like good beer, and want to try to make my own.    The store I bought it from didn't have the book that came with the kit (they ran out)...and I forgot to write down the book's title.   
So I search online and there are dozens!  I would like a book that is very thorough, but nothing I need a chemistry degree for.  
Suggestions?  
One other question...the kit came with my choice of style to start out with, and I chose Irish Stout.  I also purchased some oatmeal, thinking I will be the first person to make an oatmeal/irish stout?  Is that a silly idea?  Worth trying...maybe after a few trial runs??

 Thanks
  Adam  

Answer
I haven't bought any brewing books.  I got started about ten years ago by buying a kit.  Later, I bought the individual components and the ingredients at a local brewing supply store, following the directions that came with the kit.  Eventually, I began to gain some experience and have made some fine beers.

Here's a website that you can use instead of the info that was supposed to come with your equipment: http://www.soyouwanna.com/site/syws/makebeer/makebeer.html

You can click on each of the 5 selections and find out what you need to know.  After that first batch, you can go to the supply store and buy another set of ingredients.  You usually start off with a can of hopped malt, and add some liquid malt, hops, and yeast according to the type of beer you would like to make.

As far as the oatmeal: I don't like beers with wheat, oatmeal, etc.  So I would not recommend it.

Hope this helps!

Dave