Brew Up Something Exciting at Home.
With the rise of craft beer, home brewing is becoming an increasingly popular hobby. Quite simply, home brewing is the art of making beer at home. This process can range from small batch kits, to fully fledged homebrewing setups. No matter the size or scale, brewing your own beer can be an incredibly rewarding experience. For those looking to give home brewing a go, they will find that it is not as difficult as it may seem.
Before getting started with home brewing, there are a few basic items to consider; brewing ingredients, brewing supplies, and process tools. When it comes to ingredients for home brewing, there are two main categories: wort and yeast. Wort is the solution of sugars, proteins, and minerals that is created from the combination of grains and boiling water. This sweet liquid is what the yeast feeds on to produce alcohol. The yeast is the type of fermentation agent used when creating beer. Working together with the wort, the yeast produces the wonderful flavor and carbonation of beer.
When it comes to brewing supplies, understanding the role of each item can make the home brewing process much smoother. Since much of the beer-making process involves boiling, two large containers will be needed. An outdoor propane burner is often used for boiling the wort, along with a large pot to serve as the brew kettle. A funnel and strainer will come in handy for adding the grains, and a hydrometer is necessary for measuring the sugar content. Other supplies include tubing, fermentation containers, and bottles for bottling.
In addition to understanding the ingredients and supplies needed for home brewing, it is important to understand the process tools necessary for the task. Liquid ingredients, such as malt extract, hops, and yeast should all be on hand. It is also necessary to have a thermometer and pH meter, which are essential for monitoring temperature and acidity. Additionally, some people find a bottling wand, capper or corker, and bottle tree or shelf helpful.
Once the proper ingredients and tools are gathered, it is time to begin brewing. Generally, the process begins by creating the wort. The wort is created by adding crushed grains to warm water within the brew kettle. The grains are then boiled to extract and dissolve their sugars, proteins, and minerals into the liquid, and are sometimes combined with malt extract and hops. From here, the brew is cooled to the appropriate temperature, and the fermentation container is filled.
Yeast is then added to the cooled wort and vigorously mixed. The fermentation container is then sealed, air locks are attached, and the beer is left to sit for at least two weeks. During this time the yeast feeds off the wort and fermenting enzymes, breaking down the fermentable sugars and turning it into alcohol.
At this point, the beer is ready for bottling. The beer is transferred from the fermentation container to the bottling bucket. Next, priming sugar is added which provides carbon dioxide to the bottle when the beer is transferred and creates carbonation. After the beer has been transferred to the bottles, they are sealed, and are then sitting and aging for at least a few weeks. From here, the beer is ready to be enjoyed.
Home brewing brings with it a range of rewards; it is an incredibly fun and cost effective way to make your own beer, and it allows you to customize your beer exactly to your tastes. Whether you are just starting out, or are a seasoned brewer in search of the next perfect craft beer, the possibilities are endless with home brewing. So, go ahead and get brewing, it’s time to unlock your inner brewer and bring out that creative side. Cheers!