“Brewing Your Own Beer at Home – A Handbook for Noobs”
When it comes to beer, what is better than enjoying a freshly brewed pint? The answer is simple – brewing your own at home! Home brewing is becoming increasingly popular due to the cost-effectiveness, opportunity to experiment and independence it provides. While it can be a challenge to take on the craft, it can, of course, be extremely rewarding too.
In this guide, we will look at the basics of home brewing so those of you who are just starting out can get a good grounding and make sure you don’t make any novice blunders! With a bit of practice, and plenty of patience, you’ll soon have your own homemade beers and ales!
What Equipment Will I Need?
Before you can begin home brewing, you will need to acquire some basic brewing equipment, so what do you need to get started? Firstly, you’ll need something to brew your beer in. This can be anything from a simple kitchen pan or plastic container to an all-in-one brewing system. Depending on the kind of beer you are looking to make, the size of your pan or container will vary, but as a general rule of thumb, aim for something that can hold around 25 litres of liquid.
The next item you will need is a fermenter, which is where the magic of beer making really happens. Fermenters come in a variety of sizes and styles, but the most popular types are usually made of plastic. A large plastic container will usually work best, such as an old ice cream tub or food storage container. Once you have your fermenter, make sure to sterilise it every time you use it by boiling it in hot water or using special sterilising solution.
You will also need a hydrometer. This is a device used to measure the density of the wort (the liquid produced during the brewing process). A hydrometer is usually made of glass and is placed into the wort to measure its specific gravity. Keep in mind that the hydrometer readings will alter depending on the type of beer being brewed, so you may need to buy different ones depending on your brewing style.
Finally, there are a few other items you will need throughout the brewing process, such as a thermometer, clock, measuring spoons, funnel and a bottling bucket. Of course, there are more complex items available to purchase when it comes to home brewing, but these are certainly the basics.
Ingredients
Most home brewers tend to find that simply using malt extract is the easiest way to start out. Malt extract is produced from grains that have been mashed in a hot liquid. The liquid is then separated from the malt, creating a thick syrup that has a sweetish flavour, and this is the malt extract used in home brewing.
When it comes to what kind of malt extract to purchase, there are a few different options available, from light malt to dark malt, depending on the type of beer you would like to brew. You can also buy hops, which are a bittering agent used to flavourer beer, as well as other additives such as yeast and priming sugar, which will help to carbonate the beer.
Brewing Process
Now that you’ve got the equipment and ingredients, it’s time to get brewing! Home brewing can be a complicated process, with many steps along the way, but we have simplified it down so that those of you who are just starting out can get a good understanding of the basics.
1. The first step of the brewing process is to sanitise everything you will be using in the brew. This is very important to do before you start, as it ensures any bacteria or wild yeast present in the environment won’t contaminate your brew and affect the taste. Do this by thoroughly rinsing all your equipment in a cleaning solution or boiling them in hot water.
2. Next you will need to prepare your malt extract. This is done by heating the malt extract in a pan and stirring until it is completely dissolved. You will then need to cool the wort and transfer it into the fermenter.
3. Once you’ve added the hops (optional) and other additives, you will need to add some yeast. Yeast is the most important factor in brewing as it is the ingredient that will turn the sugars in the wort into alcohol. Different types of beer require different types of yeast, so make sure you get the right kind.
4. The fermentation process is where the yeast begins to ‘eat’ the sugars in the wort and turn them into alcohol. The fermenter should be kept at a consistent temperature throughout the fermenting process, usually between 15-25°C.
5. After a few days, the beer will be ready for bottling. To do this, you will need to transfer the beer from the fermenter into the bottling bucket. You will then need to fill up each bottle and cap it off.
6. Finally, you will need to wait for the beer to carbonate in the bottles. This usually takes around a week, depending on the temperature. Once it has carbonated, it will be ready to drink!
Home brewing is a complex process, but it is a rewarding craft that can give you a sense of satisfaction and achievement. It may be hard work, but the result will be worth it! We hope this guide has gone some way towards helping you understand the basics of home brewing and get you on your way to making your own homemade beers and ales.
“Brewing Your Own Beer at Home – A Handbook for Noobs”.