Mmmm.... Beer. There is nothing quite like the delicious tastes and wide variety of good craft beers. Some are dark, some are light, and some are in between; some are hoppy with high notes, while others are smooth and mellow. The world of craft beer is extensive, imagine the possibilities! Well these days, you don't have to just imagine them, you can actually create them yourself! It's true, home brewing your own beer is something that is actually quite affordable and easy, all it takes is a little know-how, and I'm here to help!
Brewing your own beer at home is a more common process than you might think as well, as people have been doing it for ages. Basically, home brewing is the brewing of any beverage through the process of fermentation on a small scale as a hobby, used for personal consumption, amateur brewing competitions, or any other non-commercial reason.
People have been fermenting their own alcohol for thousands of years, but starting in the 20th century, there were certain restrictions and regulations that began being placed on the practice in certain places. But hey, restrictions are boring, lets talk about the good stuff! How do you actually brew beer? Well, five basic steps are involved...
Step 1 - actually brew the beer. You will have to soak malted barley in hot water which will release the malt sugars, and then boil this together with hops (what creates the bitterness flavor in beer). Grains may also frequently be added in this step as well, to add color and flavor complexity. Step 2 - Cooling and fermenting. As the solution cools it will begin to ferment once yeast is added. This releases CO2 and ethyl alcohol as sugars begin to ferment. Sanitation and cleanliness are incredibly important here, as you don't want bacteria taking over, and this process can take about 1-2 weeks. Step 3 - prime and bottle the beer. Add a priming agent such as corn sugar, and then bottle and cap the beer. Step 4 - age the beer for at least 2-6 weeks or more, depending on desired taste. During this step, yeast will continue to ferment in the bottle, which will create and release carbon dioxide naturally within. Step 5 - well what are you waiting for? Drink it already!
You can buy a basic home brewing kit for around $75, and all of the other necessary equipment and ingredients could run you between $25-$60. But once you start to settle in the process, it will become easier and less cost will be involved. Plus, you will start making better and more varied types of beers!
Brewing your own beer at home is a more common process than you might think as well, as people have been doing it for ages. Basically, home brewing is the brewing of any beverage through the process of fermentation on a small scale as a hobby, used for personal consumption, amateur brewing competitions, or any other non-commercial reason.
People have been fermenting their own alcohol for thousands of years, but starting in the 20th century, there were certain restrictions and regulations that began being placed on the practice in certain places. But hey, restrictions are boring, lets talk about the good stuff! How do you actually brew beer? Well, five basic steps are involved...
Step 1 - actually brew the beer. You will have to soak malted barley in hot water which will release the malt sugars, and then boil this together with hops (what creates the bitterness flavor in beer). Grains may also frequently be added in this step as well, to add color and flavor complexity. Step 2 - Cooling and fermenting. As the solution cools it will begin to ferment once yeast is added. This releases CO2 and ethyl alcohol as sugars begin to ferment. Sanitation and cleanliness are incredibly important here, as you don't want bacteria taking over, and this process can take about 1-2 weeks. Step 3 - prime and bottle the beer. Add a priming agent such as corn sugar, and then bottle and cap the beer. Step 4 - age the beer for at least 2-6 weeks or more, depending on desired taste. During this step, yeast will continue to ferment in the bottle, which will create and release carbon dioxide naturally within. Step 5 - well what are you waiting for? Drink it already!
You can buy a basic home brewing kit for around $75, and all of the other necessary equipment and ingredients could run you between $25-$60. But once you start to settle in the process, it will become easier and less cost will be involved. Plus, you will start making better and more varied types of beers!
No comments:
Post a Comment