Did you know that beer is the most widely drunk beverage in the world? Furthermore, it is probably the oldest alcoholic drink as well. Some historians believe that beer dates back to 9500 BC. There is no doubt, then, why it remains so popular today. And so, beer lovers have become more and more interested in making their own home brewed beer. So let us grab some barley and hops and find out how you can make your own brew.
It is a good idea to know what actually constitutes beer. At its most basic level it is a combination of water, a starch that can be fermented, usually malted barley, yeast, and hops, which provides the flavor. A quick word about hops because it is so often referred to in advertisements, its only commercial application is to provide flavor. It comes from the hop vine and its flowers are used in the brewing process.
But what we really wish to know is how to take these ingredients and start making up our own refreshing drinks. The first thing you will need to become the "brewmeister" is a brewing kit. This is unless you have financial backers or enough money of your own to start a brewery. If you do, you probably do not need to be reading this. This is for those who just want to use a simple kit.
First, as hinted at above, buying a kit does not require taking out a second mortgage. Virtually all kits come equipped with the necessary ingredients and hardware to get you started. They can be found online or at specialty retail stores. You can expect to pay from thirty dollars to over a thousand. It is probably a good idea to invest wisely in the beginning to see if brewing your own is for you.
Be certain that your kit includes all you need to start and finish your brewing. This means that it comes with all equipment, ingredients and bottles that you need. Starters will typically need bottles, a fermenting bucket, yeast, hops or hop extract and wort. Wort is the liquid extracted from the barley. An instructional DVD and user's manual would be great too.
The process of brewing is not very difficult. Actually, people who brew their own beer at home will usually tell you that they find it to be more of a fun hobby. Most people are surprised to learn that it does not take very long to be drinking your first brew. From the time you first check out your equipment to the time you are taking your first sip is typically about 14 days. Put another way, you will have jealous friends drinking your creation in about 2 weeks.
A quick word of caution to those planning on using kegs for either added aging or storage, they can be dangerous if not properly attended to. Kegs may contain residual pressure. If they are not properly vented, the valve can explode causing serious harm to anyone in the way of a projectile valve.
Brewing at home can be more than just a way to avoid going to the store when you feel like a beer. It can be a fun hobby that keeps you entertained and provides a refreshing drink at the same time.
It is a good idea to know what actually constitutes beer. At its most basic level it is a combination of water, a starch that can be fermented, usually malted barley, yeast, and hops, which provides the flavor. A quick word about hops because it is so often referred to in advertisements, its only commercial application is to provide flavor. It comes from the hop vine and its flowers are used in the brewing process.
But what we really wish to know is how to take these ingredients and start making up our own refreshing drinks. The first thing you will need to become the "brewmeister" is a brewing kit. This is unless you have financial backers or enough money of your own to start a brewery. If you do, you probably do not need to be reading this. This is for those who just want to use a simple kit.
First, as hinted at above, buying a kit does not require taking out a second mortgage. Virtually all kits come equipped with the necessary ingredients and hardware to get you started. They can be found online or at specialty retail stores. You can expect to pay from thirty dollars to over a thousand. It is probably a good idea to invest wisely in the beginning to see if brewing your own is for you.
Be certain that your kit includes all you need to start and finish your brewing. This means that it comes with all equipment, ingredients and bottles that you need. Starters will typically need bottles, a fermenting bucket, yeast, hops or hop extract and wort. Wort is the liquid extracted from the barley. An instructional DVD and user's manual would be great too.
The process of brewing is not very difficult. Actually, people who brew their own beer at home will usually tell you that they find it to be more of a fun hobby. Most people are surprised to learn that it does not take very long to be drinking your first brew. From the time you first check out your equipment to the time you are taking your first sip is typically about 14 days. Put another way, you will have jealous friends drinking your creation in about 2 weeks.
A quick word of caution to those planning on using kegs for either added aging or storage, they can be dangerous if not properly attended to. Kegs may contain residual pressure. If they are not properly vented, the valve can explode causing serious harm to anyone in the way of a projectile valve.
Brewing at home can be more than just a way to avoid going to the store when you feel like a beer. It can be a fun hobby that keeps you entertained and provides a refreshing drink at the same time.
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