Home brew beer has a taste unlike no other; there is just nothing that can compare.
Plus, beer brewed at home can be an interesting hobby.
So, if you are itching to get started, the following will tell you how to make beer at home.
But, before you begin, you need to gather some home brewing supplies.
They are easy to find and do not cost a lot of money, usually under $200 for everything.
Brewing supplies can be located at any store that sells them or on the internet.
The tools you will need include: · A Pot for Brewing · A Plastic Hose · Fermenting Device · A Bucket for Bottling · Stopper and Airlock · Bottle Brush and Capper · A Stick-on Type Thermometer · Small Bowl · Saucepan · Oven Mitts · A Spatula · Mixing Spoons (Wooden) For beginners, home brew kits are the best choice.
These kits have every tool you need to get started, like yeast and concentrated hop malt.
However, you will have to purchase fermentables that add unique flavors to your home brew beer.
This doesn't mean you can't purchase your ingredients separately; however, kits are the best way to get all of your needed supplies.
Once you buy your home brewing supplies, you must sanitize them.
Do not neglect this important step.
First, wash your supplies in hot, soapy water, and sanitize them with an iodine or chlorine solution, which can be found in all home brew kits.
After sanitizing, you cant start making your home brew beer.
Start by adding 2 qts.
of water into your brew pot.
Heat the water to steaming; once it reaches 180°F, remove the pot from the heat.
When you do this, you can put in your fermentables and ingredients from your kit.
Make sure to follow all of the kit's instructions.
The next step in making a home brew beer is stirring the water/ingredient mixture until it dissolves, putting the lid over the pot, and leave it sitting on low heat for 20 minutes.
After 20 minutes is up, put 4 gallons of water into your fermenter and add in your wort mix.
To oxygenate your mixture, stir it for four minutes.
You can put in your yeast when the wort mixture has cooled.
Now, you can let the wort in your home brew beer ferment; this is a 5 day process.
During this time, continue to keep your eye on the temperature; it needs to be 65°F and kept in a dark area of your home.
When you see tiny bubbles of air moving to the top of your wort, it is fermenting.
On day number 5, check on your home brew beer.
It might take several more days, but when the air bubbles disappear, you can bottle your beer.
Keep being patient; you can't rush the fermenting process; you could ruin your beer's taste.
Before bottling your home brew beer, you need to make your primary solution, which is what gives your beer its carbonation.
So, put in two cups of water along with three-fourths a cup of dextrose.
Boil on medium heat and cool for a half an hour.
Then you can pour your home brew beer into your bottling bucket.
Once in the bucket, the hose needs to be attached to the fermenter's spigot.
The hose's opposite end should be put in the bottling bucket.
After opening the spigot, your home brew beer can be moved to the bucket.
When you complete this step, take off the hose and clean it; you can throw away the fermenter.
When you fill your bottles, leave about an inch of room at the top of the bottle.
Cap it tightly; there should be no leaks.
The home brew beer process is not over yet.
The bottled beer has to be fermented for a second time in a dark, cool area.
Your fridge will not work; the temperature is too cold.
If you have a basement, put the beer there.
After two weeks of sitting, you will finally be able to enjoy the home brew beer you worked so hard to make.