Creating your Wort:
Step 1: Your Grain
Put your grain into a bag or cheese cloth and put the bag in water. The amount of grain or type of grain needed depends on the beer.
Put your grain into a bag or cheese cloth and put the bag in water. The amount of grain or type of grain needed depends on the beer.
Step 2: Heat
This is necessary to get some of the flavor of the grains into the liquid. This step only requires you to heat the mixture to a certain temperature, not to boil. You will boil later on in the process.
This is necessary to get some of the flavor of the grains into the liquid. This step only requires you to heat the mixture to a certain temperature, not to boil. You will boil later on in the process.
Step 3: Adding Malt Extract
Malt extract comes in a syrup form or this can be achieved by making your own (but that wouldn’t be considered simple now would it) [see how to below]. Add the Malt Extract along with the grain in the heated liquid.
Malt extract comes in a syrup form or this can be achieved by making your own (but that wouldn’t be considered simple now would it) [see how to below]. Add the Malt Extract along with the grain in the heated liquid.
Step 4: Add Hops
Hops is the last thing that gives your beer flavor and aroma. The time that the hops are added along with the type of hops all are factors that determine the taste and smell of your beer.
Hops is the last thing that gives your beer flavor and aroma. The time that the hops are added along with the type of hops all are factors that determine the taste and smell of your beer.
Step 5: Boil
Bringing the liquid to a boil will release the flavor of the hops and some of the trapped flavors within the grains.
Bringing the liquid to a boil will release the flavor of the hops and some of the trapped flavors within the grains.
Fermenting your brew
Step 1: Transfer to Fermenter
Once your wort has cooled, transfer it to a container where it will sit for a couple days to a couple weeks. After it is all transferred you will probably add some water to top it off making the desire amount of beer. Most batches consist of 5 Gallons and you will take your first gravity reading using a hydrometer.
Once your wort has cooled, transfer it to a container where it will sit for a couple days to a couple weeks. After it is all transferred you will probably add some water to top it off making the desire amount of beer. Most batches consist of 5 Gallons and you will take your first gravity reading using a hydrometer.
Step 2: Add Yeast
Add the yeast to your batch in either liquid or powder and cover the fermenter. During fermentation foam will form at the top.
Add the yeast to your batch in either liquid or powder and cover the fermenter. During fermentation foam will form at the top.
Step 3: Fermentation Time
It takes a couple of days to a couple of weeks for the yeast to fully react. After the reactions have stopped, you are ready to bottle your beer.
It takes a couple of days to a couple of weeks for the yeast to fully react. After the reactions have stopped, you are ready to bottle your beer.
Bottling your beer
Step 1: Transfer to Bottling Container
Transfer your beer to a Bottling Container and take your second gravity reading using your hydrometer. This will inform you the alcohol volume your beer will contain.
Transfer your beer to a Bottling Container and take your second gravity reading using your hydrometer. This will inform you the alcohol volume your beer will contain.
Step 2: Priming Sugar
Add priming sugar to your bottling container before bottling. This will give your beer Carbonation, once added start bottling.
Add priming sugar to your bottling container before bottling. This will give your beer Carbonation, once added start bottling.
Step 3: Storing
Once beer has been bottled and caped, store your beer preventing light from hitting it for an additional week to allow carbonation to form.
Once beer has been bottled and caped, store your beer preventing light from hitting it for an additional week to allow carbonation to form.
- Although this list may seem short, these are the basic steps presented in almost any home brewing. Most kits will have these steps in different variations however you will be following this base model none the less.
2. Additional touches to make it your own
When I first learn these basic steps I wondered what was the big deal with brewing beer? Then as I started making more batches and experimenting with different recipes. I found out with a little bit of tweaking and adding additional steps I was turning this base model into my own badass beer.
a. After several batches I have notice that I enjoy drinking more hoppy beers which normal recipes wouldn’t reach. So lately when I’m researching a new beer or putting together a set of ingredients I make sure I purchase a little extra.
b. How about filtering your beer? Ok, this reminds me of a time when a friend informed me he was brewing his own beer. Good friend however wouldn’t shut up on how great his beer was and the amount of money he was saving. So of course I am going to ask him for one followed by questions on the process. Well the following Monday he brings me one of his beers nicely chilled in a plastic bottle. Who am I to judge so said my thanks and pop it in the fridge until it was time to have a cold one. (this usually consisted of my girlfriend giving me shit- called it happy time) So long story short I opened this beer; now again I was still really green when it came to home brew beers and had no idea what to expect. Already had a chilled glass so put my bartender pour and watched in great amaze as this lifeless liquid creep up to the rim. With the light over my stove hitting the clear container I begin to stare at the beverage. My first thoughts were ok, almost looks like a tea or a beer with no personality. Then as a looked even closer I began to get lost, like looking into an aquarium and seeing the many types of unknown sea creatures swimming around. My first reaction was; this is the amazing beer? I mean he is my boy but damn? So what the hell; took a nice healthy drink and once I finished chewing thought this really sucks. Tossed that shit, opened a Yazoo and began working on my cut-downs on why to leave beer making to the experts.
Well my mind has since changed over the years and found that you can brew a good beer if you just take the time and try not to be so half ass with it. So filtering for me is a major step. I found that when I’m siphoning my brew from container to another I will filter each time and yes- it works.
Does anyone have any certain methods they use to filter their beer or are you the balls to the wall type that doesn’t mind a little Cracker Jack prize after each sip?
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