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How To Brew Your Own Beer
Whipping up home-made beer
can be fun and educational. By brewing in your own home on
your own terms, you can definitely benefit and avoid the common
6-pack.
How To Brew.
You can brew your own beer two different ways - In the comfort
of your home or at a“Beer on Premises” establishment,
also known as BOP. These businesses provide all the required
brewing equipment, beer ingredients, with important directions
and instructions on how to brew your beer. This method is
proven to be a bit more costly than home-brewing because BOP
establishments are generally renting their space and equipment
to beer enthusiasts, as yourself. They are also limited, by
law, to the amount of direction and information given by their
staff. So, needless to say, home-brewing can save time and
money for the novice brewer.
SYRUP Magazine has generated easy step-by-step
instructions on how to brew home-made beer.
- Buy Home-Brewing Equipment
- Select a Recipe and Purchase the Ingredients
- Brew Some Beer
- Allow the Beer to Ferment
- Enjoy Your Home-Brew.
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1. Buy
Home-Brewing Equipment
You will need the following items before the
brewing process begins. You can purchase these items from
our online or from your local brewing supply store.
• Brewpot
• Primary fermenter
• Airlock and stopper
• Plastic hose
• Bottling bucket
• Bottles
• Bottle Brush
• Bottle Capper (if glass bottles are being used)
• Stick-On thermometer
• Household Items
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2. Select a Recipe and
Purchase the Ingredients
Depending on how experienced you are in the art of brewing,
you may want to try a recipe that allows you to deal with
loose ingredients. Or you may want to purchase an entire kit
that will include everything you need.
Home-Brewers usually purchase beer
kits, just to keep the simplicity. Beer kits contain specific
recipes for certain type of beers. They also consist of the
basic necessary ingredients, hopped malt concentrate and a
packet of yeast. You will need to purchase fermentables, the
ingredients that make the alcohol in beer. Some fermentables
include brewers sugar, dry malt extract, liquid malt extract,
rice syrup, and Belgian candy sugar. You will need at least
two pounds, but not more than three.
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3. Brew Some Beer
Cleanliness is extremely important in brewing the
perfect batch of beer. Bacteria and fungi can ruin your beer
if it is not completely removed from your brewing equipment.
You must clean and sanitize all your equipment
To make beer from a beer kit:
1. Steam 2 quarts of water to 160-180F,
then remove from heat.
2. Add your beer kit ingredients and fermentables according
to the directions. Each variety of fermentable will contain
a unique flavor.
3. Stir the ingredients together, make sure everything gets
dissolved. Put a lid on the pot and let it sit for 10-15 minutes
on low heat.
4. Add the contents of your port to 4 gallons of cold water
already in your primary fermenter. Mix well, this will add
oxygen to your wort before you add the yeast. When the side
of the fermenter feels cool, it is a sign to add the yeast.
Some kits recommend re-hydrating your yeast in water, but
it is not necessary.
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4. Allow the beer to ferment
At this stage, wort (ingredients
combined, but not quite beer) has been made.
It will begin to ferment within the first day and continue
to do so for the next 3-5 days. You can tell the wort is fermenting
when you see air bubbles rising up through the water. We suggest
you check your beer everyday after the initial five days to
see if it is still fermenting. If the water in the airlock
is still bubbling, the beer needs a little more time. Not
allowing so can result in ruining your beer and your bottles
may explode. As bubbling stops or slows down, primary fermentation
is completed and it is ready for bottling.
More Fermentation
This second stage fermentation takes place in the bottles.
That is why it is important for your bottles, as well as all
your equipment, to be completely spotless and germ-free.
• You will need pure dextrose, to make a priming solution.
This allows the remaining yeast in your beer to carbonate.
Put 3 cups of water into a saucepan and dissolve ¾
cup of dextrose in it. Bring it to boil, then cover it and
set it aside and let cool for 15 to 20 minutes.
• After the solution has cooled, pour it into the bottling
bucket. Then use the hose and allow the beer in the primary
fermenter to flow freely into the bottling bucket.
• Hook up the plastic hose to the spigot on the bottling
bucket and line up all the bottles on a level surface. You
are ready to bottle your beer. Stick the hose in the bottle
and fill. Leave about one inch of airspace at the top of the
bottle.
• After all the bottles have been filled, you must cap
them as soon as possible. They are vulnerable to dust and
bacteria if they are left in the open air. Check all bottles
for leakage and re-cap if necessary.
• Find a cool, dark place to store the bottles while
they are in their second fermentation stage. Any location
is good as long as it is a steady temperature of 60-70 degrees.
Now you should wait for a minimum of two weeks before you
can have a drink fest.
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5. Enjoy your Home-Brew
After week one of waiting,
check the beer to see if the cloudiness caused by the yeast
has cleared. Once you can see clarity, put your beer in the
refrigerator. It is now ready to be consumed. |
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H1.
BREW NOW! |
The
Beer Machine |
A personal micro brewery at
home! Fast and easy, this kit brews 28 full glasses of
premium quality, naturally-made beer in just 7 to 10 days.
Pour in the beer mix then add water and yeast. With this
kit, you can regulate the brewing pressure and control
the “beer head” when dispensing. The kit comes
with directions on how to brew and is sized so it fits
perfectly inside your refrigerator. . |
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Are you an aspiring bartender? Looking to throw an event at
your home? SYRUP Magazine has put together a simple step-by-step
“How To” on Stocking a Home Bar.Click
here to learn more.
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