Summary
Beer
is a well loved beverage that has been around for centuries. Until now a lot of
people are very fond of it, proving that it is an all time favorite. Home
brewing makes it possible for you to make your own beer.
Body
Do
you love beer? This beverage has been popular since ancient times and has
continued to be a staple in parties, households, bars and restaurants. You may also
have come to love the fizzy, vaguely sweet and pale taste of beer or its
variations.
If
you truly have a thing about this pleasurable beverage, you might want to
consider home brewing. I can imagine you shaking your head at this moment,
thinking that brewing your own beer at home is an impossible undertaking. Well,
believe me if I tell you that contrary to what most people think, home brewing
is an easy process.
You
don’t need to have a degree in chemistry or an extraordinary agility around the
kitchen in order to brew your own beer. All that is needed from you is genuine interest
and passion, and then home brewing can be an exciting and lucrative hobby you
can take on. You can earn extra money of share your concoction to your friends
and family and make yourself proud.
Home brewing as a hobby
You’ll
be surprised to know that home brewing is one of the fastest growing hobbies in
the Unites States. More and more people are taking up the hobby because it is
productive without having to be expensive. It is an interesting thing to do in
your pastime and the payoff is immediate and can be substantial, especially if
you come up with an extraordinary concoction. In fact, developing your own
brand is very possible. Some aficionados are even aiming to become legends and
come up with a popular and fast selling label. But, before getting carried away
with big dreams, let us first talk about how to get started.
Read books
The
easiest way to start your new hobby is to know more about it. How? Read books
and immerse yourself in the steps and processes of home brewing. Gaining more
knowledge on the subject will make it more interesting and easier to do. You
don’t have to purchase your own books; a trip to your local library will most
likely suffice. Be sure to take some notes or make a copy of your reference
materials.
Try surfing the net
This
is where you can find a plethora of information on home brewing. With just a
few clicks you will be taken to a gold mine of information. It would be ideal
to start with sites that offer you the basics of home brewing. It would also be
brilliant to watch ‘how-to-do’ videos on the subject; you can try visiting you
tube. Videos are indeed very effective when it comes to instructional
materials.
Join online forums
There
is a number of very active beer making groups online. You can sign-up and
follow them. In the forums you will find people who are dedicated and
knowledgeable on home brewing. Learn from their thread and feel free to ask
questions. Most of them will be more than willing to share their knowledge with
you.
Buy a starter kit
Once
you have gathered adequate information on the process of home brewing, you are
ready to purchase your starter kit; although, this too needs some research.
Start by window shopping on the different products that are available in the
market and decide on something that would suit your needs. Choosing your first
home brewing kit can be a lot of fun. I suggest that you choose a simple kit
according to your beer preference. Your starter kit will basically include malt
extract, a packet or priming sugar and hops. It will also come with complete
instructions.
Experiment
Of
course, a very important step to learning is experimentation. Now that you are
armed with sufficient knowledge on home brewing, it is time to put your
knowledge to the test. Be sure that you have a clear idea on the process, or
that your written guide is nearby. Prepare all your materials and ingredients
and start the ball rolling.
Once
you have explored the world of home brewing you start thinking of setting-up a
decent home brewery and getting more supplies. How much is this going to cost
you? Well, it depends on the kind that you want to get. You can either start
initially with a basic equipment list; or if you feel like taking the plunge
and get really serious with your hobby, you can spend a bit more on additional
equipment and devote a sizeable portion of your home to your hobby. Either of
these choices will allow you to brew excellent beer, so it’s all up to you.
Let’s assume that you will start small and expand as you go, what are the
factors that you need to consider?
The type of brewing supplies you need
This
needs careful thought and planning. Sit down and make a list of the supplies
you would need and find out where you can purchase them. Don’t worry, the home
brewing market is getting bigger and it is actually easy to find what you need.
On the web alone, you will find hundreds of retailers offering beer making kits
and supplies to home brewers. If you are starting small, your basic equipment
list will include: bottling bucket, bottle capping tool, airlock, fermenter
with lid, siphon tube, racking tube, bottle brush, hydrometer, thermometer,
equipment cleaner and instructions for use. Typically, you will get all these
from most online retailers for less than a hundred dollars.
The bottles to put your beer in
If
you are wondering if you can get bottles for your home made beer, you can also
get them from the home brewing suppliers online. The only problem is that these
bottles can be heavy and bulky, so you can expect the shipping to be costly. It
would therefore be wise to plan on reusing your bottles. Just be sure to clean
and sterilize them thoroughly after every use. Now, you are all set. Happy
brewing!
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