| I'm going to share with you my favorite pastime. | | | | (wine, beer) |
| Drinking Beer; I absolutely love it and what I've | | | | In addition I have 100 or so bottles, a bottle capper |
| enjoyed the most is brewing my own. A lot of | | | | press, mixing spoons, bottle draining racks, a bucket |
| people have funny thoughts about home brewed | | | | & large tub. There are keg systems for those |
| beer. One of the many visions people get is the | | | | of you that need to have the draught experience at |
| quintessential picture of someone brewing beer in | | | | home and the advantage of the kegs is that your |
| their home bathtub. | | | | brew is primed quicker in the keg and you get to |
| It is a funny thought but not one that represents | | | | drink your brew quicker. After 5 or so years I still |
| home brewing at all! Ever since my mom brought my | | | | stick with the bottles but I do have tips that I found |
| dad a home brew kit when I was young, I | | | | to make the process simpler. |
| remembered her washing the bottles in (YES) the | | | | 1. Plan each Brew and set out all your equipment and |
| bath the sterilization process the bottles exploding | | | | ingredients before you start. |
| down in the garage; it wasn't a pretty sight and left | | | | 2. Sterilization is an important part of bottling and |
| a stigma about home brewing that carried with me | | | | kegging. Wash and rinse all of your equipment in |
| into adulthood. A good friend of mine had been given | | | | brewing detergent. Then use Sodium Metabisulphite |
| all the equipment and had no interest in brewing | | | | and soak all equipment for sterilization. I have found a |
| himself. Well I inherited the brewing equipment | | | | product called Brew-shield Sanitizer in which you mix a |
| decided to try it out one day, and was quite | | | | capful ½ pint of water and spay all of your |
| impressed with the results. | | | | equipment and bottles and then let drain for 30 |
| Things have changed over the years and you have a | | | | minutes, then use. This is a less messy and very |
| lot more control over the process, there is a large | | | | quick way to prepare equipment. |
| variety of brew tins and flavours that lets you | | | | 3. After 7 day's I take my brew and put it into a |
| discover your favorite quickly and once found you | | | | new fermenter, I add a cap full of Isinglass Finings to |
| keep a constant brew going, experimenting with | | | | a cup of the brew and then pour it back into the |
| other styles and recipes to develop your own unique | | | | fermenter. This reduces the amount of sediment that |
| boutique brew. Making your own beer and cider is a | | | | forms in the bottles. |
| fantastically rewarding hobby. Not only can it save | | | | 4. At bottling I arrange all the sterilized bottles on |
| you money, it also delivers a sense of anticipation as | | | | draining racks, as I bottle I prime each bottle with |
| each bottle is tasted and a certain amount of pride | | | | sugar and cap. |
| once the end result is shared with friends. | | | | 5. I leave each bottle for a month before drinking. |
| The following Home brewing Supplies can be found all | | | | The longer left the better. Hopefully this article has |
| over the world:o Brew tins a large variety to choose | | | | removed some of the stigma out of Home Brewing, |
| fromo Brewing sugar and mixes including malto | | | | it's not expensive to start and if you don't continue |
| Fermenterso Fermenter supplies (air locks, | | | | to brew it will make a great gift for someone like me |
| grommet's, thermometers etc.)o Heaterso Cleaning | | | | to give it a go. |
| equipment and solutionso Spirit mixeso Hopso Yeasts | | | | |
