| In 1979, the law was repealed which prohibited home | | | | brewing pot to keep it safe from contaminates. |
| brewing of beer. Since the day that decision was | | | | 3. Ferment the Brew with Yeast |
| made, men and women have taken to brewing beer | | | | Get a very large bucket and pour re-hydrated yeast |
| in their own homes as a matter taste, economy and | | | | into it. Pour the cooled down hops, malt brew into |
| expression. Some of the people who began to | | | | the bucket, and stir it aggressively in order to |
| experiment with various beer brewing recipes in their | | | | provide the concoction with the oxygen that is |
| own kitchens, have been so successful that their | | | | necessary for yeast growth. Though it is not |
| neighbors and friends wound up buying the beer they | | | | necessary, many people who brew beer at home |
| made. Thus, many small beer companies were birthed | | | | choose to filter out the hops while pouring the brew |
| out of what began as mere in-home projects, done | | | | into the fermentation bucket. |
| just for fun. If you are interested in brewing your | | | | 4. Allow the Brew to Become Beer |
| own beer at home, have no fear. The brewing | | | | Your brew will become beer in the fermentation |
| process is relatively simple and there are many | | | | bucket if you simply leave it alone for a good, long |
| purchasable aides, which can help to ensure the | | | | while. The brew should ferment in an airtight bucket |
| quality and taste of your home made beer. There | | | | stored at a temperature below 80 degrees |
| are several steps you must follow in order to brew | | | | Fahrenheit. During the fermentation process, the |
| beer at home. Let us explore them, one by one. | | | | yeast consumes most of the malt sugars and your |
| 1. Boil the Malt Extract | | | | brew becomes alcoholic. It will take two weeks to |
| Boiling malt extract is the first step to brew beer at | | | | ferment fully your brew. |
| home, without the capabilities of brewing a large | | | | 5. Bottle the Beer with a Bit of Sugar |
| batch of barley to get the malt. Barley grain can be | | | | When you brew beer at home, it is of the utmost |
| purchased at a very reasonable rate and the price is | | | | importance to sanitize fully the bottles and bottle |
| reduced further if you buy it in bulk. You will need to | | | | caps you are going to use. Sanitizing solutions are |
| use a large pot, which can hold at least two gallons | | | | very easy to come by and can be purchased in-store |
| of water, with room to spare. Sanitize the pot as | | | | or via the internet. Boil a bit of sugar in a separate |
| well as all of the instruments. This is an important | | | | pot in order to "prime" your beer and carbonate it. |
| part of the process and absolutely cannot be | | | | Put the cooled sugar water into a large bucket and |
| skipped. Bring the water to a boil and stir in the malt | | | | then siphon the beer from the brew bucket into the |
| extract. At this point, it is imperative to make sure | | | | primed bucket. Allow the sediment to settle for |
| that the malt extract is fully dissolved into the water. | | | | about twenty minutes before you move on to |
| 2. Boil Malt with Hops | | | | bottling your beer. Use a crimp on your siphon to |
| Now it is time to add hops to the boiling brew of | | | | allow control over the beer as you siphon it into each |
| malt sugar. Some people also add finishing hops but | | | | bottle. Use a bottle capper to fix firmly the cap onto |
| this is not an obligatory step in the process. Let the | | | | each bottle of beer after it is filled. |
| hops boil to its "hot break" point, stirring frequently | | | | 6. Allow the Beer to Carbonate |
| and watching carefully to avoid a messy boil over. | | | | Beer takes about two weeks to carbonate. During |
| You will usually need to boil the malt and hops | | | | this time, your bottles should be stored out of the |
| together for about an hour. When the boiling process | | | | light, at room temperature. When the carbonation |
| is complete, it is important to cool your brew down | | | | process is complete, it is normal for each bottle to |
| quickly, before you can add the yeast. Many people | | | | have a thin layer of yeast at the bottom of the |
| do this by placing the pot into a bath of cold water. | | | | bottle. Once your beer has carbonated, it is ready to |
| If you do this, be sure to keep the lid on your | | | | be brought out, and enjoyed! |
