| I love beer. There, I said it. I'm not making apologies. | | | | yeast and starts a fermentation that gets the yeast |
| I've been into beer since my college years. While I do | | | | active. By the time I have my beer ready, the yeast |
| admit my taste has been noticeably refined since | | | | is good and ready when it is added to the mix. There |
| then, beer is a beverage of which I was fond since | | | | are many types of liquid yeast available. The yeast is |
| my early twenties. | | | | usually named for the type of beer it is better suited |
| Then, I learned how to make it. | | | | for, like American Ale or German Alt. I think there is |
| I've been homebrewing beer since 1998. It is a very | | | | some room for experimenting here, though. |
| relaxing and fun hobby of mine. | | | | The dry yeast is cheaper than the liquid variety, and |
| As with a lot of hobbies, there are several levels of | | | | in some cases you get a packet of the dry yeast |
| investment you can make when starting to brew | | | | when you buy a can of extract with which to brew |
| your own beer. You're looking at a $30 investment | | | | beer. The disadvantage of dry yeast is the variety |
| for about the low end and it goes up from there. | | | | of yeast strains can be limited, and dry yeast can |
| You can spend a lot more, but I started brewing my | | | | sometimes take longer to begin fermentation. |
| own beer in the $30 range. | | | | Aside from what I've already mentioned, sanitation is |
| Homebrew beer can be separated into two | | | | one more important factor in making beer. It is very |
| categories: extract and whole grains. Each has | | | | important to have the equipment you use to make |
| advantages and drawbacks over the other. Extract is | | | | beer sanitized. There are several methods to do this. |
| syrup that consists of most of the main ingredients | | | | Household bleach mixed in warm water (1 tablespoon |
| of beer. When brewing beer using extract, you | | | | bleach per gallon of water) can handle your sanitizing |
| simply need water, yeast and some fermentable | | | | needs, just make sure you rinse properly after |
| substance (sugar will do). | | | | sanitizing. There are other sanitizers available as well. I |
| The advantages of extract brewing are the cost | | | | like One Step sanitizer, which is a rinse free sanitizer. |
| tends to be cheaper and the time it takes to make | | | | You simply add a tablespoon of One Step to a gallon |
| beer is less than with whole grains. The disadvantage | | | | of hot water and soak the parts in it for 10-15 |
| is you are basically limited to the formula of | | | | minutes. After that, remove and they're ready for |
| ingredients in the extract. While there are many | | | | use. I also like One Step over bleach because bleach |
| different types of extract for the various types of | | | | always seems to leave some kind of aftertaste, no |
| beers (Stout, Ales, Lagers, etc), the choices are | | | | matter how much you rinse. |
| more limited than the whole grain method. | | | | The final portion of the homebrewing process, aside |
| Whole grain brewing is done by boiling and mixing the | | | | from the drinking, is bottling. Again, sanitizing plays an |
| individual ingredients (malt, barley, and hops) over a | | | | important part here. What is also important to |
| longer period of time until the mixture (also called | | | | consider is how you want to bottle the beer. Would |
| "wort") is ready for the addition of the yeast and the | | | | you like to have one five gallon keg? How about |
| fermentable substance. The advantage of whole | | | | putting your beer into many 12 ounce bottles? Or, a |
| grain brewing is you can really customize the flavor | | | | few five liter mini kegs? Several options are available. |
| of the beer. Whole grain brewing makes it easier to | | | | I've experimented with several options, and my |
| do things like make a "clone beer", or a beer that is | | | | latest favorite is reusing 2 liter soft drink bottles. I like |
| similar in flavor and style of another well known beer, | | | | this because it really makes serving to a group of |
| like Samuel Adams or Budweiser. The disadvantage | | | | people much easier. Also, storage is a bit easier for 2 |
| of whole grain brewing is the additional time and cost | | | | liter bottles. |
| involved. This is probably a good type of brewing to | | | | Once you have your bottles, kegs, etc picked out |
| get into if you are more experienced. | | | | and sanitized, you'll need some priming sugar for the |
| Yeast is a very important ingredient in beer. In fact, | | | | bottling process. I've read a few methods for |
| there are many strains of yeast available for brewing | | | | accomplishing this. One method I've found that works |
| beer (and other alcohol in general). The two types | | | | well is to bring two cups of water to a boil, mix in |
| I've dealt with are dry active yeast and liquid yeast. | | | | 5-6 tablespoons of sugar and boil for 5 minutes. |
| I've personally found that liquid yeast, while more | | | | Then, add this to the beer you have been |
| expensive than the dry yeast, is the more effective | | | | fermenting before the beer is poured into the |
| of the two. The type of liquid yeast I use (Wyeast) | | | | bottles, kegs, etc. After you're done, you'll have beer |
| comes in a foil packet. Inside the foil packet is the | | | | ready for the tasting in a week or two (at least one |
| yeast and a small plastic bubble filled with | | | | week for bottles, two weeks for mini kegs). |
| unfermented beer. When I'm ready to make some | | | | If you're considering taking up beer making as a |
| beer, I squeeze the foil packet until the plastic bubble | | | | hobby, I invite you to give it a try. I think you'll find it |
| breaks. This mixes the unfermented beer with the | | | | to be great fun. Chances are, your friends will agree... |
