| How to make beer at home is a lot easier than you | | | | Pour the contents of two cans of malted barley (a |
| would guess. Some people say, "Home made beer | | | | little over six pounds worth) into a pot with two |
| sure sounds like a good idea but are you sure?" | | | | gallons of water. Stir to keep the malt from sticking |
| "I mean do I have the right equipment, the right | | | | to the bottom and continue stirring until the malt is |
| frame of mind, the right recipe?" | | | | dissolved in the water. |
| Let me put a few of your fears to rest. First off, if | | | | Bring it to a gentle boil and add 2 ounces of hops. For |
| you can boil water, you can make beer. Boiling is | | | | your first batch, it doesn't much make a difference |
| about as complicated as it gets. Keep an eye on your | | | | what kind of hops. When you begin to emulate |
| brew kettle to avoid boil over and you're home free. | | | | certain styles, then the choice of hops will make a big |
| The right equipment is another thing people seem to | | | | difference in your final brew. |
| be overly concerned about. You need a large pot, a | | | | Boil for one hour and add 2 more ounces of the |
| couple five gallon lidded buckets with a hole for an | | | | same hops at the last minute of boiling. |
| airlock in them. | | | | While that is cooking, sanitize and rinse a five to |
| This lets CO2 out and keeps airborne bacteria out. | | | | seven gallon bucket. And fill your sink with ice and |
| You'll need a siphoning hose about 3/4" wide and a | | | | water. |
| straight, clear plastic tube which fits snugly in the | | | | When the hour of boiling is up, place your brew-pot in |
| hose. That's about it. Oh, and a thermometer. | | | | the ice bath, let it cool to just about 80 degrees. Add |
| Home brew kits come with a few extra items, like a | | | | the brew to your bucket and fill with your chilled |
| hydrometer, a bottle capper and a funnel. I've been | | | | water. You are looking for an end temperature of |
| making beer for twelve years now, and I've really | | | | around 70. |
| never needed a funnel. | | | | Feel free to pour and stir to aerate the mixture. |
| What you don't already have in your kitchen, you can | | | | Sprinkle yeast over the top, seal with the lid and |
| get at your local hardware store. | | | | insert the airlock (which should be half full of water). |
| Now, to make a batch of beer, put three gallons of | | | | Tuck your bucket away for a week and you'll have |
| water in the refrigerator the night before you brew. | | | | bucket of beer. |
