There are 3 different ways in which to brew your own beer.
1. Beginner: Using a starter kit.
This is the easiest and quickest
method and you only need the bare essential equipment. If you have never
brewed beer before its recommended to purchase a complete starter kit,
which includes all the equipment and ingredients required. We supply
these as Microbreweries
which allow you to choose the type of beer you want and add bottles or
barrels if you don't want to recycle your own. There are different
qualities of kits, defined by the amount of malt extract contained in
them. Generally they come as one can or two cans of
hopped malt extract. The one can kits will produce a more than
acceptable pint and will require additional sugar or malt extract. The
two can kits produce better quality beer and require no additional sugar
or malt. It’s a personal choice and many customers find the more
economical one can kits suit their taste and budget.
All kits have clear concise
instructions to follow and require the same equipment and techniques.
They are easy to follow, require very little skill and produce
consistent results. Recommended for the first brew. Basically the kits
contain a concentrated liquid, to which water is added to produce a wort
(the name for a prefermented beer liquer). Yeast is then added which
ferments over a few days, turning the sugar to alcohol. The fermented
liquid is then stored in a barrel or bottles and allowed to clear before
drinking. A small amount of sugar or malt extract is added to the
bottle or barrel which ferments producing CO2 which gives the beer its
fizz. Kits usually take about 2 – 3 weeks from start to drinking
although most brews will improve with age.
The basic technique is as below (check kit instructions as individual kits may alter slightly):
1. Place the cans of extract in warm water for 5 mins to soften the malt extract and make it easier to pour out.
2. Sterilise the fermenter and empty
the can (or 2 cans if a Premium kit is being used), then add a little
boiling water to the cans and wash out into the fermenting bin to get as
much malt extract out as possible.
3. Add additional sugar or spraymalt
(if required in instructions, budget and midrange only) and any
additional additives supplied with the kit (Hops, oak chips etc).
4. Add 6 pints of boiling water and stir until all the ingredients are dissolved.
5. Top up to 23 Litres with cold water.
6. Sprinkle yeast on top and stir.
7. Place the lid back. If using an
airlock ensure it is half filled with water. Place somewhere warm and
away from direct sunlight for approx 4-6 days.
8. Ferment until bubbles have ceased (if using a hydrometer when gravity remains constant).
9. Transfer to Bottle or Barrel
10. Keep somewhere warm (room
temperature) for two days then store somewhere cool for 2-3 weeks until
beer has cleared. Drink and enjoy.
2. Extract - Hops and Grain
This method uses the same basic
techniques as kits but you prepare the wort from ingredients rather then
using concentrate. Water, malt extract and hops are boiled for approx 1
hour before cooling then adding yeast as above. This method requires a
large pan and strainer in addition to the basic equipment required for
kits. You choose and buy packs of extract, hops and yeast then follow a
recipe. There are lots of different recipes to follow and you can add
herbs and spices to create unique blends. There is also a huge range of
hops which all have there own unique flavour. This method works out
about the same cost as using a Premium kit but you have the flavour
control and satisfaction of creating your own recipes. Some people
however will only ever brew starter kits, it’s a personal choice. They
might decide that they like the taste of a particular kit and find it
very easy, convenient and practical to use.
3. All grain – full mash.
This follows the same principals as
extract but you create the malt from grain instead of using extract.
The malt, hops and yeasts you choose depends on the type of brew you
want to create. This is the method used by professional brewers and how
commercial beer is produced. It is the hardest method, needs the most
equipment and takes the longest to produce. It gives you the most
control over your finished brew. Basically you are creating your own
extract instead of buying it – which is where the extra equipment comes
in. All grain is the cheapest way to brew after the initial investment
of the equipment has been recouped. This method is not for a beginner
and most people never progress to this stage being perfectly happy
buying extract or using kits.
The basic equipment needed for brewing 40 pints beer from a kit is...
* 25 Litre Fermenting bin and lid - this is to initially ferment the beer before you bottle or Keg
*
Syphon - this is used to Syphon the beer (also known as racking) from
one vessel to another, ie from the fermenting bin to keg.
* Hydrometer - this is used to measure the density of the beer before,
during and after fermentation so the amount of sugar that is present
can be measured and therefore how much alcohol has been produced.
* Paddle - used to stir the liquid when adding the yeast.
* Sterliser - used to ensure all equipment is free from bacteria which may spoil your brew.
* Bottles or Barrels.
* You will need additional equipment for brewing using the Extract or All Grain brewing methods.
Tips for creating great beer at home:
1. Keep
clean – ensure everything that touches the beer has been sterilized as
infections from bacteria is the greatest threat to great beer.
2. If
using Tap water treat with ½ a crushed Campden tablet per 25 litres to
remove the chlorine. Just add to the water, stir and leave for 5 mins
before using.
3. Have
Patience. Brewing beers takes time so don’t rush things. Leave for at
least 4 weeks after bottling for the flavours to develop.
4. Ferment
at the correct temperature and away from direct sunlight. Most ale
yeast ferment between 18 – 22 c and keep the temperature as constant as
possible for best results.
5. If
bottling – use a second ferment bin fitted with a little bottler. Mix
all the priming sugar with some boiling water, add to the second
ferment bin then rack the beer and bottle using the little bottler.
This avoids having to prime each bottle and ensure the sugar is sterile
and mixed evenly. It also makes bottling a lot easier.
6. Get
oxygen into the wort before you pitch the yeast. Do this by adding any
water from a height so it splashes or give it a really good stir. This
will help the yeast get starter quicker.
7. Relax and enjoy the process. Making beer is easy and reasonably hard to mess up.
|