The Complete Guide To Home Brewing: Making Your Own Beer At Home

The Complete Novice's Guide To Home Brewing Robert Ragsdale

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Courtesy Of Robert Ragsdale's

Easy Home Brewing Website

http://www.easybrewing.info

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Consider Making Your Own Beer At Home

If you love to drink beer – whether it is for pleasure or you just appreciate the

beverage – you may experience times where you may find it inconvenient or

expensive for you to leave the house and purchase your favorite brew. Have you

ever considered brewing your own beer from home? This is becoming a popular,

rapidly growing trend which saves you a lot of money, and can be a quite enjoyable

experience as well.

Home brewing kits and home brewing guides allow you to brew your own,

customizable type of beer from the comfort of your own home. The home brewing

process may seem a little complex at the beginning, but the money that you will

unquestionably save, along with the satisfaction you will be rewarded with, are both

well worth the extra effort.

Home Beer Brewing Courses

Home Brewing kits, blogs, articles, books and ebooks are available online.

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Whichever course of study you choose, they should completely cover the most

important aspects, such as beer making methods and ingredients. Once you

established a thorough understanding of the beer making, or brewing, process, you

will possess enough knowledge to start shopping for a home brewing kit or home

brewing machine.

Beer Brewing Machines

There are numerous styles and varieties of home brewing kits and machines which

are easy to find, and relatively inexpensive. The kind of machine you ultimately

decide upon will be determined by the type of beer you prefer to create. As with

anything, be sure to read the directions very carefully, as you do not want to

disappoint yourself unnecessarily when starting to brew your own beer.

The key to a tasty, satisfying beer is in its ingredients. The contents or ingredients

which make up the mixture directly affects the overall aroma and distinctive flavor.

Cheaper or substandard ingredients will only result in a second rate product, or at the

worst, a disappointing beer. As you get accustomed to basic home brewing

techniques, shortcuts, and strategies, you can then begin to experiment with your

recipes, altering a complex mixture of flavors.

Every gourmet chef, artisan, etc. will tell you that there is no greater source of pride

than coming up with a truly personal and unique product from your creation. The

same holds true for all home brewers. You can quickly and easily brew as many truly

unique brews as you want to share with your friends – and they can help in judging

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the results for you. The home brewing recipe is fairly simple: Start with a clear

understanding of the background and details of the home brewing process, invest in

good quality home brewing guides, kits and a home brewing machine, and add only

the best ingredients. Following these hints will allow you to have enjoy tasting beers,

anytime you want them.

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Cutting Costs While Brewing Your Own Beer At

Home

Given the tough conditions which exist in our economy today, money is naturally a

prime concern on everyone's mind. Brewing your own beer is relatively cheap,

however, buying the equipment at the initial, beginning stages is not always the most

economical part of the home brewing process. It is possible for your initial costs to run

under $100 and up to over $500, depending on the equipment you select and how

dedicated you would like to be to home brewing. If you live on a tight budget, this

can prove to be difficult for many people.

Here are the ways in which I found I could save money when searching for home

brewing supplies. Anyone can utilize these tips to save money, and some of them

may seem like a no-brainer. These are especially useful if you do not currently own

any equipment as of yet, and would like to obtain these supplies at a more

affordable cost.

8 Tips To Save Money On Home Brewing Supplies

Search craigslist for those selling supplies, or put up a post in the wanted

section, looking for home brewing equipment.

Look there fore buckets, carboys, airlocks, bottles, and anything else you may

think of. Some home brewers could be getting out of the hobby or upgrading

their equipment and would love to drop their stuff off on you at a minute

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fraction of the actual cost.

Look at pawn shops, second hand stores, garage sales, and other salvage and

surplus stores for home brewing supplies. I have discovered old water jugs

(carboys) that sold for significantly less than half off the actual retail price. I

purchased a used carboy at an auction one time for about $7, and it came

completely equipped with a thermometer – built in.

Plastic buckets are naturally much less expensive than glass containers. You

actually only need 5 gallon containers, as they are the most ideal. Ask your

local bakery or deli if they have any leftover buckets, as believe it or not, they

just throw them away when they are done with them. Also try to secure the lids

that match the buckets. Whatever you do, do not use pickle buckets. The

pickle odor is next to impossible to get rid of, and this taste will be absorbed into

your beer. Another great resource for new buckets at a relatively low price is

Home Depot, Lowe's, Walmart, paint stores, etc. Make sure the buckets you get

are labeled with “HDPE 2” on the bottom, as these are generally always a food

grade plastic material. You will need to drill a 1" round hole in the lid to create

an airlock, as well as to create a place for a tube later. These buckets usually

near $5 a piece.

Check local and chain dollar stores for extra equipment. Spoons,

thermometers, measuring cups, or anything else you may think of that could be

useful in your new home brewing hobby.

Stainless steel is pretty difficult to discover second hand, however, enamel

coated aluminum pots are much easier to find. I have found lots of them in

used or second hand stores. I bought a 5 gallon aluminum pot another time for

$5!

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Reuse your yeast, don't throw it out – whether it is dry or liquid. You will need

glass jars for storage, some dry malt extract (DME), and your scavenged yeast

from the fermenter. You can reuse yeast a numerous amount of times. This cuts

down on the cost and actually will yield better, healthier yeast. Also, unless you

know what was previously in used glass jars, buy them new. Anyone could have

put chemicals or motor oil in those second hand jars – for obvious reasons, be

cautious if buying used jars.

Look for light weight scales at Walmart and other discount stores.

My very first 1 pound scale cost me $4, and the home brewing shop wanted $7 for it.

Here is a good example on how to get basic home brewing equipment cheap,

assuming you already have the brew pot needed for cooking and other basic

kitchen utensils.

All prices are, of course, approximations:

Plastic bucket with lid - Free from bakery up to $5

Bottling bucket with spigot - $12 (Note: if you can get an extra free bucket,

spigots only cost about $3, much cheaper!)

Airlock - $1

4 feet of 3/8" plastic tubing to siphon

$2 Bottle capper

$12 Bottle caps - $4

Stick on thermometer for bucket - $3

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Hydrometer - $7

Bottles – recycle bottles – get some from your friends, that's what I do

Bottle brush - $5

Basic ounce measuring scale - $5

These items can easily cost over $50, but if you use the hint I gave you with the

bottling bucket, this will save you about $10.

You will also have need of

measuring cups

a regular thermometer

a long handled spoon

basic cleaning supplies

This list is to accommodate for single stage fermentation. The purpose of this list is to

show you how it is possible to get basic supplies very cheap. A $100 kit is not

absolutely necessary right from the start. Purchase a good home brewing guide now,

a recipe guide, and I highly recommend getting a full 2 stage kit later – but if money

is an issue, or you are not confident that you will be practicing this hobby in the long

term, then brewing your own beer from home on a budget is definitely the way to go.

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How To Find And Select Home Brewing Kits

Are you one of the many aspiring home brewers who is just starting to appreciate

their enjoyable new hobby, the art of home brewing beer? If you have relatively no

experience in purchasing the necessary supplies and ingredients used in brewing your

own beer from home, it would probably be ideal for you to just begin with purchasing

a home brewing kit, as well as a thorough home brewing guide to get you started as

quickly as possible.

The advantage of starting out with home brewing kits is that everything that you

need in order to start brewing beer from home all in one convenient package, so

you will not need to spend an excess amount of time discerning which materials and

ingredients you will need to brew your own beer from home. As a novice home

brewer, you may not be altogether familiar with the various supplies that you will

need to brew your own beer at home, so it would not be truly practical for you to

purchase all the necessary ingredients separately.

Purchasing Your Home Brewing Starter Kits

Researching and understanding the ingredients and the appropriate supplies that are

needed in brewing your own beer from home is an understandable prerequisite

before you set out to purchase any home brewing kits. If you are familiar with

anyone who is in to home beer brewing, ask for their opinions on supplies and

ingredients to save money and gather your needs more efficiently. Most experienced

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home brewers are more than happy and proud to share their knowledge on the

subject – it will undoubtedly not be difficult for you to gain some valuable tips from an

experienced home brewer.

If possible, you may ask an experienced home brewer to allow you to sit in and

observe the process of brewing one's own beer at home. It would be wise to bring

along a notebook so you could take notes and capitalize on all the knowledge you

could gain from the situation. Take note of any and all details, especially concerning

the materials and equipments utilized in the home brewing process. This information

will prove to be very handy when you ultimately decide to go out and order your

own home brewing kits.

The majority of home brewing kits come ready in small and useful packages which

you can be put to use quickly and easily. For example, if you have an interest in

buying organic home brewing kits, there are a lot of them that are composed of

small grain bags. The grain bags generally contain organic malt extract and fresh

organic hops. Basic brewing instructions can be located inside the grain bags, as a

general rule. In most cases, any instructions that are included with these home

brewing kits are usually generic, but detailed, and are very easy to understand and

follow. Purchasing a home brewing guide will definitely enhance your creativity and

allow you to explore the many angles at which you can approach making your own

beer from home.

Do not be discouraged if you do not perfect the taste of your home brewed beer on

the first try – do not give up – practice makes perfect, and you will soon find that with

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little practice, the process is easier than it seems.

Keep in mind that learning the home brewing process to make your own beer from

home takes a little bit of time and a degree of patience – with an unwavering

dedication and a good degree of effort, you will soon be on your way to making your

own great tasting home brewed beer.

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How To Effectively Brew The First Home Brewed Beer

Recipe

With little time, and only a sliver of effort, anyone can make their own beer at home.

Once someone successfully creates great tasting home brewed beer, it is only natural

that they will want to do it all the time. It is possible for you to have the entire brew

inventory that you like and need at your convenience – whenever you want and

without making dreaded trips to the store and waiting in long lines.

Many places online can point you in the right direction to find all the necessary

ingredients you need to brew your own beer from home. Extracts are available in

many types, such as pre-hopped and un-hopped malt extracts. There are in

existence thirty different varieties of grains that you can crush up and steep for your

beer, according to how you want it to suit your taste preference.

Aside from having a good home brewing beer guide and kit, all you need at your

house is the necessary ingredients and the counter space.

Flavor is a determining factor in deciding what you would like to brew. This canl be

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the hardest part of making your own beer from home, as there are many varieties of

beer:

dark

pale

amber

English

German

American

. . . and much more

Make sure that you sanitize your equipment, and keep it sanitized whenever

beginning to brew your own beer at home. To do this, simply wash all of your supplies

with warm water and let it dry completely. You need to make sure that everything is

clean and ready for your home beer brewing strategy.

Once you have the necessary amount of water, and all the malt extract which you

are using is in the pot, allow it reach a good boil. You can use either pre-hopped or

unhopped malt extract, depending on the particular recipe that you are using. Next,

allow the mixture to cool down and place the brew kettle in a sink full of cool water.

Be sure to let the brew fall in temperature below 100 degrees(Fahrenheit). Next, just

pour it into the sanitized container you will be using for the fermenting, then top it off

to the five-gallon mark.

Adding yeast to the container is the next and simplest step. This is what will help

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enhance flavor in your home brewed beer. Allow your newly brewed beer to

ferment for at least eight to ten days minimum. Then, allow it sit at room temperature

for about two days, after the bubbling has ceased.

Now it is time to bottle your home brewed beer. Put all the beer into a bucket,

adding about ¾ of a cup of sugar. Fill your bottles to about an inch from the top,

and apply a cap. Let the bottles carbonate for about en days.

After the 10 days are up, place your new and exciting home made brew into the

refrigerator and allow it to chill.

Sit back and relax with your fresh and great tasting bottle of beer.

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Save Money by Brewing Your Own Beer

Home brewing is an excellent option in making your own beer from the comfort of

your own home. If you consider yourself somewhat of a beer aficionado, you know

that there are heavy, dark beers, as well as light, blonde beers – and you may even

prefer one over the other. You have probably tasted the bitter brews, the sweet

brews, and the new trend of flavored brews. A good home brewing training guide

will provide you with the ability to brew your own beer from home so you can truly find

that one special taste you prefer – perhaps even over commercially brewed beer.

Home Brewing Guides And When To Use Them

A home brewing training guide can be used to help you brew your own beer for a

party, or any type of social gathering. A home brewing guide can also be used just

for your own pleasure, and to save money by keeping your own unique, special

brand of beer on the shelf in your house. Making beer at home is fairly simple,

especially once you follow and repeat the processes of the directions and the

instructions that are included in any home brewing guide. As you experiment, it is

recommended that you write down each step you have perfected, as you create

the many different types of beer you wish to brew.

Through following and noting your progress, altering recipes and adding your own

twists to suit your taste, you will be on your way to quickly mastering the home

brewing process. Every aspect you alter or add your twist to must be remembered,

such as, boiling time, or what kind of container you are used to store your home

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made brew – this will prove to make a huge difference in the final result of any home

brewed beer that you create.

Home Brewed Beer Storage: Recommended Options

The easiest step in brewing your own beer is in your storing options. Most people who

home brew beer believe it is necessary to keep the home brewed beer in the

refrigerator – this could pose problems if you have brewed a lot of your own beer and

have limited refrigerator space. As long as you keep the beer stored in the buckets in

which you made it,so long as the air-tight seal is still intact, then it is perfectly fine to

store is as-is. As the beer is under an air-tight seal, it will stop fermenting and the beer

remain fresh until it is cracked open. Once it is ready to be opened, pour it into

glasses, jars or other containers that can easily be refrigerated, and keep it under seal

also – otherwise, the beer will always go flat. Most people consider a flat beer worse

than warm beer.

By brewing your own beer from home, you will be saving over 50% of the amount of

money you may already spend on commercially brewed beer now. This can

represent a huge savings, as you can provide the beverages at a huge bash or gala

at only a fraction of the cost – as well as maintain your own personal stash of home

brewed beer at your disposal. Now is the time to get on it and start brewing your own

beer!

Again, home brewing your own beer is quite enjoyable. It is relatively simple and fast

to brew – you can make beer if you are expecting friends over for the big game day,

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or you can home brew a larger batch of beer a few nights before that big party you

may be attending.

This one guarantee is absolutely true: Because you are the one home brewing your

own beer, you will know exactly how much you have left, and you can also rest

assured that you are not going to run out. If you store beer in a basement, where it

can ferment and cool at the same time, you will always prepared for any

unexpected visitors.

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Starting To Brew Your Own Beer From Home

Have you ever wanted to make your own beer from home? Not only is it possible for

you to do so, but it can be a whole lot of fun and you can save money in the long run

as well.

Although many people make the process sound difficult and time-consuming, it is

fairly simple to make great tasting beer that you can not only drink but be proud of as

well.

Although they may seem blatantly obvious, 3 basic ingredients are needed when

brewing your own beer at home:

malt extract

water

brewers yeast

Malt Extracts

Malt extracts are available in both liquid and dry forms. The liquid malt extracts are

generally available in the form of a syrup. The advantage of dry extracts is that it is

possible to store them longer than the liquid extracts. There are many different types

of extracts available to select from – all which depend on the type of beer you would

like to make(ales, lagers, ambers, et al).

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Water

A lot of water is used in the brewing process, and this happens to be an element of

brewing which most people are not aware of. Although you can yield good results

using tap water, it is highly recommended that you use spring water for the best

results, as there is not any chemicals present in spring water(such as chlorine) which

will adversely affect the overall taste of your home brewed beer.

Yeast

Yeast is perhaps the most integral part in brewing your own beer. Yeast is the catalyst

which triggers the fermentation process which changes the malts and the sugars into

alcohol content. This is ultimately what will release the carbon dioxide, the natural bi-

product of the fermentation process which determines the amount of carbonation or

“fizz” in your home-brewed beer.

Beer Making Methods

As you research more into the idea of making your own beer from home, you will

easily discover that there are literally numerous ways to brew your own beer at home.

Once you find a particular method or recipe which is the most appealing to you, as

well as the one you are most comfortable with, stick with it. Through trial and error

you will find that some ways are quicker than the others, and that there are significant

advantages and disadvantages between methods and recipes. Once you take the

time to discern your area of expertise, which can be harder than the actual brewing

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process, you will be on your way to making great beer at home.

Words of Caution

It is of utmost importance that you be attentive to your surroundings when making

your own beer from home, and keep the area in which you brew your own beer

sanitary. Ensure that all the equipment use is as sterile as possible, because you surely

do not want to risk a situation in where the beer becomes tainted and someone gets

sick from your home brewed beer.

Brewing your own beer at home is a wonderful way to explore your creativity in beer

brewing. It is something that you can get better at fairly quickly over time, and all of

drinking buddies will have pleasure in the fact that you can make them a good

quality, full tasting beer. Look into it today it is a whole lot of fun!

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What To Look For In A Home Beer Brewing Kit And A

Home Beer Brewing Guide

All the things that you need concerning brewing your own beer from home can be

attained in the purchase of an excellent home brewing kit as well as selecting one or

more of the many helpful guides and recipe books on home brewing your own beer.

Whether or not you are new to home brewing or an experienced home beer maker,

you will no doubt discover that you can start brewing your own great tasting beer at

home with a little degree of knowledge, a great beer making kit, and a helpful and

thorough home brewing guide. There is truly no other method of getting what you

need to get going and finding an enjoyable, new pastime in the process.

There is a great variety of simple, but quality home brewing kits on the market today.

Many of the great brewing kits can be found online or in the many beer and liquor

stores in your locale. There are home brewing kits that come with complete

instructions, which make it easier on the aspiring home brewer to get started. Some

also include the necessary ingredients and best beer recipes that will make any

novice home brewer brew the best homemade beer that they possibly can in as little

time as possible.

There are also many books and other reading material available to give you

guidance and all the information which is necessary to begin brewing your own beer

from home as quick as possible. All the facts that will get you ready for brewing the

best tasting beer from your home possible is found in these great guides. These home

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brewing books can guide you through the brewing process and all the different kinds

of recipes that you can experiment with to suit your taste, as well as any guests you

may want to entertain.

There are also deluxe home brewing kits that are available on the market as well.

These kits will have more than everything necessary to get you on your way to

brewing beer from home. They generally contain the ingredients and much of the

equipment to get started fairly quick. You will also get a sanitizer and some of the

varieties malt extracts that you will need to get your home brewing off to a good

start. With many home brewing kits, the only thing that you will need in addition is a

stainless steel pot with which to do all the home brewing in.

It is highly recommended that anyone who wants to get involved in making your own

beer from home to read and familiarize themselves with all of the instructions that are

included in the books. You can learn a lot and this is an awesome way to gather all

the information that you need first – before you begin the brewing process. With all

these tools at your disposal – home brewing kits and guides – you will have a better

idea of how to start brewing your own beer at home.

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Why You Should Brew Your Own Beer From Home

Believe it or not, it is possible for you to brew your own beer at home much easier than

you may imagine. Home brewing can be a fun, family project, or it can just be a new

hobby which you take up for yourself. Many people do not understand why others

may trouble themselves with brewing their own beer from home. They may wonder

why it is that they would like to deal with the mess, hassles, and all the clutter of

creating, testing, and finalizing their own brew. Many find it simpler to just go to the

store and purchase what they want, when they want it, and thereby save themselves

the time needed to brew beer from home in exchange for the extra money spent.

However, it is not about the convenience provided, nor is it about the cost difference

one pays at grocery and/or liquor stores.

Most home brewers find the process fun and exciting – it enhances their creativity.

Home brewing is a hobby that they enjoy and it is one that keeps them occupied

with something in which they are interested. Some home brewers happen to go

about making their own brew because they never tried it before, wanted to try it,

and now that they are given the opportunity, hold on to brewing their own beer from

home as a lifelong pastime.

There are literally thousands – perhaps millions – of home brew beer recipes which

have been handed down throughout many generations. The recipes which most

home brew masters use are the ones that their ancestors used, or variations thereof.

Many of them try to seek out the secret aspects – the twist – in those family home

brew recipes to determine if they can duplicate what those before them did in the

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hopes of creating a great tasting, home brewed beer. Most, if not all, recipes are

simple to follow and have ingredients which are easy to find. Information can be

found in several different home brewing beer guides which can make their home

beer brewing experience more creative and enjoyable.

With the right guide and the best home brewed beer recipe, anyone can begin to

make great tasting, home brewed beer right now. Even if it is a one shot thing, it will

be worth trying to determine if you can brew a beer from home that is just as tasty as

commercially bought beer.

Buying the guides and kits to brew your beer will undoubtedly make it much easier for

a lot of people start home brewing their own beer. You can get everything that you

need with these guides and kits – they will make your beer brewing easier, the

learning process faster, and overall success rate more enjoyable. Finding these

helpful guides and kits will easily make the home beer brewing adventure even more

enjoyable for someone who has not taken the opportunity to attempt to start

brewing their own beer from home yet.

Researching and checking out all the facts on brewing your own beer from home is

relatively easy. You can start by going online and getting all the facts and the tips

that you need to get started on brewing your own beer and where to find the best

resources such as home brew recipe books, home beer brewing guides, and more.

There are many articles and blogs about home brewing that you can learn a lot from

and benefit greatly. Take advantage of this and use this information to get creative

ideas, get started now, find a good home beer brewing guide, and get started on

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the road to this new pastime in brewing your own beer from home.

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Labeling and Consuming Your Home Brewed Beer

Brewing your own beer at home is a pastime which is gaining popularity at a rapid

pace throughout the world today. If you were curious as to the ingredients which

make up the favorite beers that you consume, brewing your own beer from home will

give you all that information and more.

There are absolutely no harsh chemicals utilized in brewing beer from home, and all

the natural ingredients are very easy for you to locate and purchase online as well as

offline in order to brew your own beer. You can utilize virtually any basic beer brewing

recipe and alter the process to adjust the resulting flavor and taste of the beer you

brew – customized, brewed beer from home to suit your particular taste.

After perfecting the process of making your own beer, you will undoubtedly create a

beer flavor that you can truly enjoy along with family and friends. All of us possess our

own unique and personal taste preferences, and as you alter, adjust, and tweak the

variety of available recipes, it is possible to brew a beer that is perfect for your taste.

The amount of alcohol content can even be customized in home brewed beer, by

changing the length of time you allow your home brewed beer to ferment and to

‘transform’ itself once you have added the proper amount of yeast to the mixture.

To begin your trek in brewing beer from home, it is highly recommended, if not

absolutely necessary, that you purchase a home beer brewing kit as well as a home

brewing guide. Once you have a good home beer brewing kit and home brewing

guide, learning how all the professional home brewers make beer will become

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natural to you. Gradually, more tips and tricks for making your own beer will come to

fruition, so that the beer you brew at home will be infinitely better from the get go.

Inevitably, you will discover that you prefer a particular type of beer to the degree

that you may want to specialize in making your own beer all the time in your favorite,

preferred category. This will also leave you with a dilemma in which you will need to

make labels for your beer to denote one type of beer from the other. Also on the

label, you will want to indicate the exact date you brewed the beer. The labels you

buy and ultimately make for your cans, bottles or other beer containers – perhaps

barrels – are going to be very important to your newfound, enjoyable hobby.

Simple labels, such as those that you generally use for mailing letters that have a self-

adhesive reverse, are great for making these notations on your first couple of batches

of home brewed beer. As you continue and develop in brewing your own beer at

home, paper labels are definitely going to work better, as you begin to put your

home brewed beer in bottles, actually using caps to keep them air tight and prevent

them from going flat. Putting labels on the bottles or containers before pouring the

home brewed beer into them, as well as before you store them away, will obviously

help you remember which beer you would like to consume first.

Brewing your own beer from home a worldwide phenomenon. As long as the earth is

wide, a good majority of people are beginning to brew their own beer from home for

a variety of reasons.

In making your own beer, you create the drink that your family and friends enjoy.

Being able to master this talent is will take a little degree of effort, patience, and

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determination – but, continue in making batches of home brewed beer for your

friends, as they continually drink it every time they visit your home!

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Using Kegs To Brew Your Own Beer

Using Kegs to brew your own beer at home is a lot easier than most people imagine it

to be. If you do not possess the adequate, necessary knowledge needed in order to

accomplish brewing your own beer at home with kegs, then you no doubt are

missing out on a grand opportunity, as well as missing out on saving a great amount

of money in doing so. Consider this fact: it only costs nearly six dollars per gallon to

home brewing beer with kegs.

Begin With A Good Kit

The first thing you need to complete when starting to home brew beer with kegs is to

shop for a kit which comes with, naturally, the keg, the tap, any other tools that you

may need later on to aid you in this task. Generally, most kits will include the

ingredients, such as the hops as well as various containers in which to store your home

brewed beer. These kits, some of which only cost a mere twenty dollars, will put you

on the road to home brewing beer with kegs – and take my word for it – once you

start doing this, you will never want to stop.

The cost of the kit is determined by how much beer you wish to brew, what your

particular level of expertise is at the current time. Using kegs to home brew beer

provides you with an excellent opportunity to brew delicious home, brewed beer that

should taste the way that you prefer. As time goes on and you improve in your skills in

brewing your own beer from home, you will without a doubt discover it to be a hobby

that is well worth pursuing. After a long day at work, home brewing beer by using

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kegs will provide you with a way to unwind, and give you an exit to enjoy a cool glass

of beer that you have the pride in knowing that you created yourself.

After having purchased the kit, it is very important that you follow any instructions

found in any home brewing guides you may have strictly. With that in mind, also

make sure that you precisely measure the ingredients. Just a small margin of error in

measurements can greatly effect the quality of taste and texture of your home

brewed beer.

You will need to follow the basics of converting sugars into ethyl alcohol and

extracting carbon dioxide from the yeast through the fermentation process. The main

distinguishing factor between home brewing beer with kegs and more commercial

methods of manufacturing is that of scale. If you possess the proper and

sophisticated brewing capabilities, there is absolutely no reason at all why you should

not be successful in brewing your own beer at home – your own preferred brand.

As long as you own the right equipment, and harbor a degree of skills in your brewing

talents,putting the right amount of effort forward, you will definitely be able to make

a high quality, tasty home brewed beer – equal to or better than that of commercial

and professional beer makers.

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Home Brewing Beer With CO2 At Home

For perhaps the last several thousand years, beer has been home brewed. Although

there is not information on the methods used prior to the nineteenth century, at some

point in time, home brewers determined that CO2 (carbon dioxide) was necessary for

brewing beer at home. This undoubtedly gave a boost to the popularity of brewing

your own beer at home. As a result naturally, the larger breweries were not very

happy with the competition which was newly added by the amount of home

brewers.

The Inland Revenue Act of 1880 in the UK made it required of private citizens to

obtain a license in order to brew their own beer. The same types of stumbling blocks

were encountered by home brewers in the United States. The prohibition act of 1920

banned everyone, whether private citizens or corporations, to manufacture alcohol –

even brewing beer from home. This greatly enhanced organized crime, as it saw a

boost in activity during the famous Prohibition Era.

Nowadays, times and laws have changed, and home brewing is again enjoyed by a

lot of people the world over, with more interest in the process increasing as time

passes. Brewing your own beer from home is a very relaxing and enjoyable hobby.

Although there is a good amount of dedication and determination that is involved

with making beer at home, there is not much as most people think, and the end result

is something really tasty and good quality that can be shared with friends and family.

What CO2 Is To Brewing Beer At Home

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Brewing beer at home is not very difficult, as long as you follow directions in home

brewing guides, videos and recipes. There are four core ingredients which are

needed for every batch you make:

Water

Yeast

Malted Grain

Hops

The fifth ingredient isCO2(carbon dioxide) but it is added much later in the home

brewing process. It is not possible to brew beer at home without it. CO2 is produced

by the yeast and hops in the home brewed beer. The aging process, which is

necessary to produce the CO2, is an essential part of home brewing if you want

great results in home brewing beer.

Once you have bottled the home brewed beer, let it all settle for at least two weeks.

It is during this period that carbon dioxide is produced and the beer is undergoing the

process of being carbonated.

There are a couple of other ways to add CO2 to home brewed beer, but the

important thing to make sure is that the aging process is still allowed to continue. The

quickest way to add CO2 to beer brewed at home is to actually pump the CO2

directly into the keg or whatever you are using to brew your own beer. This actually

speeds up the aging process, and it will allow you to put out more home made

brewed beer faster.

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The more traditional way which most brewers use for home brewing beer with CO2 is

by adding wort to the resulting product before it is tightly sealed. Wort is just

unfermented beer; adding it to the yeast produces carbon dioxide.

Good luck in your home beer brewing!

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HOME BREWING TERMINOLOGY – GLOSSARYAle - A beer brewed from a top-fermenting yeast with a relatively short, warm

fermentation.

Alpha Acid Units (AAU) - A homebrewing measurement of hops. Equal to the weight

in ounces multiplied by the percent of alpha acids.

Attenuation - The degree of conversion of sugar to alcohol and CO2.

Beer - Any beverage made by fermenting a wort made from malted barley and

seasoned with hops.

Cold Break - Proteins that coagulate and fall out of solution when the wort is rapidly

cooled prior to pitching the yeast.

Conditioning - An aspect of secondary fermentation in which the yeast refine the

flavors of the final beer. Conditioning continues in the bottle.

Fermentation - The total conversion of malt sugars to beer, defined here as three

parts, adaptation, primary, and secondary.

Hops - Hop vines are grown in cool climates and brewers make use of the cone-like

flowers. The dried cones are available in pellets, plugs, or whole.

Hot Break - Proteins that coagulate and fall out of solution during the wort boil.

Gravity - Like density, gravity describes the concentration of malt sugar in the wort.

The specific gravity of water is 1.000 at 59F. Typical beer worts range from 1.035 - 1.055

before fermentation (Original Gravity).

International Bittering Units (IBU) - A more precise unit for measuring hops. Equal to the

AAU multiplied by factors for percent utilization, wort volume and wort gravity.

Krausen (kroy-zen) - Used to refer to the foamy head that builds on top of the beer

during fermentation. Also an advanced method of priming.

Lager - A beer brewed from a bottom-fermenting yeast and given a long cool

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fermentation.

Lag Phase - The period of adaptation and rapid aerobic growth of yeast upon

pitching to the wort. The lag time typically lasts from 2-12 hours.

Pitching - Term for adding the yeast to the fermenter.

Primary Fermentation - The initial fermentation activity marked by the evolution of

carbon dioxide and Krausen. Most of the total attenuation occurs during this phase.

Priming - The method of adding a small amount of fermentable sugar prior to bottling

to give the beer carbonation.

Racking - The careful siphoning of the beer away from the trub.

Sanitize - To reduce microbial contaminants to insignificant levels.

Secondary Fermentation - A period of settling and conditioning of the beer after

primary fermentation and before bottling.

Sterilize - To eliminate all forms of life, especially microorganisms, either by chemical or

physical means.

Trub (trub or troob) - The sediment at the bottom of the fermenter consisting of hot

and cold break material, hop bits, and dead yeast.

Wort (wart or wert) - The malt-sugar solution that is boiled prior to fermentation.

Zymurgy - The science of brewing and fermentation.

Advanced Terms

The following terms are more advanced and are more likely to come up as you

progress in your home brewing skills and experience.

Amylase - An enzyme group that converts starches to sugars, consisting primarily of

alpha and beta amylase. Also referred to as the diastatic enzymes.

Adjunct - Any non-enzymatic fermentable. Adjuncts include: unmalted cereals such

as flaked barley or corn grits, syrups, and sugars.

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Acrospire - The beginnings of the plant shoot in germinating barley.

Aerate - To mix air into solution to provide oxygen for the yeast.

Aerobic - A process that utilizes oxygen.

Anaerobic - A process that does not utilize oxygen or may require the absence of it.

Aldehyde - A chemical precursor to alcohol. In some cases, alcohol can be oxidized

to aldehydes, creating off-flavors.

Alkalinity - The condition of pH between 7-14. The chief cause of alkalinity in brewing

water is the bicarbonate ion (HCO3-1).

Aleurone Layer - The living sheath surrounding the endosperm of a barley corn,

containing enzymes.

Amino Acids - An essential building block of protein, being comprised of an organic

acid containing an amine group (NH2).

Amylopectin - A branched starch chain found in the endosperm of barley. It can be

considered to be composed of amylose.

Amylose - A straight-chain starch molecule found in the endosperm of barley.

Autolysis - When yeast run out of nutrients and die, they release their innards into the

beer, producing off-flavors.

°Balling, °Brix, or °Plato - These three nearly identical units are the standard for the

professional brewing industry for describing the amount of available extract as a

weight percentage of cane sugar in solution, as opposed to specific gravity. Eg. 10

°Plato is equivalent to a specific gravity of 1.040.

Beerstone - A hard organo-metallic scale that deposits on fermentation equipment;

chiefly composed of calcium oxalate.

Biotin - A colorless crystalline vitamin of the B complex, found especially in yeast, liver,

and egg yolk.

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Blow-off - A type of airlock arrangement consisting of a tube exiting from the

fermenter, submerging into a bucket of water, that allows the release of carbon

dioxide and removal of excess fermentation material.

Buffer - A chemical species, such as a salt, that by disassociation or re-association

stabilizes the pH of a solution.

Cellulose - Similar to a starch, but organized in a mirror aspect; cellulose cannot be

broken down by starch enzymes, and vice versa.

Decoction - A method of mashing wherein temperature rests are achieved by boiling

a part of the mash and returning it to the mash tun.

Dextrin - A complex sugar molecule, left over from diastatic enzyme action on starch.

Dextrose - Equivalent to Glucose, but with a mirror-image molecular structure.

Diastatic Power - The amount of diastatic enzyme potential that a malt contains.

Dimethyl Sulfide (DMS) - A background flavor compound that is desirable in low

amounts in lagers, but that at high concentrations tastes of cooked vegetables.

Enzymes - Protein-based catalysts that effect specific biochemical reactions.

Endosperm - The nutritive tissue of a seed, consisting of carbohydrates, proteins, and

lipids.

Esters - Aromatic compounds formed from alcohols by yeast action. Typically smell

fruity.

Ethanol - The type of alcohol in beer formed by yeast from malt sugars.

Extraction - The soluble material derived from barley malt and adjuncts. Not

necessarily fermentable.

Fatty Acid - Any of numerous saturated or unsaturated aliphatic monocarboxylic

acids, including many that occur in the form of esters or glycerides, in fats, waxes,

and essential oils.

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Finings - Ingredients such as isinglass, bentonite, Irish moss, etc, that act to help the

yeast to flocculate and settle out of finished beer.

Flocculation - To cause to group together. In the case of yeast, it is the clumping and

settling of the yeast out of solution.

Fructose - Commonly known as fruit sugar, fructose differs from glucose by have a

ketone group rather than an aldehydic carbonyl group attachment.

Fusel Alcohol - A group of higher molecular weight alcohols that esterify under normal

conditions. When present after fermentation, fusels have sharp solvent-like flavors and

are thought to be partly responsible for hangovers.

Gelatinization - The process of rendering starches soluble in water by heat, or by a

combination of heat and enzyme action, is called gelatinization.

Germination - Part of the malting process where the acrospire grows and begins to

erupt from the hull.

Glucose - The most basic unit of sugar. A single sugar molecule.

Glucanase - An enzyme that act on beta glucans, a type of gum found in the

endosperm of unmalted barley, oatmeal, and wheat.

Grist - The term for crushed malt before mashing.

Hardness - The hardness of water is equal to the concentration of dissolved calcium

and magnesium ions. Usually expressed as ppm of (CaCO3).

Hydrolysis - The process of dissolution or decomposition of a chemical structure in

water by chemical or biochemical means.

Hopback - A vessel that is filled with hops to act as a filter for removing the break

material from the finished wort.

Hot Water Extract - The international unit for the total soluble extract of a malt, based

on specific gravity. HWE is measured as liter*degrees per kilogram, and is equivalent

-39-


to points/pound/gallon (PPG) when you apply metric conversion factors for volume

and weight. The combined conversion factor is 8.3454 X PPG = HWE.

Infusion - A mashing process where heating is accomplished via additions of boiling

water.

Invert Sugar - A mixture of dextrose and fructose found in fruits or produced artificially

by the inversion of sucrose (e.g. hydrolyzed cane sugar).

Isinglass - The clear swim bladders of a small fish, consisting mainly of the structural

protein collagen, acts to absorb and precipitate yeast cells, via electrostatic binding.

Irish Moss - An emulsifying agent, Irish moss promotes break material formation and

precipitation during the boil and upon cooling.

Lactose - A nonfermentable sugar, lactose comes from milk and has historically been

added to Stout, hence Milk Stout.

Lauter - To strain or separate. Lautering acts to separate the wort from grain via

filtering and sparging.

Lipid - Any of various substances that are soluble in nonpolar organic solvents, and

that include fats, waxes, phosphatides, cerebrosides, and related and derived

compounds. Lipids, proteins, and carbohydrates compose the principal structural

components of living cells.

Liquefaction - As alpha amylase breaks up the branched amylopectin molecules in

the mash, the mash becomes less viscous and more fluid; hence the term

liquefaction of the mash and alpha amylase being referred to as the liquefying

enzyme.

Lupulin Glands - Small bright yellow nodes at the base of each of the hop petals,

which contain the resins utilized by brewers.

Maillard Reaction - A browning reaction caused by external heat wherein a sugar

-40-


(glucose) and an amino acid form a complex, and this product has a role in various

subsequent reactions that yield pigments and melanoidins.

Maltose - The preferred food of brewing yeast. Maltose consists of two glucose

molecules joined by a 1-4 carbon bond.

Maltotriose - A sugar molecule made of three glucoses joined by 1-4 carbon bonds.

Melanoidins - Strong flavor compounds produced by browning (Maillard) reactions.

Methanol - Also known as wood alcohol, methanol is poisonous and cannot be

produced in any significant quantity by the beer making process.

Mash - The hot water steeping process that promotes enzymatic breakdown of the

grist into soluble, fermentable sugars.

Modification - An inclusive term for the degree of degradation and simplification of

the endosperm and the carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids that comprise it.

pH - A negative logarithmic scale (1-14) that measures the degree of acidity or

alkalinity of a solution for which a value of 7 represents neutrality. A value of 1 is most

acidic, a value of 14 is most alkaline.

ppm - The abbreviation for parts per million and equivalent to milligrams per liter

(mg/l). Most commonly used to express dissolved mineral concentrations in water.

Peptidase - A proteolytic enzyme which breaks up small proteins in the endosperm to

form amino acids.

Points per Pound per Gallon (PPG) - The US homebrewers unit for total soluble extract

of a malt, based on specific gravity. The unit describes the change in specific gravity

(points) per pound of malt, when dissolved in a known volume of water (gallons). Can

also be written as gallon*degrees per pound.

Protease - A proteolytic enzyme which breaks up large proteins in the endosperm

that would cause haze in the beer.

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Phenol, Polyphenol - A hydroxyl derivative of an aromatic hydrocarbon that causes

medicinal flavors and is involved in staling reactions.

Proteolysis - The degradation of proteins by proteolytic enzymes e.g. protease and

peptidase.

Saccharification - The conversion of soluble starches to sugars via enzymatic action.

Sparge - To sprinkle. To rinse the grainbed during lautering.

Sterols - Any of various solid steroid alcohols widely distributed in plant and animal

lipids.

Sucrose - This disaccharide consists of a fructose molecule joined with a glucose

molecule. It is most readily available as cane sugar.

Tannins - Astringent polyphenol compounds that can cause haze and/or join with

large proteins to precipitate them from solution. Tannins are most commonly found in

the grain husks and hop cone material

-42-


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-43-






Coopers Brewery Home Brewing Kits – MakeBeer.Net

The Beer Machine – Beer Making Machines Supplies and Kits

-44-

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The Complete Guide To Home Brewing: Making Your Own Beer At Home