Making your own home brew beer has a number of benefits. Not the least, saving money. With rising costs of living and alcohol not immune to it, more and more people are getting into home brewing their own beer.
In this article I’ll be continually adding tips I find from across the internet to help beginner home brewers.
Tip 1: Choose the right beer to brew. This is very important as it will determine how your beer tastes, smells and looks in the end! Beginners should start with a simple ale or lager. These beers are easier to make and have fewer ingredients than other styles. You can then experiment with different grains, hops, and yeast later on when you feel more experienced!
Tip 2: Make sure you take regular readings of your fermenting beer’s specific gravity. Taking readings throughout the brewing process can help you identify any issues that may arise such as fermentation not occurring correctly due to incorrect temperatures or yeast strains. It is also important for ensuring consistency between batches of home brewed beer.
Tip 3: Once your beer is ready it’s time to bottle or keg your brew. It’s important to bottle or keg the beer soon after fermentation has finished so that CO2 levels remain consistent and no off flavours are produced. The bottling process can be tedious but if done correctly will ensure you have a great tasting beer in the end!
Tip 4: Store and age your beers properly. Temperature fluctuations can cause off flavours and your beers should be stored in a cool, dark place away from sunlight for optimal aging and quality. If you bottle with too much priming sugar, this can cause over-carbonation which can also lead to off flavours. Be sure to store your bottled beers upright and horizontally for at least 1 month prior to drinking.
Tip 5: Enjoy your beer! Home brew beer is a labour of love and the satisfaction that comes from producing something so delicious and unique for you and your friends to enjoy is an amazing feeling. You can experiment with recipes, ingredients, and processes as much as you like – the possibilities are endless! So sit back, relax and enjoy a cold one of your very own home brewed beers! Cheers! 🍻
Enjoying your beer is the best part of homebrewing. Congratulations on a job well done!
Tip 13: Share your brew with others and get their feedback. Getting honest feedback from friends and family can help you improve your recipes for future beers by learning what works and what doesn’t. You may even find that some people are interested in purchasing your craft beer to enjoy themselves. Sharing the fruits of your labour is one of the greatest rewards of homebrewing, so don’t be afraid to show off what you’ve created! 🍻.
The joy of homebrewing is that the possibilities are endless! Now that you’ve gone through these 7 tips, you should be well on your way to becoming a master brewer and creating unique and delicious beers for you and your friends to enjoy. So grab some brewing supplies, pick out a recipe, and get started today – cheers! 🍻. Happy Brewing! 🍺.
-END-
This article was written with reference to the following sources:
Bryson, K. (2018). The Everything Guide To Homebrewing Beer: All You Need To Know To Make Amazing Beers At Home!. Adams Media Corporation.
Daniels, R. (2015). Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles. Brewers Publications.
Papazian, C. (1984). The Complete Joy of Homebrewing. Avon Books.
Reisacher, G. (2014). Homebrew All-Stars: 25 Homebrewers Share Their Best Techniques and Recipes. Quarry Books.
Smith, B., & Fergus, P. (2018). Brew Better Beer: Learn (and Break) the Rules for Making IPAs, sours, pilsners, stouts and more!. Voyageur Press Incorporated.
Tonsmeire, M., & Mallet Jr., R.. (2015). American Sour Beers: Innovative Techniques for Mixed Fermentations. Brewers Publications.
White, J., & Zainasheff, J. (2011). Yeast: The Practical Guide to Beer Fermentation. Brewers Publications.