How To Make Beer

How To Make Beer Making your own beer is really very simple as well as being fun. This guide shows you just how easy it is with one of the superb beer kits available on the market today. All you need is the complete starter kit shown on the left and you're ready to go.

 

A homebrew kit is the easiest way to get started in this enjoyable hobby and for a complete beginner, it is probably best to start with one of these. Once you are comfortable with the process, you can always move on to the slightly more complicated process of a 'half mash' and then maybe 'full mash' brewing.

 

Half mash brewing is also fairly simple although it does involve making your own recipe from separate ingredients and the brewing needs to be done in in specialist containers, which can be bought from any good home brew supplier.

 

Full mash brewing really does involve starting from scratch. This is only recommended for an experienced home-brewer who is confident enough to extract the malt from the grains and source all of the other ingredients in their raw natural state.

 

So for the purpose of this article, we are going to make 40 pints of beer from a kit like the one shown above. Complete, very easy to follow instructions are included with the kit so there is no need to worry.

 

What Comes In The Beer Kit

What Else You Will Need

 

Apart from the beer kit you will also need: -

That's it. Also do remember that once you have the starter equipment pack, you will only need a beer refill kit and a bit more sugar next time round. Although supplied with a Woodforde's beer, this Micro Brewery is suitable for brewing real ale, lager, stout, cider and all varieties of beer.

 

So how to make beer? This step by step guide shows you how easy it is. It takes less than an hour to make your first brew and about 3 weeks until it is ready to drink. Plenty of time to get another batch started.

 

Firstly lay all of your equipment out on the worktop. You should sterilise all of it before starting just to make sure that there is no chance of contamination. Steriliser is included in the kit and comes with easy instructions.

 

Whilst doing this, have a kettle (or two if possible) boiling ready. Also, it helps to lay the can or cans of malt in a bowl or sink of hot water to soften them. They are actually a soft syrup and this makes them easier to pour.

 

Now empty the cans into the fermenting bin. Rinse with some boiled water to get the last of the malt out, remembering that the cans will get hot so hold them in a tea towel.

 

Now top up with warm water until the whole measures 23 litres. Stir well until all of the syrup has dissolved. Now add the yeast sachet (supplied) and stir again. Fit the lid and wait for about a day. You will see a crust forming on the surface. This is normal and is caused by the yeast eating the sugar in the malt. This is the fermenting process beginning. It should go on for up to seven days.

 

Once there is no more fermentation taking place (CO2 stops bubbling through the air lock), simply syphon your beer into the barrel and add a little sugar. This causes the yeast to start fermenting again, eating the sugar and giving off a bit more CO2. This is what causes carbonation and gives your beer that lively, slightly fizzy and thirst quenching quality.

 

After another 2-3 weeks your beer should be drinkable. It will however improve if left a little longer.

 

Now that wasn't hard was it? Except for the waiting bit of course. My local pub had Woodforde's Wherry real ale on a while back as a guest beer. I had some at home but thought I would try a pint while I was there and see how much better it was. Well, it wasn't. I honestly believe mine tasted better. I am not just saying that and maybe it was because I felt I had made it and so there was some personal pride involved, but I think once you have tried this for yourself, you will agree with me.

 

So go on. Make your own beer. Give it a go and see whether I am right.

 

You can buy the complete starter kit here.