Most beer drinkers have at some time thought that they would like to own their own brewery.
Just think how much money you and your friends could save if one of you actually owned the brewery that makes the beer you love to drink.
It does’nt have to be yet another of your unfulfilled dreams, with the right guidance you can build your own micro brewery producing a variety of beers that taste better than you ever believed possible.
Most of the equipment needed to begin home beer making you probably already own, the only extra stuff you are likely to have to buy is:
Cleaner and Sanitiser: It is vitally important that all your beer making equipment is scrupulously clean. This is not just for hygiene reasons, any dirt at all on your beer making equipment will Seriously affect the taste of your beer. Don’t get too worried about it though, general detergent and bleach is fine when used correctly.
Bottles and bottle caps: Bottles can work out quite expensive ( your probably going to need a lot ) So start saving yours now and ask your beer drinking friends to save theirs.
It is OK to use the cheaper plastic bottles available from your local homebrew store but these are usually clear plastic and you should be aware that light will adversely affect the taste of your beer. For that reason, wherever possible I try to use brown bottles.
Large Pot: You’ll be boiling up a couple of gallons of water as well as a couple of kilos of malt extract so go bigger rather than smaller.
Fermentation Container: I used to use a small plastic dustbin but it is better to buy a purpose made fermentation container from your home brew shop. Don’t be temped to buy anything that is too flimsy.
Airlock: This is a simple shaped tube with water in it that allows gas out of your fermentation container without letting air in ( like a drain u bend that stops smells coming back up your washbasin).
Hydrometer: A hydrometer tests the density of a liquid and you must learn how to use one of these correctly.
Thermometer: It is crucial that your homebrew is fermented at the correct temperature.
A plastic strip thermometer that can be stuck to the outside of your fermenter is ideal for you to make regular quick checks on your brews temperature.
Bottling Tube: This is used to syphon the brewed beer from the fermenter into your bottles. There are several different types available, some of them quite clever that automatically start the flow of brew when it hits the bottom of your bottle.
With this basic equipment and a decent home beer making kit you can start producing a decent homebrew that will be ready to drink in 2 to 4 weeks.
To make your beer realy great and one that you will be proud to share with your friends you will need more information than that provided on the regular home brew kits and for that reason I recommend buying a good book or course on Home Beer Making.
