I like beer but my favorite is good craft beer. While its lovely to get out and visit a microbrewery for the last few years I’ve been making my own. Its not difficult and not expensive. Here’s a recipe and instructions of one I made yesterday.
The equipment. I bought all mine on a very well known auction site for very little money.
You will need a food grade bucket. This is used for the first fermentation which depending on temperature takes a few days to a week. On the side of this bucket is a tiny strip which indicates temperature in . You can do without this but temperature control plays a vital part in how the beer tastes. The cost of this temperature indicator is very small and well worth while.
Here 's mine after one day of brewing ..there is a lot of fizzing action and hops have floated to the top of the mix
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Sterilizing solution - Keep everything clean I mainly use the one they sell to sterilize babies bottles because it convenient to purchase. It is vital to keep everything as close to sterile as possible!!!
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The barrel/keg. This is used for secondary fermentation. While most people use bottles its a time consuming thing to sterilize each and every bottle. Having a barrel means I can be generous. If you get into beer making you’ll most likely find you’ll need two, so while you are drinking one, the another is fermenting .
The process.
This is a simplified, tried and tested recipe. It produces a deep malty flavoured beer .
1 x can of malt extract. I like a dark beer but these extracts and available from very light to very dark.
1-2 handfuls of hops. ( 2-6 ounces depending on how bitter you like it )
I grown my own. They add a beautiful green hedge to the yard and are very easy to grow. This is a variety called fuggle. From 2 plants I get enough to brew all year as it dries and stores easily.
- it is of course widely available to purchase.
Sugar. - As a rule of thumb the more sugar you add the stronger the brew as the yeast turns the sugar into alcohol. Around 2 pound ( approx one kilo) gives a a strong enough beer with good malty flavour
So:
Clean the bucket
Tip in malt and sugar and hops
Pour several kettles of boiling water on. Stir till everything is a brown soup.
Top up bucket with cold water - get the temperature down till it doesn't feel too warm. 70 -75 degrees farenheit or 21-24 centigrade is good.
Stir in the yeast.
Leave till bubbling subsides - ( a few days)
Transfer to sterilized barrel/keg
wait a couple of weeks
Enjoy.
I brew lots of different beers and wines. If there is an interest I’ll do my best to keep you posted.
PS
I don't need to say drink responsibly do I? Surely not? Enjoy!!