Why home brewing

You boil the wort, add the hops, and then cool the whole thing. A little later, you ferment it by adding yeast, and let the microbes convert the sweet wort into alcohol. Some, I supply to craft breweries, others I give out to home brewers.

They are also quick to add, though, that the number of dedicated brewers — those who brew at least once a month — is a lot less. It takes over six hours to brew a batch of five to eight litres. That is not something most microbreweries here choose to, or can afford to do. Most home brewers are widely travelled, and have either studied or worked abroad, especially in America, where home brewing was federally legalised in The United States has over 4, craft breweries, and home brewing is almost as common as barbecuing in the backyard.

The popularity of home brewing has been concomitant with the steady rise of craft beer in India, and it is a huge vindication for a home brewer when a craft brewery collaborates with him, says Navin Mittal. Many people seem to have this idea that all sorts of special expensive equipment is needed to start homebrewing. Sure there are other pieces of equipment that are handy to have, that make the brewing life easier, but for your first couple of down and dirty batches of beer a minimalist equipment kit is all you really need.

Plus, maybe a few extras when it comes time to bottle or keg your new creation, but all told you can get all the essentials you need for under dollars. It speaks of thought, caring, and love in a way a bought gift can never attain. Homemade beer makes a great gift no matter the occasion and believe me people will be impressed. Brew up a special batch for a wedding. Need some Christmas stocking stuffers?

Have a beer-loving friend about to celebrate a birthday? Then by all means bring the wine. Anyone can make beer equal to those lining your local bottle shop.

It can be as simple or as complex as you want to make it. If you find yourself hating the bottling process after your first couple brews you can always pony up a little extra to buy kegging equipment. Do you know the difference between an ale and a lager? Learning the processes, along with the blood, sweat, and tears hopefully not too much blood that goes into making good beer will expand your world.

Beer contains antioxidants, fiber, protein, vitamin B, and is one of the richest sources of silicon. These nutrients come from the ingredients used in the beer. Brewing practices also play a significant role, especially filtering.

Filtering is something almost all commercial craft brewers do — unless creating a style where some haze is expected. The finer a beer is filtered the fewer of these nutrients make it into the finished beer. Brewing at home puts you in control.

But you can go a step further here. Ancient brewers used many herbs and other ingredients raw honey for instance that produced a product often much closer to a health tonic than a simple libation. Very few of these herbs have found a place in commercial brewing. Nettles, Yarrow, Sage, Dandelion, Heather, Chamomile and many, many other plants with amazing health benefits are all options to the adventurous homebrewer.

Just be sure you research the herb a bit before you brew with it; there are a few out there that can have negative effects. You can experiment in avenues that never make it to the commercial shelves. Want to add a hint of cherries to thatIPA extract kit you just bought; no one is stopping you. Find an old historical recipe with no commercial equivalent; brew it up. Brewing beer is an adventure!

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Buy yourself a decent kit Extract kits have come a long way from the dusty back shelves of Boots of yesteryear, and give you a simple, affordable way to try out the hobby with very acceptable results. Look after your ingredients Invest in some airtight plastic containers.