If you are reading this article, then there is a good likelihood that you are thinking about learning how to make beer. Learning how to make beer is a fun hobby to try, and it can be very rewarding as well. You can make beer that is better than what you find at the grocery store, and you can impress your friends. You don't have to be a brewmaster to make good beer, but with a little practice, you can become a great home brewer, and all of your friends will want you to teach them how to make beer like you do.
In order to learn how to make beer and do it well, you need to first master the basics of home brewing. If you are just getting started learning how to make beer, then you probably have many questions. Here are some of the most common questions those wanting to learn about how to make beer have, and some information to help answer these questions.
For those just starting to brew, what types of beers are recommended?
There are a wide variety of beers that you can produce, and the differences in them are essentially the ingredients used. Different grains and a variety of hops and yeast strains can be combined into an almost endless variety of beers. However, beginning brewing usually starts with extract brewing because it is a stripped down, simpler form of brewing. You will not likely start brewing using grains, and probably not hops either.
Instead, you will probably start with a beer ingredient kit that comes with malt extract as opposed to grains, and it will be pre hopped--the hops will already be added. You shouldn't worry about grains at first, as this is a little more advanced than what you should be concerned with when you are first learning how to make beer.
But these kits come in a wide variety of flavors and styles, so you have many options for your first few batches. The only beers to stay away from are lagers and trying to make a version of your favorite commercially mass produced beer.
Lagers involve a little more effort to produce, and therefore shouldn't be attempted on your first few tries.
Mass produced beers are actually harder beers to make simply because they are lighter in both color and flavor, which leaves very room for error. If there are any flaws in your beer, they will be easily exposed. Other beer varieties can help mask any imperfections much easier.
How much money do I need to get started brewing?
Your initial costs to learn how to make beer will be for the beer brewing equipment, and the ingredients. You have many options as far as equipment, but starting kits are easy to find and not too expensive. You have all in one kits which are cheap and do not take up much space, and you also have component kits that contain the bare essentials you need to learn how to make beer. You can get started beer brewing for under $100.
As far as ingredients go, there are also ingredient kits available for new brewers, which have all the items you need to produce a batch of brew. These can be purchased for under $50. Ingredient costs can change, depending on what type of brewing you do. After a few batches of kit brewing, many home brewers start brewing in more advanced styles--partial mash brewing and all grain brewing. These styles allow you to mix up the ingredients you use, and instead of malt extracts, you start to incorporate grains into your brewing. There are also a wide variety of specialty ingredients you can add to the mix.
These ingredients can be more expensive than a simple ingredient kit, but these allow you to experiment with different flavors and produce a better quality brew. However, you can buy these more expensive ingredients in bulk to save money.
But these additional ingredients are a more advanced form of brewing, so this is not really a concern for someone just starting to learn about how to make beer.
Can you make money in home brewing? Most people get started learning how to make beer so that they can try something fun, and make good beer as well. In other words, the reward is in the process and the end result. But as you progress, it could be something that could lead you to dream big, and maybe want open up your own brew pub. Be sure to look into your local laws, however. It is illegal to sell home brew, and trying to open your own brew pub or brewery requires money and a lot of permits to do it legally. Do not sell your home brew is the nest advice.
You have a great recipe for beer, what now? Once you have some experience under your belt, you may try to experiment with you beers a little and try to create your own recipe. You might even find you have a knack for brewing, and your own brews are pretty good. Selling is not an option, but you can share your brew with local home brewing clubs and fellow brewers. You can also seek out trade shows and beer competitions to see how you fare against other brewers. Who knows, you may even make a brew so tasty, that some big commercial brewer decides they want to produce your beer! Hey, can't hurt to dream big can it?
Realistically, the most important lesson is to learn how to make beer for only one reason: you. It can be an enjoyable, rewarding hobby that you can share with friends. It won't cost too much money to get started, but like other hobbies and pastimes, you will find the money spent is well invested.
In order to learn how to make beer and do it well, you need to first master the basics of home brewing. If you are just getting started learning how to make beer, then you probably have many questions. Here are some of the most common questions those wanting to learn about how to make beer have, and some information to help answer these questions.
For those just starting to brew, what types of beers are recommended?
There are a wide variety of beers that you can produce, and the differences in them are essentially the ingredients used. Different grains and a variety of hops and yeast strains can be combined into an almost endless variety of beers. However, beginning brewing usually starts with extract brewing because it is a stripped down, simpler form of brewing. You will not likely start brewing using grains, and probably not hops either.
Instead, you will probably start with a beer ingredient kit that comes with malt extract as opposed to grains, and it will be pre hopped--the hops will already be added. You shouldn't worry about grains at first, as this is a little more advanced than what you should be concerned with when you are first learning how to make beer.
But these kits come in a wide variety of flavors and styles, so you have many options for your first few batches. The only beers to stay away from are lagers and trying to make a version of your favorite commercially mass produced beer.
Lagers involve a little more effort to produce, and therefore shouldn't be attempted on your first few tries.
Mass produced beers are actually harder beers to make simply because they are lighter in both color and flavor, which leaves very room for error. If there are any flaws in your beer, they will be easily exposed. Other beer varieties can help mask any imperfections much easier.
How much money do I need to get started brewing?
Your initial costs to learn how to make beer will be for the beer brewing equipment, and the ingredients. You have many options as far as equipment, but starting kits are easy to find and not too expensive. You have all in one kits which are cheap and do not take up much space, and you also have component kits that contain the bare essentials you need to learn how to make beer. You can get started beer brewing for under $100.
As far as ingredients go, there are also ingredient kits available for new brewers, which have all the items you need to produce a batch of brew. These can be purchased for under $50. Ingredient costs can change, depending on what type of brewing you do. After a few batches of kit brewing, many home brewers start brewing in more advanced styles--partial mash brewing and all grain brewing. These styles allow you to mix up the ingredients you use, and instead of malt extracts, you start to incorporate grains into your brewing. There are also a wide variety of specialty ingredients you can add to the mix.
These ingredients can be more expensive than a simple ingredient kit, but these allow you to experiment with different flavors and produce a better quality brew. However, you can buy these more expensive ingredients in bulk to save money.
But these additional ingredients are a more advanced form of brewing, so this is not really a concern for someone just starting to learn about how to make beer.
Can you make money in home brewing? Most people get started learning how to make beer so that they can try something fun, and make good beer as well. In other words, the reward is in the process and the end result. But as you progress, it could be something that could lead you to dream big, and maybe want open up your own brew pub. Be sure to look into your local laws, however. It is illegal to sell home brew, and trying to open your own brew pub or brewery requires money and a lot of permits to do it legally. Do not sell your home brew is the nest advice.
You have a great recipe for beer, what now? Once you have some experience under your belt, you may try to experiment with you beers a little and try to create your own recipe. You might even find you have a knack for brewing, and your own brews are pretty good. Selling is not an option, but you can share your brew with local home brewing clubs and fellow brewers. You can also seek out trade shows and beer competitions to see how you fare against other brewers. Who knows, you may even make a brew so tasty, that some big commercial brewer decides they want to produce your beer! Hey, can't hurt to dream big can it?
Realistically, the most important lesson is to learn how to make beer for only one reason: you. It can be an enjoyable, rewarding hobby that you can share with friends. It won't cost too much money to get started, but like other hobbies and pastimes, you will find the money spent is well invested.