Home brew is a fun project and there are two ways to accomplish this. The first option is to brew at a “U Brew” establishment, also known as a Brew on Premises. The instructions, ingredients and equipment are provided. The second option is to brew the beer at your own home, perhaps the basement, hobby room or kitchen.
The Equipment You Will Need
Basic brewing equipment can be bought individually or in a kit. Either way, the equipment list will be something like brew pot, stopper and airlock, primary fermenter, plastic hose, bottles, bottling bucket, bottle capper (for glass bottles), bottle brush and thermometer. You will also need some household items such as a saucepan, small bowl, rubber spatula, pot holders, oven mitts and plastic or stainless steel mixing spoon. If you are buying the equipment individually, they can be purchased on the Internet or a local brewing supply store, if you have one in your area.
Brew Pot, Primary Fermenter and Bottling Bucket
The brew pot is used to boil the beer and it should be enamel coated or stainless steel and a minimum of 16 quart’s. Using an aluminum pot or an enamel pot that is chipped will make a beer that tastes weird. The primary fermenter is the holding tank for the “wort” or the beer after it is boiled. This is where the brew will begin the fermentation process. The primary fermenter must have a 7 gallon capacity. The fermenter should have an airtight lid that accommodates a rubber stopper and airlock. The bottling bucket is a large food grade plastic bucket with a spigot at the bottom. It should be as big as the primary fermenter, as it will hold all the home brew prior to bottling.
Stopper and Airlock, Plastic Hose and Stick On Thermometer
The airlock will allow the CO, carbon dioxide, to escape and prevent it from exploding but does not allow outside air into the brew. The stoppers are sized by number and it is important that you have the correct size. The plastic hose has to be food grade and at least five feet in length. It will be used to transfer the beer from container to container. Keep the hose clean and free of twists. The thermometer should be a stick on type that is applied to the side of the fermenter. They can be purchased from a home brewing supply store or an aquarium supply store. They are the same kind of thermometers used on aquariums.
Bottles, Bottle Brush and Bottle Capper
After the primary fermentation process the beer will be poured into bottles for the secondary fermentation process. A five gallon batch of beer is 640 ounces. If you have 16 ounce bottles, you will need 40 bottles. The optimum bottle is smooth top, glass that will accept a cap from a bottle capper. Screw on caps and plastic bottles can be used but they are not as effective for the secondary fermentation process. A bottle brush with a handle long enough to get to the bottom of the bottle is necessary for cleaning purposes. A bottle capper will be used to secure the caps on the bottle. The best kind is one that is attached to a surface and worked with one hand while the other holds the bottle.
Beer and Wine Making is easy and you too can make your own at home with Home Brewing Equipment. Get advice, tips and tricks at http://beerwinemakingkits.com.