There has to be a starting point to everything. Homebrew is no exception.
Working in the beer trade for over a decade I have seen many price rises occur, usually twice a year regardless of any government levied taxation. Prices have risen by almost 53% over the last decade in the UK. Imported beers are now being produced under license in huge breweries and the cost of running a licensed premises has increased due to many factors including rises in utility bills, commercial rates and the minimum wage.
Undoubtedly it is the end user of the product that pays the bill.
One day after paying what seemed like a fortune for a round of drinks with friends I thought to myself ‘this is wrong – beers made out of dirt…’. By ‘dirt’ I meant basic ingredients though dirt was my actual word of thought.
This was the start, the start of something surprisingly good.
The very next day I went to my local homebrew store. I walked through the door to be faced with an amazing array of plastic barrels, buckets, tins of ‘beer’ and shelves of bags of grains – all varieties of grains, sugars, beer enhancers. The list goes on. In other words I felt as though I really had stepped out of my depth. The hop was busy. There were people asking questions about clarification and filtering of wine, sparging arms and hop utilisation. I felt small and nearly left the shop with my newly gained bundle of homebrew confusion. Then I was cornered…
“How can we help?” I hesitated – to be honest I did not know where to start on the basis I had no idea the processes of making beer. “I’m interested in making my own beer” I muttered “but I haven’t got a clue what I need or where to start.” There was a slight pause and I thought that the woman was cursing my inadequate research into the subject. I was wrong.
“One moment” she said and disappeared into the back of the shop returning promptly with a batch of photocopied leaflets. “I will give you these leaflets on the three main ways of making beers.” These included step by step details on making beer from beer kits, malt extract brewing and all grain brewing.
She advised starting with brewing from commercially available beer kits as this was the most simple way to start yet taught the important methods of cleaning and fermentation. They also had a ready to go homebrew bundle which included all the equipment required and a high quality beer kit. This was becoming simple…
The starter kit included a fermentation bucket, a pressure barrel, a racking cane (syphon), hydrometer, thermometer, airlock, a choice of gas systems, sterilising powder and a choice of beer kit from their premium range capable of making 40 pints of beer.
Next she ran through the full process of brewing with the equipment in great detail, including using the hydrometer and thermometer and the option of bottling. An over detailed essay on water then followed but the little that did not go over my head was very beneficial.
I was sold but concerned about the reusability of the equipment particularly the pressure barrel – how many times can I us it ? She claimed that they prided themselves on the quality of the goods they sell and that despite the barrel being classed as a budget barrel it should last for years (of which it has along side the other barrels I have since bought).
Now, I have developed my hobby into All Grain brewing and still use all the original equipment from the starter kit. I enjoy going out to my local bars and trying the different beers and ales available with the nose of a connoisseur. Many of my friends have now been bitten by the homebrew bug and we spend many an evening sampling each other’s brews.
Conclusion
I really have to champion the homebrew shop. It is daunting to first walk in there with little or no idea but the help you will get is always top notch. Remember – these people are into the hobby themselves 99.9% of the time and they are there to sell.
If you are thinking about brewing beer for yourself then take the plunge. It is not expensive and quite refreshing to think that the beer you are drinking costs only about 20-30 pence per pint. The other day I went into a bar and was charged £3 for a pint of real ale. It hurt that this cost the equivalent of 10 pints of my own brew.
For a easy to understand breakdown of equipment needed and the brewing process visit Home brew made easy or do a Google search. Just don’t be inhibited by your lack of knowledge of the brewing process – it is easy.
Author: Keith Neill
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Lowest Price Prototype PCB Assembly
Everybody everywhere craves the taste of a well home brew beer every once in a while. If you drink responsibly, there is nothing wrong with celebrating life while drinking a great beer. The sensation, the way it quenches your thirst on a hot day, the feeling you get when drinking and watching your favorite sports team. Beer appreciation’s what we love.
In the case of beer, everyone likes something different. There are certain brands we search for in the grocery store, liquor store, or bar. Why? We look for “that” brand because there is just something we like about it. Perhaps it’s the flavor, the texture, or maybe it’s the strength. No matter what it might be, there is something about the wide range of choices when brewing beer at home.
Making beer at home allows you to take control of the creation process. When you buy home brewing supplies in the store, street, or internet, you can create beer with the taste and texture you want. Through much time and work, you can create a beer brew with a certain quality that will have you reaching for a glass time and again.
There are tons of items to choose from when selecting home brew supplies. The fermenting storage utensils and the ingredient mixing tools; this all goes into making the perfect beer that suits your tastes exactly. We are all aware that the right beer plays a large part in making the evening after the work day more relaxing. And, when you drink home brew beer you created, it can make your evening that much better.
Drinking a great home brew beer is comparable to eating a delicious meal you cooked yourself. The feeling of drinking beer you made is indescribable. Now, when you start looking for home brew supplies online, you can spend quite a lot of time searching. But, if you find the right supplies needed for your home brew beer, you will be able to do three things. First, save tons of cash. Second, take your beer brew to a brand new level. And third, have beer the way you want it, when you want it.
No matter what it takes, you should spend the time to search for the right home brew supplies. You will get an awful lot from brewing beer at home in order for you and other people to partake in. The more you practice, the more adept you will become. And, when your friends get a load of your home brew beer, they will want to learn how to make it themselves too. With one sample, they could become willing and eager helpers.
If you’re looking for some more information about home beer brewing then check it out homebrewingsecrets.net.
Author: Alex Ottis
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Wordpress plugin Guest Blogger
Someone finally fried beer: Texas treat is booze plus grease – New York Daily News
Minneapolis City Pages (blog)Someone finally fried beer: Texas treat is booze plus greaseNew York Daily News”We will be ‘officially’ presenting Fried beer to the judges at the Big Tex competition on September 6, 2010,” Zabel writes on the company’s website. …Texas man makes fried beer, Minnesotans wants someMinneapolis City Pages (blog)Fried beer competes in Texas State FairSt. Louis Post-DispatchHow do you top fried butter? Try deep-fried beerToronto StarPhoenix New Times (blog) -Minneapolis Star Tribune -TheDailyDust (satire) (blog)all 20 news articles »
Blog Content
Head brewer named for startup Indy ‘Flat 12′ – Indianapolis Star
Head brewer named for startup Indy ‘Flat 12′Indianapolis StarRob Caputo said he is enthusiastic about the startup beer-making operations. Flat 12 is renovating and adding equipment to a 10000-square-foot, single-story …and more »
Blog Content
Drinks Americas Announces the New York Pigeon as Mascot for Rheingold beer – MarketWatch (press release)
Drinks Americas Announces the New York Pigeon as Mascot for Rheingold beerMarketWatch (press release)Rheingold beer has been famous for associations with icons ranging from John Wayne, Leo Durocher, Nat King Cole and Louis Armstrong. The beer however has …ShamrockStocks.com: Lucky Picks of The Day: (OTCBB:WBSI)- (OTCBB:DKAM)- (OTCBB …Trading Markets (press release)all 12 news articles »
Blog Content
Joe Sixpack: Let’s take a walk down the Asian beer aisle – Philadelphia Inquirer
Joe Sixpack: Let’s take a walk down the Asian beer aislePhiladelphia InquirerMost of them are basic pale Euro-style lagers, a vestige of the early 20th-century German brewing empire that spread equipment and know-how throughout the …and more »
Blog Content
State Fair Food: Deep-Fried beer – ABC News
ABC NewsState Fair Food: Deep-Fried beerABC NewsThis year, one of the top entries was deep-fried beer. On Labor Day each year, the finalists are narrowed down to two which are allowed to be sold at the …Fried beer intrigues Texas state fairNECNTexas State Fair’s culinary contenders fry everything from Pop-Tarts to beerDallas Morning NewsForget the glass: Would you like that beer fried?Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)SF Weekly (blog) -The Consumerist (blog) -Today’s THVall 188 news articles »
Blog Content
Joe Sixpack: Let’s take a walk down the Asian beer aisle – Philadelphia Inquirer
Joe Sixpack: Let’s take a walk down the Asian beer aislePhiladelphia InquirerMost of them are basic pale Euro-style lagers, a vestige of the early 20th-century German brewing empire that spread equipment and know-how throughout the …and more »
Blog Content
Fried beer intrigues Texas state fair – NECN
ABC NewsFried beer intrigues Texas state fairNECNBut fried beer is an entirely new offering, and you’ll have to head to Texas to try it! At the Texas state fair, entrants in a friend food competition try …State Fair Food: Deep-Fried beerABC NewsFried beer… The Name Says It AllThe Consumerist (blog)Texas State Fair’s culinary contenders fry everything from Pop-Tarts to beerDallas Morning NewsSF Weekly (blog) -Florida Times-Union (blog) -Seattle Post Intelligencer (blog)all 159 news articles »
Blog Content
Brewing your own beer can be a fun and interesting hobby. It can also save you money. There are many reasons you may want to brew your own beer.
Save Money
You can save a substantial amount of money if you brew your own beer. You may not save a lot on your first couple of batches. But, as you progress in learning more about making beer you will find that you can save money. Once you have made the initial purchase by investing in the equipment needed, you will save money with each batch you make going forward.
Hobby
Beer making is a good hobby. It is something that can be done at home and does not take a substantial amount of money to get started. There are also various local and online organizations that you can get involved with. Here you will find many others with the same hobby who are willing to share information and stories about beer making. Because there are many types of beer that you can make, the hobby can progress and not become boring.
Make Beer That You Like
There are literally thousands of ways to brew beer. Different ingredients used in varying amounts will produce different types of beer. You can experiment with the ingredients and brewing methods until you find the recipe that you like the best. You will also find that fresh beer is better tasting than beer that has been sitting on a shelf for a long time and will therefore want to make your own beer.
Fun
Beer making can be a fun pastime. There is enough to it to make it interesting yet it is easy to learn how to do. Most people start brewing beer by using a beer making kit, which allows them to try the hobby without too great of an investment. From there, if you like it, you can reuse the equipment you already have and get additional ingredients as needed. Since there are many types of beer you can make there is a lot of information you can find. Trying to make new types of beer can be fun.
Gifts
Home brewed beer makes a good gift for friends and family members. It is especially fun to give a gift you have made yourself, particularly when it is something you are proud of. Once you get good at beer making you will enjoy trying new and different beers and giving them to friends. You may even want to pursue beer making for profit.
Graham Williams is the owner of http://www.gw-ebooks.com this site is full of books that are about hobbies such as Brewing your own beer, Camping, Bird watching, Beekeeping. While your there don’t forget to sign up to my newsletter and you will receive monthly discounts in any new book that is added each month you can visit my site here http://www.gw-ebooks.com
Author: Graham Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Provided by: Guest blogger
