There are few pleasures in life to match a nice cold beer on a hot day, and a visit to their favorite bar for a couple of glasses of their chosen brew is an ideal way for many people to round off the working week.
However, prices can be a major sticking point for many, as price increases have taken a nights drinking to the level where it is now something that has to be balanced against cost. Although there are other reasons to be restrained when it comes to having a few drinks, such as the health benefits of drinking responsibly, many of us have come to the conclusion that there is no reason to pay higher prices when it just doesn’t seem worth it.
The benefits of having a home brewery are clear to most people. However, there is a sense, as with many things, that it just isn’t the same. With well-stocked stores and bars all around them, some people simply think “Why should I bother to brew my own?”. However, as prices at the liquor store and the local bar climb ever higher, it is now more than ever an option to be considered. A home brewery allows you to have a few beers when you want at a price that suits your pocket.
Remember that home-brewed beer is not lesser than paid for beer; it is just a matter of trial and error. There are few of us who are skilled or lucky enough to have our first batch of home-brewed beer turn out to be just as good as, or better than, the frosty glasses of ale served up at our local tavern. Then, with some experimentation and a bit of persistence, you’ll be able to create a range of great beers, that are suited to your own particular tastes.
Home brewery kits are not expensive. In fact, when compared to how much you would normally spend watching a few games at a sports bar every month, they are positively cheap. Once you have the knack you will find that people are prepared to visit for a couple of drinks when the game is on they may be willing to pay and, if not, they’ll bring food to go with the drinks you serve up.
It is about more than just the end product though, a home brewery is a hobby. It is something that you occupy yourself with for a few hours a week, something that can lead to meeting lots of like-minded beer lovers through the joining of home brewing clubs, and, ultimately, something that you can enjoy.
Luke Porter is a home brewing beer enthusiast, and an expert author. You are invited to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home by reading his latest book, “Home Beer Brewing Secrets” available online today!
Home brewing is something which has been popular for many years. Still, many are resolute that convenience is best for them and continue to drink only beer that they have paid for at a liquor store or at a bar. However, as with everything else in life, convenience costs. It may not be much at the time, but add it up over a years worth of parties, games, dinners and nights out and it starts to amount to a lot.
Paying for your own beer brewing supplies may not seem to make sense at first, as you will think to yourself that you could have a few nights worth of drinking for the same price and not have to go to the effort of ensuring that your brew tastes like it is supposed to. However, the more you think about it, the better an idea it becomes. OK, so the cost is a little bit more than a few crates, but once you’ve got the kit you can keep using it, and when you find your supplier, beer brewing supplies can make more quantity for your spending than you would be able to buy for the same amount.
To some people, the idea of making their own beer is too much like hard work. That’s why we have major breweries to do it for us, is it not? Well, yes, the breweries are there to make your life easier, but think of it this way – it’s like eating out at a restaurant all of time compared to cooking at home yourself. At first restaurant food seems better than anything you could possibly cook yourself, but, with a little practice, you soon develop your own recipes that are superior. It’s exactly the same with beer brewing.
As for the supplies you need, these can be found easily enough. In most towns you will find a store which has the necessary equipment and the right ingredients, and if you are not so lucky you will certainly find them on the Internet, often at a lower price. You can find out exactly what you need by doing a bit of online research. Like-minded beer lovers can be found in various beer brewing forums and they are always happy to give tips and recommendations to newcomers.
Beer brewing supplies come with instructions if you have never brewed beer at home before, it is worth following these closely to make sure you do not miss out an important step. The best way to learn how to do something right is to keep doing it and get the technique down. Once you have the basics learnt, you can then start deviating from the standard processes in order to make your own special recipes. Brewing your own beer may sound like too much hassle but its really worth the effort.
Luke Porter is a home brewing beer enthusiast, and an expert author. You are invited to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home by reading his latest book, “Home Beer Brewing Secrets” – available online today!
Introducing: Home Beer Brewing Secrets
If the idea of being able to craft delicious homemade beer is something that appeals to you – regardless of how much money you have, you’re educational background, your skills or the amount of equipment you own, then you will love this…
But one quick thing before I continue: I have $89.90 in free bonuses reserved in your name. To discover how easy it is to get all of them for FREE, follow the link below.
If you are just starting to brew, if you are curious, or if you are a brewer looking for an A-Z guide, this is the one to get. Home Beer Brewing Secrets gives you a solid foundation of knowledge that will serve you well in your brewing pursuits. Everything is presented in a simple-to-understand format that answers all your questions from the most basic, to as technical as you could possibly want!
Home Beer Brewing Secrets is jam-packed with simple, sure-fire instructions for making your very first beer… accurately, clearly, and simply.
All You Need to Know to Start From Square-Zero
to Being an Expert at Making Delicious, Hearty, Home-Crafted Beer!
Here’s just some of what you’ll discover:
- - Learn the 10 crucial steps to an irresistibly refreshing home brew
- - Learn about the ingredients of all forms of beer
- - How to prevent your precious brew from getting spoiled… using one simple, inexpensive tool
- - Which beer bottle you must use to prevent beer being spoiled during storage
- - Simple formula that lets you adjust alcohol content up or down (I suggest UP!)
- - 4 tips for beer storage
Home Beer Brewing Secrets
by Luke Porter
The word “beer” is often used as a generic noun to describe a cold refreshing beverage. However, beer lovers around the world will heartily agree that there’s nothing generic about beer.
When it comes to types of beer, there are many, many options to choose from. The amount of differing characteristics that can be found is surprising, with most people having a favorite type even if they are not aware of it. From stout to cider, and porter to pilsner, there really is something for everyone.
The method of brewing tends to be somewhat similar for most commercially produced beers. However, the names given to different styles of beer generally reflect individual characteristics of the product, such as where it originated. Different types of beer have unique qualities like appearance, taste, origin and aroma.
Some common favorites include these:
Lager: Some of the most popular types of beer are lagers. These include American styles including basic lager, all-malt lager, light lager, double pilsner, malt liquor and low-alcohol or “light” beers. Germany and the Czech Republic are seen as the international leaders in the production of them.
Ale: American amber, brown ale, porter, strong, sour and wild ales are also common American beers. Other variations are ales brewed with local techniques from Belgium, Ireland, Finland, Scotland and France.
Cider: Not a beer in the strictest sense of the word but most beer drinkers wouldn’t mind it being called so. Favorites include standard cider, New England cider and many specialty ciders.
Hybrids: Combining different beer styles or ingredients create this “experimental” beer. Sub-categories include smoked, spiced, fruit and vegetable beer.
Those are the essentials that every serious beer drinker should have already ticked off their beer list. Remember that variety is the spice of the life; you’re severely limiting yourself by always being loyal to one brand. There is a world of options available to you, so try something new next time you’re in a beer drinking mood.
by Luke Porter
“Beer” is the casual term used to describe a cold refreshing alcoholic beverage made of malt and hops. However, for those with more than a passing interest in the drink, a single word is far from sufficient to describe it.
When it comes to types of beer, there are many, many options to choose from. The amount of differing characteristics that can be found is surprising, with most people having a favorite type even if they are not aware of it. You’d be surprised at how a pilsner can differ from a porter, or how a stout stands out from a cider.
The method of brewing tends to be somewhat similar for most commercially produced beers. However, there are enough slight variations on the basic brewing process for each type of beer to have individual characteristics. Taste, appearance and aroma are just some of the qualities that make different beers unique.
Below are some of the most popular types of beer available…
Lager: Some of the most popular types of beer are lagers. These include American styles including basic lager, all-malt lager, light lager, double pilsner, malt liquor and low-alcohol or “light” beers. Popular international choices include Czech, European, Japanese and German lagers.
Ale: American amber, brown ale, porter, strong, sour and wild ales are also common American beers. Other variations are ales brewed with local techniques from Belgium, Ireland, Finland, Scotland and France.
Cider: Not a beer in the strictest sense of the word but most beer drinkers wouldn’t mind it being called so. Cider brewed from traditional English farms is a particular favorite of many.
Hybrids: This term refers to experimental brewing methods and ingredients. Berbed, smoked, fruit and vegetable beer and spiced beer are all types of hybrids.
You’re missing out if you haven’t tried at least the types of beer listed above. If you’re a beer drinker, you’re likely loyal to a tried and true brand, but remember that variety is the spice of life. Next time you’re in a beer drinking mood, try something different!.
by Luke Porter
Making beer at home is something that every true beer lover should try at some point. Not only is it fun to do, but it’s neither expensive, nor difficult.
So, how do you make beer at home? We will cover the main steps below. It really is that simple that you can learn the basic process involved in just 5 minutes.
Making beer at home requires you to only really follow a few steps. The first step of the process being to purchase yourself a beer kit, which you can find easily enough in online beer brewing stores. Make sure that you get a fully comprehensive kit, one that includes all of the different tools and materials required.
Having got yourself a beer kit, you next need to obtain the 4 main ingredients of beer – water, yeast, hops and malt. Water is the most abundant ingredient in any style of beer. Malt is short for malted barley and is a type of grain which has been soaked in water and then dried out. The distinctive aroma and slight bitterness of the finished brew is determined by the hops. Yeast is the catalyst which makes it all happen.
The next thing that you need to do is add all of the ingredients together using the beer kit, and there are usually instructions that come with each different beer kit because each kit usually has some different aspects to it.
You can even add your own decided flavors to the beer if you like, however you just want to make sure beforehand that you know what you are doing so that you do not use too much or too little and end up ruining the beer.
Don’t worry about making mistakes as starting over is no big deal. In fact, practice and experimentation is the best way to learn. After doing a few trial batches, most people master the art of brewing their own beer. When you do, and realize just how fresh tasty home brewed beer is, you will wonder why you took so long to get involved.
by Luke Porter
Most people who brew their own beer do so in small quantities. Whilst there is nothing wrong with this to start with, once you hit upon a magical recipe you will obviously want to brew it on a larger scale so as to share your success with as many people as possible.
Making a large home brew is ideal if you are planning to have a big party or if you have lots of storage space which would be otherwise wasted. If either of these apply to you then you have no excuse for not making a large batch of your favorite home brew beer! For any other reasons you would probably be best just to stick with making smaller more frequent brews.
As with most other things in life, the bigger you want something to be, the more time and effort it takes. The same principle applies to home brewing. Therefore, make sure that you have the basic processed down to an art before making a large brew to avoid wasting your time and efforts.
Another thing that you are going to want to think about before making a large home brew is the fact of whether you have the space to do it. As with a small home brew, a large home brew can be made in a standard sized kitchen. The difference with a making a large home brew is that you may have to temporarily clear out of the way any none essential items.
After all you are going to need more room in the fridge, in the sink and on the countertop in general, and you certainly do not want to get started first and then realize that unfortunately you do not have enough room for everything and that you are thus in big trouble.
If you do not have sufficient space in your kitchen, then there are basically two options that you have; either you make a series of smaller brews one after the other, or you give a fellow beer lover a percentage of the finished product in return for them giving you the use of their kitchen.
In terms of the actual brewing process, it is exactly the same to make a large brew as it is to make a small one. The only thing to keep in mind is to ensure that all ingredients are increased in equal measures.
by Luke Porter
Making your own alcoholic drinks can be fun and challenging at the same time, and will not take up a lot of time or space. Most of the ’scientific’ part of the process can be conducted on a standard home stove by following a set of simple instructions. With just a couple of hours work, you could have 4-5 gallons of home brew to look forward to.
Are you interested in home brewing? Maybe you have already followed up that interest and have already brewed some alcoholic beverages at your own home. Either way, you may want to consider joining a home brew club. Whether your beverage of choice is beer, wine or grain alcohol, and regardless of where in the country you reside, there is going to be a home brew club to match your interest.
Though it is best to start off by simply following the instructions that accompany your home brew kit, do not ignore the experimental way of doing things for too long. As people become more experienced in home brewing, they may try different methods or different ingredients and often willingly share these findings with other members of their home brew club. The associations are designed for this type of sharing as well as gathering and sharing their finished products as well as discussing potential legal issues surrounding the home brewing industry.
You will be able to ask questions to more experienced brewers and run ideas past them to see if they think a particular technique will work before you try it yourself. Others in the home brew club may have already tried and failed and can offer advice on how to do things correctly.
Many members of a home brew club are more than willing to share their knowledge and experience, despite the intense competition of brewing the best. Whether beer, wine or straight alcohol, sharing tips with new brewers are what some of the more experienced brewers do best.
Many times a home brew club will have local competitions where members can enter their brews to be judged. Those planning to enter any brewing contest must plan ahead, as it takes about four weeks for beer to properly ferment in the refrigerator before it is ready to drink.
by Julie Xillion
Consuming alcohol when pregnant has substantial risks to the pregnant mother. Unfortunately, statistics reveal that in this area twelve percent of women in the United States consume at a little when pregnant and approximately 2 percent binge-drink. Earlier this year the Center for Disease Control reiterated that those percentages have not changed significantly in the more than 18 years. From a the standpoint of good health, drinking when pregnant can genuinely effect development of the baby and the ensuing fetal alcohol syndrome may well take a generation of intensive therapy to control.
Consuming Alcohol When Pregnant
Grown of alcohol when pregnant basically supplies toxin into the developing baby which may effect his or her development. A lot of women however, decide to drink a flute of alcohol during pregnancy or infrequently consume one or two drinks. While the risk of impairment may be less with a smaller amount frequent consumption, scientists have not yet found out what, if any, amount of alcohol consumption is safe for the pregnant mom. As a result, there is almost universal agreement that expecting mothers should avoid drinking alcohol during pregnancy.
Nutrients and Vitamins May Help While Pregnant
For those moms who are unsuccessfully fighting alcohol addiction, there may be some hope on the horizon. A study being prepared in SDSU is looking at the effects of drinking alcohol on 600 expecting mothers in the Ukraine. The study is looking at the nutrient choline to predict the effect, if any, it may have on the expecting mothers and their children. In looking at the quote form the AP press release that announced the drinking while pregnant study.
“Nutrition plays a powerful role in proper development of the brain and nervous system: Getting enough folate during pregnancy, for example, can prevent spina bifida and related birth defects. And significant alcohol consumption interferes with mom’s ability to absorb various nutrients, in turn affecting whether her fetus gets enough. So Thomas’ group tested choline, a precursor to a brain chemical that plays a key role in learning. She exposed pregnant rats to alcohol during a third-trimester spurt of brain growth. Giving the mother rats extra choline – or, importantly, giving newborn pups the nutrient – significantly improved the pups’ later ability to learn.”
In addition to choline, zinc and a few other nutrients and minerals are being looked at to determine if they have an effect on these conditions. The best advice however, is to still have a healthy and varied diet. When pregnant, take care of your health, eat right, avoid toxins, and enjoy your pregnancy.
Total refrain from alcohol is the best approach to ensuring that drinking liquor does not affect the baby. In addition to nutrition status, genetics, and levels of consumption, there are numerous other factors that determine if drinking alcohols during pregnancy will affect the baby. With all those variables, and the risk of an objectionable outcome, why risk it?
by Heather Kelly
It’s your favorite time of day at your favorite place. It’s Happy Hour. And it’s a cure for a bad day.
So trying to be slick and all cool-like, you mosey your way to the bar and wait. Hold on, actually, you don’t wait. You pace around nervously trying to get the bartender’s attention.
So you pull something off like this. You hold out your money like you’re important. And, you call out the bartender’s name as if you know each otherbut you don’t.
Please don’t do this. Don’t act like you’re the only one who matters in this world. Try to remember that there are a dozen or so others who get thirsty too.
Nobody here is better than the other, your social status stays equal at the bar. You might be part of the band, but that doesn’t mean that you have star quality. No one is a star here, just another customer.
Now you start whistling instead. This is a definite no-no. Bartenders won’t respond to a whistle, since they are certainly not dogs.
If being served at the bar is your number one priority, then try to abide by these rules. Pretending to be helpless is useless. You’ll have to stand there anyway, and sometimes for quite a long time.
Speaking of losing out, try not to be the “polite one” and offer that the cute boy (or girl) behind you should order first. He or she probably had no idea what to order in the first place. Looks like you just lost your place in line.
So be calm, collective, and above all, patient. The less you cause a scene, the better. Who says that good drinks don’t come to those who wait?
The most important rule is to leave a tip. Especially a tip that’s more than the usual amount. Bartenders will definitely love you for this.
So put on something hot and remember to leave that extra bill behind. Nothing like flaunting your stuff. May seem petty, but it definitely gets their attention.
