to make my own beer...?

Question

materials and "know how" to build a beer destilery

Answer 1

http://howtobrew.com

The name says it all.
If you need a source for the supplies, http://morebeer.com

Simple, to the point, and most importantly, accurate.

Answer 2

First, and this may be snooty, beer is brewed not distilled. Now that is out of my system... To brew beer is easy, but it can get expencive and VERY hard. Like all brewed items you need yeast and a sugar source. In beer this sugar source is grains; wheat, barley, rice, etc. In wine it's fruit (unless you are French then "wine" is strictly grapes, everything else is "eau de vie" or water of life)
Simlple beer is made by heating your grains, over low heat in a mixture of about 20% grains to water. Once the mixture hits a slow simmer add your flavoring ingrediants; hops, matled barley (higher sugar content), fruit, etc. Let the mix steep an cool to around 100 deg. F befor adding your yeast. Once the yeast is added, the party starts. Yeast has a fun but short life cycle, it eats, passes gas, reproduces and dies, (almost like some college students on spring break) this is called fermentation and it's the same process in beer, wine, cheese and bread.
In about a week you have beer, horray beer.
Ok, it sounds simple, but everything HAS to be clean room sterale, or other bacteria will over run the yeast (think spring break ruined by a gang war) If you don't buy your supplies from a "brewing shop" you might want to get a fresh fermentation barrel each time. I make mead, which is another type of brewed beverage made from honey, and I learned the hard way to keep everything clean. First batch was wonderful, second batch in the same fermentation barrel was vinegar.
I get my brewing supplies from my local supermarket. Specialty grains from the bread section of the baking isle as well as my yeast (purest will laugh). I get my fermentation barrels from the bakery, large buckets that had frosting in them work great, and get the lid!!!!! The ONLY place to get hops is a specialty brewing store, weither in person, mail order or on-line. Hops, my friend, is from the same family as cat nip and canibus, one of the many reasons beer mellows you out. For my Mash Tun (cooking vessel) I use a aluminium stock pot that has been in my family for generations.
Each grain will give your beer a unique flavor, from rice to barley malt, corn to rye, the darker the grain, the darker the color and flavor.

For more help check out The American Home Brewers Assossiation, or other home brewing groups.

Answer 3

Check with specialty shops in your area. Most shops will have basic brewing books and equipment.

Basic stuff:

Vessel for primary/secondary fermentation (carboy)
Sterile valve for top of carboy
specific gravity tool
5 gal or more pot to boil the wort
thermometer
Big spoon to stir the wort
Racking tubes
sterilizer
trash can to sterilize lots of stuff at once
bottler and caps
empty bottles

Basic stuff for any brewing:

Malt/liquid
Dry malt
hops
yeast

I would recommend starting with a basic ale as a first beer. Its very forgiving and you should have your first bottle in about 3 weeks. Keep temperatures constant during fermentation/bottling.

A 5 gal batch is about 2 cases of beer.

Answer 4

* Anderson Valley Brewing Company- Beer links jumpstation.
This is a great place to start!
http://www.avbc.com/morebeer/beerlinks.html

Answer 5

you need a brewery, not a distillery. Unless you're making beer and distilling it. Then it becomes more complicated and involving whiskey, moonshine, bourbon, etc.