How do I make home brew?

Question

Hi everyone!

I would like to give making home brew a try but I have no idea where to start (all I know is where I wanna end up!).

Any tips and suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks heaps everyone!

Wow! So far there is so much information there! Thank you all so much. Looks like I'm going shopping and spending Easter in a home grown brewery! :D

Thank you.

Answer 1

If you have never made it before then i would recommend getting a kit and a starter mix. With the mix you just add the mix to warm {not hot, you don't want to kill the yeast} water, add sugar and leave for a few weeks. Then you add to bottles, add more sugar to make it bubbly and leave for a month to mature. The first lot of sugar makes it stronger or weaker and the second sugar makes it mre or less bubbly. Don't add to much or the bottles explode

Answer 2

You will need know-how and basic equipment.

There are lots of books that will show you how, but absolutely the best one is "The New Complete Joy of Home-Brewing" by Charlie Papazain. It tells you everything you will need to know and does so with a sense of humor and an easy to read format.

For the equipment, look for a local homebrew supply store or eBay for a basic homebrew kit. They will run approximately $55-75. Get one with two 5 gallon plastic buckets, one of which will have a spigot near its base, along with all the connecting tubes you will need. Save your money and avoid the starter kits that come with glass fermenters (carboys). Yes, they are preferable but wait until you have a couple of batches under your belt. Save your time and avoid, despite the cost, the gimmicky "Mr. Beer" type of kits.

The beer supply stores will also have ingredient kits set up for 5 gallon batches. It's a cost effective way to start until you know enough to come up with your own recipes and ingredient lists.

Suggestion: Avoid choosing a really light beer as your first one. The darker types of beer will hide more of the imperfections you might encounter while getting started.

Also, get yourself a good 6-pack (or 12 pack or case) for your enjoyment while you brew but don't get drunk until you've done the necessary cleaning.

Good luck and have a great time!

Answer 3

First and foremost you need to have a fundamental understanding of the brewing process.

Before buying anything, I would highly recommend going to the bookstore and purchasing "The New Complete Joy of Home-brewing" by Charlie Papazain. This is the Bible of home-brewers. It teaches and explains everything you need and need to do in plain, easy to understand English.

Next, I would look in your local yellow pages under "home-brewing supplies" to see if you have a store that sells equipment and brewing needs such as malt, hops and yeast.
If not, go to www.morebeer.com
Find the phone # and call them. Most of the folks there are home-brewers, they will help you.

I highly recommend trying a "kit" first before venturing into your own recipes.

Answer 4

visit http://www.beertown.org, the website for the American Homebrewers Association. It'll tell you how to brew, where to brew supplies, and where any homebrewing clubs meet in your area. Visit a homebrew club meeting and ask questions. Homebrewers love helping out the new guy.

Answer 5

http://www.beer-brewing.com~~~~~ http://www.winemakingandbeerbrewing.com~~~~~ hhttp://www.homebrewheaven.com http://www.brewmybeer.com ~~~~~

Answer 6

http://www.solorb.com/beer/