Brewing Beer At Home: An FAQ
If you're a beer lover, making craft beer at home is an exciting way to experience your favorite beverages in an fun, intimate way. Before you get started, knowing the answers to some of these frequently asked questions may help you decide whether or not beer brewing is right for you.
Q: Do I need special equipment to get started?
A: Yes. You can buy kits, or you can buy the supplies one by one, but you will need to buy equipment--unless you just happen to have a giant boiling pot, a fermenter, a glass carboy and stopper, no-rinse sanitizer, a really long stirring spoon, a siphon, glass beer bottles and caps, a capper and so on. You'll also need to buy the ingredients, which come available in kits or can be purchased separately. If you want some inspiration for your own craft beer, talk to a place like Hoboken Beer & Soda Outlet.
Q: Should I buy a the kits or assemble the materials on my own?
A: Kits make it easy for beginners. If you want to assemble everything on your own, you can; but, kits often come with instructions that break the process down to its simplest steps. This can make it easier to get your start in craft brewing.
Q: Does beer brewing take a long time?
A: "Long time" is a relative term, so that depends on your definition of what constitutes a long time. Beer brewing can take a few months from start to finish. The specific length of time depends on the recipe and the type of beer. Most of this time is spent waiting for the beer to ferment. For many recipes, the active parts of the brewing process occur over a few days that are spread out over many weeks. In the beginning, the wort is boiled, cooled and placed in a fermenter. After spending several days in the fermenter, the wort is transferred to a secondary container and left there for a period of weeks (depending on the recipe). Finally, the brew is bottled and left to sit for several more weeks.
Q: Does beer brewing smell?
A: During the initial steps of the beer brewing process the brewer will boil the grains and hops over the stove for a long time--often an hour or more, depending on the recipe. This step releases aromas from the grains. The smell is grainy and cereal-like, somewhat similar to baking bread. Some brewers like this smell, others do not. This is the only step of the process that should smell.
Q: Is beer brewed at home as good as craft beer available for sale in stores and restaurants?
A: Practice makes perfect. Beer brewing is complicated and your first batches of beer may have some technical problems. Despite its flaws, you'll probably love it anyway, and you'll get better as you learn.
If you're a craft beer lover, and you like following complex, technical recipes, you'll may enjoy brewing beer at home. However, if brewing beer at home doesn't sound like it's right for you, then you can always keep enjoying your favorite craft beer from restaurants and the store.