Get in on the home brewing craze

The art of brewing has been around for thousands of years. Some even believe that beer could be the driving force behind the agricultural revolution around 8000 BC. Whether you buy into the idea that beer saved the world or not, there’s simply no denying the recent rise in popularity of homebrewing. It seems that home brewing supply stores are popping up on every corner recently and their clientele is increasing. Having recently been stung by this bug, I’ll explore the reason behind the madness as I explain what you’ll need to join in on the fun.

A case of beer from the local supermarket costs less than $20 and takes less than ten minutes to get. So why would anyone want to buy a bunch of equipment and spend 6-8 hours of their time over 4-6 weeks to get 5 gallons of beer? It’s just two cases, so it obviously has nothing to do with saving money or time or wanting to drink a lot of beer. What it really boils down to (that’s a brewers pun) is that men like to “do” things. Forgive me if I sound sexist, but the vast majority of homebrewers are men. I think of that scene in “Cast Away” where Tom Hanks beats his chest over the fire and says, “Look what I’ve created!” Even alone on an island, he feels the need to brag about his achievement and the same goes for brewing. After all the time and effort, there’s something special about opening that bottle and saying “I made this.” Aside from the bragging rights, it’s the process that makes it such an enjoyable hobby. You get together a couple of times a month to drink some of the beer you made while making more beer, and the process continues.

The general process of home brewing has been perfected as beer kits have gained popularity. These kits include everything you need for a 5-gallon batch, including very detailed instructions. Follow them carefully and it is almost impossible to end up with a finished product that is not drinkable. Kits cost $30-$40 and are available at local homebrewing stores and online. Of course, some equipment is also needed for home brewing. Here’s a quick list of equipment needed to get started:

• pot with lid – preferably five or six gallons, and preferably stainless steel
• long spoon – preferably stainless steel and at least 24 inches long.
• fermentation bucket – a food grade pail usually comes in a 6.5 gallon size at home brewing supply stores
• Carboy – 5 gallon secondary fermenters. Glass is the most common, although I’ve recently started seeing stainless steel carboys on the market that actually make more sense to me.
• airlock – you need an airlock and a rubber stopper for each cylinder. Different cylinders have different opening sizes, so make sure you have one that fits your cylinder.
• siphon pipe – Available in various configurations, usually consisting of clear plastic tubes.
• racking rod – Rigid plastic tube with sediment separator used to leave the turb behind when siphoned.
• bottle filler – Rigid plastic tube with spring valve at the end to fill bottles.
• Bottle brush, large and small
• sanitizing solution – Iodine and/or Star-san.
• Bottles, caps and bottle capper

The entire list of items will cost $125-$150 if you opt for a glass carboy. I mentioned in the list of articles that stainless steel cylinders

they are starting to appear as an alternative to glass (I have linked to an example). While the cost difference is significant, the advantages seem worth considering. They are much lighter, easier to handle and do not break. Once you’ve got your gear and a brew kit, you’re ready to dive into the world of home brewing. Have fun… Cheers!