Homebrewing 101: How to Brew Your Own Craft Beer

According to the American Homebrewers Association, 40% of homebrewers started in the last four years. This popular pastime is becoming mainstream with around 1.1 million homebrew hobbyists.
Want to join them? Even if you know nothing about homebrewing, it’s easy to get started. Perfecting the craft is much more complicated, but you can still create a delicious, one-of-a-kind beer with the basics.

You’ll impress yourself, your friends, and your taste buds. This homebrewing 101 guide will cover the equipment, ingredients, and basic brewing procedure.

1. Homebrewing 101: Beer Brewing Equipment
If you’ve never homebrewed before, you may be intimidated by the cost of specialized equipment. Thankfully, you can substitute standard kitchen equipment for much of your beginner’s needs.
For example, you’ll need a kettle for the brewing process. However, a large cooking pot will serve well for a small batch.

You’ll also want a siphon, which you’ll use to transfer hot wort without disturbing the sediment. If you choose to pour instead, you could contaminate the final product. Although you could get by without a siphon, it is an inexpensive item and will save you some hassle.

Even for a beginner, you can’t substitute everything. You’ll need a fermenter to retain the wort as the yeast works its magic. Most starter fermenters look like buckets, but they have a tight seal and a small opening at the top.

The small opening holds the airlock. As your wort ferments, it releases carbon dioxide. Without the airlock, the pressure will eventually blow the top off your storage container. An airlock is sometimes built into the fermenter but is also available as an attachment.

And lastly, you need a good sanitizer. Since wild yeast and other contaminants can spoil your beer, the cleaner ensures your equipment is clean and ready for the task. Bleach is a fine alternative for your first batch, so long as you take care to wipe it dry.

Several homebrewing kits are available on the market. Some might contain a fermenter, airlock, and siphon. More expensive beer kits will also come with bottles, kettles, and measuring equipment.

2. Homebrew Ingredients
How is beer made? It only takes four ingredients, although you may add more depending on your beer recipe.

Beer is made mostly from water. It might sound strange to hear, but your water’s quality will ultimately impact the final product. However, know that tap water will be fine if you’re new to this homebrewing thing.

You’ll also need your grains. This is typically malt, which is dried barley. Many homebrewers use a malt extract since it makes homebrewing faster and easier.

Hops are normally associated with beer. That’s because they’re the main component of a beer’s flavor.

And most importantly, you need the yeast. Yeast converts sugar to alcohol and is the catalyst for the homebrewing process. You can use dry yeast or, for the professional option, go for liquid yeast.

For more information about professional homebrewing equipment and ingredients, see here.

3. Cook the Wort
Before you get started, use your sanitizer on all your equipment. This includes the brewing kettle and fermenter. If your wort will touch it, then you should sanitize it.

Once that’s done, fill your brewing vessel with water. The volume of water will depend on your recipe and the size of your brewing equipment. Bring the water to about 170 degrees.

Once the water is at the right temperature, steep your grain bag for twenty to thirty minutes. At this point, add your malt extract and give it a stir. Now bring this wort to a low boil.

Add your hops to the grain bag and steep it a second time in the boiling wort. When you should add your hops, and for how long, depends on your recipe of choice. Follow those instructions.

When the hops have cooked for the appropriate amount of time, turn off the heat. Now it’s time to cool down the wort as quickly as possible. If you don’t have a wort chiller, place the kettle in an ice bath.

4. Ferment the Wort
Once the wort is cooled, siphon or pour your wort into your fermenter. Many recipes then request that you add water to get your wort back to its original volume since some water has boiled away.

Add your yeast to the wort. If you want to sound like a true homebrewer, say that you’re “pitching” your yeast instead. Using liquid yeast? Remember to activate it by shaking the container.

Now put the top onto your fermenter, along with the airlock, and forget about it for at least two weeks.

5. Carbonate and Bottle the Beer
Congratulations! Your beer is complete. If you’d like your beer to be carbonated — and who doesn’t — then add priming sugar to the fermenter before you bottle.

Your recipe can cover the details, but a priming sugar is typically a water and sugar mixture. The byproduct of fermentation, carbon dioxide will pressurize the bottles and create bubbles. Be careful not to add too much priming sugar or the bottles might explode.

Now transfer your primed beer directly into the bottles. If you have a bottling bucket, transfer the beer there instead. Since it has a spigot, it will make bottling easier.

Once you fill the bottles, squeeze the caps on and hide them away for another two weeks. This will complete the carbonation process.

Get Ready for Your Next Batch

Once you’ve created your first batch, you’ll already be thinking about the next. There’s something fulfilling about creating a personalized beer you can call your own. Plus, you can take it to the next level with customized beer bottle labels.

I hope these homebrewing 101 basics have given you the courage you need to get started. Shop around for beer brewing equipment and take a look at some simple recipes so you know which breeds of yeast to get your hands on.

To learn more about creating great craft beer, browse the rest of our site.