Do you love craft beer? Ever found yourself interested in brewing your own, but had no idea where to begin? Well, now you have nothing to fear, for Three B Zine has got your back! We bring to you 5 Home Brew Start Up Tips – the first in our home brew article series – written by veteran home brewer Cody Skulls Scott from Redlands California.
So you want to start brewing suds? Or maybe you’ve done a few batches and have hit a wall? Here are 5 basic steps, an outline if you will, for beginners and novices alike. Mostly for the newbies asking questions, but can be fit for an outline for your own brewing pleasure.
1. Equipment.
Good brew gear isn’t necessary for making beer, and lots of money doesn’t always equal great brew. Having decent equipment can help streamline the process, making less work, but don’t think you need to take out a loan. So much can be made DIY as it were. At this point a decision needs to be made: How far will I go with this? Will this be an every weekend gig, or every 6 months? Being truthful here will save you tons in the long run. Will your initial investment of time and money be a stepping stone? This is a great question to ask, because it will help you build that first ‘kit’ and it helps Mr. Brew Hardware guy understand where you’re coming from and how he can help you best.
2. Ingredients/Steps & Instructions
Making beer can be as easy as making coffee, or pouring syrup into water. But be aware of what you are doing, and WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN!! Remembering your every step after a day of brewing can be difficult, especially after a few well-earned cold ones. Get a note pad and keep track of temperature changes and times, which are some of the main notes to take…added extras are another. If this brew comes out amazing and you can’t make it again because you forgot a key ingredient, or changed the time or temperature of an addition, you’ll be pissed. But for most first timers, myself included (6 years ago) following the instructions on an extract kit is a necessary brewing step. Not only for the quality of the beer, but for a real ego boost! Making beer you will drink is one thing; making beer your friends will drink & enjoy is another. Keep the crazy adjuncts, & “I think this will taste good” ideas for another batch. If this is something you really want to do, there is plenty of time to experiment. But, nothing is worse than 5 gallons of bunk beer. Baby steps!
3. Read!!!
Read everything! But don’t over think ANYTHING! Today’s home brewer is able to access so much information. There are so many books, magazines, blogs, podcasts, it can be overwhelming. When my grandfather was making beer & wine in his garage 50 years ago he had nothing but what was handed down to him. Today, I can type in brown ale recipe & get 30+ recipes from brewers around the globe! This is truly an amazing time for beer, and with the bit of down time you get while the magic of fermentation is happening, you are able to get new ideas, recipes, and how-to’s at the click of a mouse. Take it all in, it fuels your passion, but don’t get too much in your head. Over thinking beer can lead to frustration, and thus bad batches of brew. Write down the things you want to try, set goals, and make a plan. IT’S BEER! Keep it fun. Bookmark your favorite pages & listen to your favorite podcast while you brew. All the info can’t hurt, but over thinking the simplicity of making beer can. People have been making beer for centuries; it can’t be that difficult, right? Don’t make it so. This leads me into my next point…
4. K.I.S.S. Keep It Simple Stupid!
We’ve all heard the old saying…me maybe more than most. But when it comes to beer it really holds true. Keep it simple. Look at your brew day and streamline the process. Cut out unnecessary steps. If a bit of prep the night before helps, do it…whatever makes brewing easier. The day making beer becomes a chore is the day your gear will be shelved. As with any hobby, it has its good days and bad. Let’s try and keep the crappy ones to a minimum. Making less work for yourself is the best way to start. Plan your steps, there’s no rush. Do I need to keep saying it? IT’S BEER!
5. Sanitation.
All my points up to this one have been a broad overview on beer, nonspecific…work this, read that, try this. But sanitation is something I believe gets lost in the fray of making beer, at least on newer brewers. I’d go as far to say 80% of brewing comes down to sanitation. This is a critical step, not only of brew day, but in the care of your equipment. Giving your beer, and more important the yeast, a clean place to do their thing in essential in making good beer. This is where I say cut loose with a nickel and get some good sanitizer and a spray bottle. Spend the extra time cleaning your prep space and your equipment BEFORE BREW DAY! (Remember the cutting extra steps part?) Keeping a spray bottle with some fancy Star Sans will help so much. Think for a second something isn’t sanitized? Give it a quick squirt…DONE! Keeping your work area, whether it’s your kitchen, garage, or where ever, tidy and clean will help in your sanitation process. Keep an area covered in foil sprayed down with sani-solution, or use a cookie sheet. Make a clean spot for you to set spoons, thermometers, ANYTHING that comes in contact with your beer (especially post boil). Keeping a clean, sanitized area for your beer will improve your consistency in making good beer. Infections & contaminates all lead to bad beer and off flavors in your brew. KEEP IT CLEAN, KEEP IT SANITIZED, AND KEEP IT TASTING LIKE BEER!
And as always remember…IT’S BEER! Make it fun, have some friends over, share your new hobby. Research, ask questions, try new things, and write down everything! ENJOY!
Special Thank You to Cody Skulls Scott for sharing some of his knowledge with the world. Follow his Twitter @ReverendSkulls. Gear Pictures are Mr. Scott’s equipment and taken by him. Other photos taken by Three B Zine during a brew sesh.