Brewing beer doesn't require a lot of expensive equipment. You can get started with a beginner home brewing kit for around $100. The following list outlines the equipment you will need to be successful brewing beer. I will briefly explain the purpose of each item and give you suggestions based on what brewing equipment I use.
Brew Pot - This is where you combine all of your ingredients to make your wort. I use a 22 quart stainless steel pot. However, a basic canning pot or seafood pot will be just fine. Actually, anything you have in your kitchen that is big enough to hold about 3 gallons of liquid and safe enough to put on the stove will work.
Large Metal Spoon - You will use this to stir your wort. DO NOT use a wooden spoon. Any spoon that is either food-grade plastic or metal will work.
Metal Whisk -You will need to aerate your wort prior to pitching your yeast. This is an important step in the brewing process that I will explain in detail later in this eBook.
Measuring Cup - You will need to measure the correct amount of water to add to your brew pot. You will also need to measure when adding water to your fermentor. I use a Pyrex glass measuring cup that measures up to 1 quart. Bigger is better here because you will be measuring your liquid in gallons. HINT: 4 quarts = 1 gallon
Fermentor - This is where it all goes down! This is where your beer will rest for several weeks while the yeast convert the wort into beer. There are different schools of thought on this topic. Some think a bucket is the way to go while others swear by glass carboys. I prefer a 5 gallon food-grade plastic bucket. I assure you this will work just fine. You can obtain one of these from either your local homebrew shop or online.
If you choose to use a bucket, you will need to purchase a lid. The lid must have a small pre-drilled hole sealed with a small rubber o-ring. This is where you will put your airlock.
Airlock - Airlocks prevent blow-offs. Blow-offs are bad! The airlock in inserted into your pre-drilled lid. It releases gasses created during fermentation while preventing bacteria from getting into your fermentor. It bubbles, which is very exciting once you understand what's going on in there!
Sanitizer - This is important. You need to sanitize everything extremely well. There are several different sanitizing solutions on the market. Some people even use a diluted bleach mixture. I prefer a product called Star San, which you can purchase either at your local homebrew supplier or online.
Kitchen Thermometer - You will need a thermometer to measure the temperature of your wort while it is boiling. A candy thermometer works great. You can clip it onto the side of your brew pot and conveniently monitor your wort temperature.
Stick On Thermometer -You will also need a thermometer to monitor the temperature of your beer during fermentation. Home brew suppliers sell these. It is a peel and stick adhesive thermometer that sticks to the outside of your fermentor.
Kitchen Strainer -During the boiling and cooling process, the hops will break apart and settle to the bottom of your brew pot. It is perfectly fine to transfer these to your fermentor. However, you will produce a much clearer beer if you can avoid transferring this to your fermentor. Therefore, I pour my wort through a kitchen strainer into my fermentor.
Hydrometer - This is a great tool to have. It requires a little knowledge and some very simple calculations. It allows you to measure your gravity and calculate the alcohol level in your beer.
No comments:
Post a Comment