Speaking of Beer

Let’s make some beer! Besides being easy and fun, brewing is the single best way to develop a deep understanding of and appreciation for beer. Part art, part science, part cooking, part sport (if you want to take it there), homebrewing is satisfying on just about all levels. Plus, it’s a hobby that gives you a wicked buzz!

THE STUFF YOU’LL NEED

Regardless of the type of beer you’re going to brew, certain basic equipment and materials are necessary. For brewing with malt extract, we’re talking:

1 - 6.5 Gallon Plastic Fermenting Bucket w\ lid & #2 Stopper
1 - 6.5 Gallon Plastic Bottling Bucket w\ spigot
a capper and bottle caps
1- 24 inch Racking Cane w\ 5 foot Siphon Hose
1 - 15 inch Spring Loaded Bottle Filler
1 - 3 Piece Airlock
1 - 4 Oz. Bottle of BTF Iodophor No Rinse Sanitizer (1 TBL spoon per 5 gallons Cold Water)
a hydrometer (a device that allows you to predict the beer’s strength)
a cooking thermometer

You’ll also need a good stainless steel or enamel pot in which to boil what will become your beer. Your pot should have at least a 4 gallon capacity. Finally, bottles round out the equipment list. For a five gallon batch, you’ll need about 54 12 oz bottles. You can buy them outright from a homebrew supplier, or simply rinse and save your empties, provided they are NOT screwtops. Screwtop bottles are thin at the top and tend to break come bottling day.

Of course you’ll also need some information. Simple “first brew” instructions, which will be followed on Speaking of Beer for Batch #1, are available at Brewer’s Connection by clicking this link. Eventually, more in-depth study is both warranted and richly rewarded. I strongly recommend The Complete Joy of Homebrewing by Charlie Papazian as a fun and informative next step.

Most importantly, let’s have us some fun. Your beer is going to kick ass!

BEER #1: THE NEW GUY, an American Pale Ale (starting with show 22)

6 lbs of Light Dry Malt Extract
1/2 lb 60 L crystal malt (for flavor)
1/2 lb Carapils malt (for body)
2 oz Cascade hops (for hoppy goodness)
ale yeast (e.g. Danstar Nottingham Ale Yeast)
irsh moss
dextrose sugar (for bottling)

All of the above is included in the “First Born Pale Ale” kit available at Brewer’s Connection, or you can look at your own local homebrew shop or online homebrew supplier.

BEER #2: MONKEY BASTARD, a “West Coast” American Strong Ale (starting with show 32)

Ingredients and instructions are here.

BEER #3.1 RUINED NATION, a double IPA (starting and ending with show 45)

Ingredients:

Procedure: This is a “partial mash” rescipe, meaning some grains are steeped at an appropriate temperature to draw out flavor and sugars before the “extract” is added.

Beer #3.2 SAMUEL L. JACKSON BADASSSSSSSSS STOUT, ’nuff said (starting and ending with show 45)

Ingredients & Procedure: CLASSIFIED, MUTHAF@#KUH!

This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 24th, 2007 at 9:37 am and is filed under General. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.