Beer Making Equipment

Brewing beer at home is becoming more and more popular. Not only is homebrew an affordable method of having a steady supply of beer on tap, it is also a way to experiment with your creativity and come up with some truly unique beer flavors and impress your family and friends. Beer making is a time-tested age-old process, but in order to get started and be successful, you will first need the right beer making equipment.

In order to understand the items supplied in most beer making equipment kits, it is first useful to know a little bit about the beer brewing process. All brewing relies on a source of starch, which is typically provided by a malted grain. Barley, wheat or rye are commonly used for this purpose. The grain is allowed to germinate, which simply means that it undergoes a period of inactivity during which time it develops spores or seeds. This process produces enzymes, which convert the starch in the grain into sugars. Roasting can also take place at the germination stage, with a resulting change in the final flavor and color of the beer.

The next stage in the beer-making process is to crush the grain so as to remove its outer husk and expose the inner carbohydrates and starches. The grain is mixed with hot water in a mash tun, which is essentially a large vat. This step is known as mashing, and is vital for further conversion of starch into sugars. Conversion of starch into sugars is important because it is these sugars that undergo fermentation.

When the mashing has been completed, the resulting liquid is extracted from the mash. This liquid is known as wort, a term you will hear used often in the home brewing industry. To give the beer its bitter flavor and aroma, the wort is then boiled with hops. Other things can be added to the wort at this point, and will ultimately affect the final flavor of the beer. This is where your creativity comes into play - you can experiment with various ingredients and create some truly unique flavors. Some people add herbs, others add honey - the choice is up to you!

Finally, the wort is added to a large vessel and yeast is mixed in with it in order for the fermentation process to begin. The yeast breaks down the sugars that were extracted from the malt, and the result of this is alcohol (ethanol), carbon dioxide (CO2) and other byproducts. After a period of time that varies depending on the type of beer brewed and yeast used, the beer is then ready to be bottled.

Beer making equipment kits available for home use are obviously quite different to the monolithic stainless steel vats and piping used in commercial plants. However, the basic principles in the process are the same. Some typical home beer making equipment includes:

a large vessel (usually plastic) for fermentation
a thermometer for attachment to the outside of the vessel to monitor and maintain desired temperature
a hydrometer for measuring the specific gravity of the beer to determine when it is ready for bottling
plastic or glass bottles and bottle tops
a source of fermentable sugar

Sources of fermentable sugars can vary. A complete beer making equipment kit can include "beer in a can", which is liquid malt extract. When added with water, the liquid malt extract produces wort. These kits are suitable for beginners as it is very easy to get started and no boiling is required. More advanced kits contain both malt extract and hops, and requires the two to be boiled together.

Home brewing beer is certainly an interesting and exciting area. With the right beer making equipment, and a little bit of practise, it is possible for anyone to make a delicious, cold beer at home. There are many options for customizing the brew, creating new flavors and impressing your friends and family. Brewing your own beer is cheaper than store-bought beer, and who knows, you might find that it tastes better!

John S. Kearney is the owner of Beer Making Equipment [http://beermakingequipment.net], a website that provides information about beer making equipment as well as beer making equipment kits reviews.

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