There are beer enthusiasts who are deeply enriched in the beer making world, who own their own home breweries and who take advantage of all the benefits. Then, there are beer enthusiasts who have never even thought of making their own. I can’t imagine why a beer enthusiast wouldn’t at least be interested in giving it a try, but I’m going to try to change that now.
There are many benefits to brewing your own beer and I’m going to take it one step at a time. When you are ready to get off this wild ride, take stage coach left and no one will think any less of you for it. But I bet once this journey begins, you will want to ride it until the wheels fall off.
First, brewing your own beer is a way of putting a mark on your own home bar. You can even get online and design yourself a label and then place it on your bottles, glasses and beer taps even. When company comes over, you can have them all try it. It might just become their favorite beer meaning you might just get company more often if that seems like something you would like to have.
Then, you can start marketing your beer to the local bars. Give them a taste and see if they like it. There are different ways to make this happen. You can get in touch with a local bar owner and tell them you would like to have a tasting at their bar. You offer some of your beer for free and then when people say they like the taste, the bar owner will most likely want to stock it. Make a thing of it. It’s supposed to be a fun time. So, have fun!
The next logical level is to enter into some beer events. Start locally, but again have fun. Go across the country if you want. The more exposure you get, the more buyers you get. Don’t be surprised when someone approaches you to see if you want a sponsor. Sponsorship can take you to levels you have never imagined. Nationwide distribution. Export. International attention.
By this time of course, you have expanded your enterprise to include so much more than a bucket and a kegerator. You have built your brewery into a high powered system that produces enough beer to satisfy all your orders. You’ve moved your operation to a local location that houses your brewery and invites the neighbors to wander in and have a beer. You’ve had to apply for your beer license so that you can start selling your beer and you’ve had to build a bar so that your neighbors have a comfortable place to sit. You’ve got a sign on the front of your place with your name on it and you’ve been highlighted in the paper as the local beer expert.
With a few different flavors now in your inventory, you can have a seat. Take a breath. You’re finished the first phase of Operation Your Brew. The rest of the ride goes anywhere you want it to go.
Posted 1 year, 10 months ago at 4:20 pm. Add a comment
It’s extremely understandable that a beer enthusiast with home bar dreams might get a little out of hand. Of course, it’s a phenomenon that home bars are always quite unique and that should be your ultimate goal. But, you have to start somewhere first and then you have to know when to quit.
Your home bar needs more of you than anything else. But, you need a place to start and then you can start pouring your own personality into it. Let’s begin with the basics, discuss different ideas and then move on to how you can bring a bit of you to your own home bar.
The Bar
Of course, any conversation about a home bar would have to begin with the bar itself. Different types of bars normally begin with a wood décor. But, you can go with stone, marble, or leather as just a few ideas to start.
Of course, your stone or marble bar doesn’t have to be expensive. It can be framed with 2x4s and plywood. Then, cover with stone or marble veneer. Leather can be pasted on and then stylishly fastened with brass snaps. But, the wood look is the best.
Of course, you would still frame with 2x4s and plywood. But then, you want to add the nice looking finish of cedar or pine. Why use the ancient not-so-flattering wood paneling when you can have a great looking bar with the quality natural wood look of grooved paneling? No, I am not a salesperson.
You can panel the top as well. But then, add some style with trim. It’s easy and affordable just adding some trim to touch up the edges of your bar. Once the bar is ready, simply add a kegerator with a beer tap and some beer tap handles. Of course, you know what to do. Go with your favorite beer.
Décor
Starting with shelves to hold a collection of beer glasses is the first place I would go once the bar is in place. You can start collecting sets of beer mugs and glasses that represent different beer choices and different pub locations. People get real excited when they see their beer of choice on your walls or if you have a mug of an exotic bar half way around the world. Those are the types of things that start adding your personality to the bar.
Putting beer signs and mirrors on your walls is the next place for you to go. I once met a friend bartender of mine at his bar because we had plans. I arrived right on time because the beer distributor had just shown up to stock more beer in the bar. That’s the perfect time to get great stuff. I was offered a rare beer mirror that the distributor was told to send around with their drivers on deliveries and offer them as a promotion to different bars they serviced. The driver didn’t care who he was giving mirrors to and I ended up with one.
You may not have that kind of luck. But, everyone can look online for unique beer signs and mirrors that they can purchase to decorate their bar. You can start with a few just to get yourself going and then keep your ears and eyes open for opportunities.
Bar Accessories
Your bar is almost finished. But, it’s not quite ready for company yet. You have to add those types of things no one else has. It’s not as tricky as you might think. But, it does take some “good eye” action and be ready for the moment.
A Jagermeister machine is in just about every bar. But, I have rarely seen one in a home bar. Having a Jagermeister machine steps you up into the professional realm where your friends and family will really be impressed.
But, the hottest trend sweeping the nation right now is beer pong. Having a beer pong table with some great beer pong accessories will make for hours of fun when you have company over to your house. There will always be some people who won’t want to hang out in the bar. They’ll want to sit at the dining room table and talk. Well, let them. Have fun playing beer pong for hours while they talk politics on their stuffy bums.
Home bars aren’t necessarily hard to put together. A little planning and you can have an affordable home bar with very little effort. Then, start adding some of your personality to it so that it’s undeniably yours. Friends who didn’t think of it first will be very envious.
Posted 2 years ago at 3:07 pm. Add a comment
As a beginner homebrewer, you will find that homebrew kits are perfect to get into the game. All your ingredients, and supplies are included so that you can start brewing your own tasty beer. It’s basically the easiest way to get started with home beer brewing… by choosing a homebrew kit to suit your needs.
The most basic kit you can purchase is an extract kit that includes a standard beer type that you might find in any old bottle shop. When you get a kit like that, you first need to set yourself up to fully clean and sanitize all the equipment that you will be using to brew your beer… this includes all pots, pans, tools, and even the fermentation container. If you don’t properly clean and sanitize all your equipment, you run the risk of brewing a bad batch, and you definitely don’t want that! Most homebrew kits come with instructions, but they are for the most part useless, so be sure to get yourself a good beer brewing guide before you get your kit.
There is a variant if you would want to determine the color of your beer, and the style of your brew – other than the classic canned beer taste. You can opt to have a different set of ingredients. These are still all-extract kits though as they give you preformulated ingredients.
All extract brewing is a fairly simple process because the boiling off certain ingredients to get certain flavors has already been done for you on a mass scale. As you gain experience, it is advisable to start with partial mash brewing for more refined flavors and textures of home brewed beer. As a partial mash brewer, you are involved in boiling ingredients, choosing specialty flavorings, and crafting your beer from start to finish… and this is a lot harder than simply adding the ingredients to a pot and stirring.
When brewing, the extract, hops, yeast, and water will determine the flavor of your beer. Hops is primarily responsible for determining the bitterness of your brew, so adding the hops sooner or later will provide a different flavor making your bee unique and different to that off your neighbors.
Eventually, you’d get the hang of brewing beer from your kits. You want to experiment more, do more than your ingredients or your materials would allow or you would even want to decide to graduate your hobby to beer fanaticism or better, to a commercial brewery. But whatever extent you want to bring yourself to, start it first with the good old trusty homebrew kits.
Homebrew kits will assist you get introduced and become an enthusiast at brewing beer at home. Luke Porter is an enthusiast brewer who is delighted to share the in’s and out’s of brewing kits available on the market today.
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 12:05 pm. Add a comment
Home brewing is something which has been popular for many years. Still, many are resolute that convenience is best for them and continue to drink only beer that they have paid for at a liquor store or at a bar. However, as with everything else in life, convenience costs. As insignificant as the additional cost can seem at the time, it certainly becomes significant over the course of a years worth of sports games, parties and nights out.
The issue of paying an upfront sum for beer brewing supplies puts a lot of people off getting involved with it. They calculate that they could have a few nights at their local bar for the same cost and think to themselves that it would be a lot less effort to do so too. However, look at the situation beyond just a few weeks ahead and you’ll see that home brewing is a much better option. After the initial amount that you pay for the kit and supplies, which is little more than the cost of a few crates anyway, you’ll have the potential to make enough beer to see you through the next couple of months.
To some people, the idea of making their own beer is too much like hard work. That’s why we have major breweries to do it for us, is it not? Well, of course it is, but then again you could think of it this way – you can eat in a restaurant every night of the year, but you’ll save money and develop a skill if you cook your own meals. At first restaurant food seems better than anything you could possibly cook yourself, but, with a little practice, you soon develop your own recipes that are superior. It’s exactly the same with beer brewing.
Beer brewing supplies are easily sourced. In most towns you will find a store which has the necessary equipment and the right ingredients, and if you are not so lucky you will certainly find them on the Internet, often at a lower price. Do a little online research first to find out what you need. There are various beer brewing forums that are full of like-minded beer lovers who will be more than happy to point you in the right direction.
Beer brewing supplies come with instructions if you have never brewed beer at home before, it is worth following these closely to make sure you do not miss out an important step. The best way to learn how to do something right is to keep doing it and get the technique down. Once you have the basics learnt, you can then start deviating from the standard processes in order to make your own special recipes. You’ll soon be viewing it less like hard work and more like fun!
Luke Porter is a home brewing beer enthusiast, and an expert author. You are invited to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home by reading his latest book, “Home Beer Brewing Secrets” – available online today!
categories: home brewery,home brewing,brew your own beer,beer brewing,home brew,beer,alcohol,parties,recreation
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 4:41 am. Add a comment
At first, home beer brewing was illegal in America, before the laws changed and made America one of the top producing beer countries on the 90′s… and now we see the decline once again with the tough economic times forcing many companies out of business and into bankruptcy. This has of course led to more and more people drinking to drown their sorrows, so to speak, but many more are actually turning this lust for beer into a productive past time by starting their own home brewery… and what a way to go!
Now we all know that back way way in the olden days, home beer brewing was a major and accepted pastime practiced by the colonial people. One thing you might not know that even famous people such as the Great George Washington was an avid home beer brewer, as was Thomas Jefferson and friends!
However, there was a time of prohibition that was devastating to the American population. Prohibition meant that it was illegal to brew your own beer, and heavy fines where placed on people who broke this law… and what a shame that was… some people even went to prison for having a home brewery! Can you imagine a life without beer? Everybody had to content with a watered down lifeless beer – well not really beer but something which was a very poor substitute for it. Nothing substantially alcoholic was allowed and few took efforts in making their drinks less alcoholic but tasty. Unfortunately the American people had to suffice and deal with prohibition. This then led to shop owners renaming all equipment so it couldn’t be associated with running home brewery and started selling it on the sly to hardcore supporters of brewing beer at home. This was quiet easy because the equipment is fairly standard, including buckets, hosing, pots, pans, and other tidbits. The situation varied from state to state. In some states, only those selling home brews were caught while in some, brewing for personal consumption also meant facing legal charges. Good thing those laws have been since relaxed and prohibition has truly been and gone!
One of the pioneers of legalized home beer brewing was Charlie Papazian. He was the man responsible for teaching thousands of others how to brew their own beer at home, and obtain the permit they needed for doing so (as it was still illegal to brew beer at home without one). Some say that his work led to the laws eventually being completely relaxed, but it is unclear as most history is so. Nonetheless, 1935 was a great year for home brewers and changed the way the world views home brewing today.
But thankfully, in 1978, Jimmy Carter rescued the doomed souls of beer loving Americans and signed Senate Amendment 3534 allowing households to brew their own beer as long as they don’t go beyond 200 gallons a year. After the lifting of the prohibition on alcoholic beverages, it was home brew beer enthusiasts who worked hard to revive the brewing industry. Today, there are over 1,463 breweries in the United States, a much improved American home brewing state.
American Home Brewing is alive and well today, so naturally it’s time to sit down, relax, and have a home brew. For those still not up to speed with home brewing beer, click on the link to discover more!
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 5:53 pm. Add a comment
If you’ve got a hard time quitting drinking, this article is for you. This isn’t AA but sit down and read on to find out about the alcohol cure without using Alcoholics Anonymous.
Do you have a religion that you can turn to in order to help you quit? Do you think being in a group such as AA will help you quit? Do you think AA will help you quit alcoholism?
First of all, you need to trust yourself and believe that you can do it. You don’t need to have a religious background, unless that helps you out. You just need a lot of self esteem. You can do it! Have you heard of Anthony Robbin’s Awaken the Giant Within? You have the power. Don’t think about failure, you can do this.
I’m sure you know that alcohol is bad for your body. Your human body will treat it as poison too. Most of all, you’ll damage your liver. There aren’t any vitamins or minerals in 100% of alcoholic drinks. You don’t need it. Toss that flask in the trash bin right now and dump your vodka down the drain, that’s all you need! If you really need the alcohol, it might be too hard for you to quit straight up like that and you should see a doctor first.
Always envision success. Remember what you are striving to achieve. You want to lose some pounds or just get back your bodily hygiene and stop having your bad breath. Forget about the alcohol.
So, that is the fact. Not too hard, eh? Really, in the end, that’s all there is to it. Just do it. In the end when you succeed, you’ll only have yourself to thank for and you’ll be really glad you took this challenge on.
If you enjoyed this article, check out my other articles on planting distances and rose propagation.
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 9:04 pm. Add a comment
There are few pleasures in life to match a nice cold beer on a hot day, and the best way to round off a hard days work is, in many peoples mind, a trip to their favorite bar to partake of a couple of glasses of their chosen brew.
However, prices can be a major sticking point for many, as price increases have taken a nights drinking to the level where it is now something that has to be balanced against cost. The reason for these prices rises are well documented – taxes and the increased price of the raw materials, and though we understand that prices for everything rise over time, the speed at which it is has risen for beer has led many of us to think that maybe it just isn’t worth it.
People have been aware of the benefits of having a home brewery for some time now. However, there is a sense, as with many things, that it just isn’t the same. Some people feel that it is just too much effort when it is readily available in stores and bars all around them. Times are changing though and the sky high prices in local bars and liquor stores mean that the money saving benefits of a home brewery are too big to ignore any longer. Being able to have a few beers whenever you want and at a price that suits you is becoming an increasingly popular prospect.
It is just a myth that paid for beer is better than home-brewed beer. With a little trial and error, home brew can be even better than that stocked in your favorite bar. There are few of us who are skilled or lucky enough to have our first batch of home-brewed beer turn out to be just as good as, or better than, the frosty glasses of ale served up at our local tavern. However, with persistence and experimentation, it is possible to brew beer to suit our own tastes.
Home brewery kits are not expensive. Certainly so, when compared to what you would spend on a months worth of trips to your sports bar to watch a couple of games at a time, you can begin to see big savings very quickly. Once you have the knack you will find that people are prepared to visit for a couple of drinks when the game is on they may be willing to pay and, if not, they’ll bring food to go with the drinks you serve up.
It is about more than just the end product though, a home brewery is a hobby. Rather than having a hobby that goes nowhere, the beer lover can enjoy the feeling of making something themselves, with the added advantage that no beer tastes finer than that which you have brewed to your own recipe. The endless variations that you can come up with will make it more fun than you could imagine, and all for a reasonable price.
Luke Porter is a home brewing beer enthusiast, and an expert author. You are invited to discover the simple secrets of brewing world class beer from the comfort of your home by reading his latest book, “Home Beer Brewing Secrets” available online today!
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 9:29 am. Add a comment
If you brew your own beer, or would like to start this great hobby… you need to acquaint yourself with the home beer brewing equipment that you will require. There are kits and tools of the trade for all skill levels, it’s just a matter of picking the right ones.
So before you start buying your equipment, you must decide on how much beer you will actually need to brew. No matter what quantity you are after, it must be known that your equipment can cater for that. Some kits will allow you to brew 5 gallons, whilst others have a much greater capacity. So when at your home brew store, make sure you read the instructions or talk to the owner about your needs!
When buying buckets for fermentation, make sure they are specifically designed to ferment your wort into drinkable beer. A fermentation bucket will include an airlock as not to let any air in that can spoil your unfermented beer. Moving along, some fermentation buckets come with a spigot, whilst others don’t. If you happen to have a fermentation bucket without a spigot, then simply buy a bottling bucket that has a spigot for ease of use. A spigot allows easier transfer of beer into the bottles on bottling day.
In addition to the above, you need a siphon in order to transfer your fermented beer from the fermenting bucket to your bottling bucket. Automatic siphons are good home brew supplies because they are more sanitary than non-automatic ones. Quality cappers and caps are also items that you should add to your home brewing kits.
Then there are your actual ingredients to make the beer that you desire, as without these basic building blocks, you have the capacity to brew nothing at all. Apart from the basic ingredients off yeast, water, hops, and malt… you might like to experiment with different flavorings such as chili, or licorice to really spice things up and create a truly unique brew!
A couple of other essential items to have in our home brewing kit is a thermometer and hydrometer. The best thermometer is one that sticks to your fermentation bucket from the outside, allowing you to check on the beer’s temperature as you go through the fermentation process. The hydrometer is of-course to determine your freshly brewed beer’s alcoholic content.
Then most importantly, the proper cleansers and sanitizes to clean all of your equipment before you use it. Even the slightest microbe to infect your beer will result in a bung batch… so be thorough and follow the instruction.
In sum, brewing your own beer can be a whole lot of fun… but before you can engage in it you must know the 101 on home brew supplies.
If you want to home brew beer, then you must have the right home brewery supplies and equipment. Miss out on these and you will have a random set off things good for nothing!
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 1:08 pm. Add a comment
Beer is one of the most prevalent drink that dates back to as old as Neolithic age. The beer brewing activity is becoming increasingly famous at domestic level. I should rather say that it has been taken as a hobby work shop by many beer lovers. No doubt a rich drink is what you get in home beer brewing that is really incomparable to all the tastes. All you need to have is a good knowledge of the preparation that is needed for the same.
Among the beer enthusiasts this activity is becoming well-liked day by day. Home brewing may include brewing of beer, wine and cider. For the unknown this can be a black art but believe me this process of turning grains, water, yeast and hops into beer is really a simple one. Rather the heroes in the whole process are the yeast cells that lead to a rich yield of a good beer. The activity may include seven basic steps: Mashing, Lautering, Boling, Fermenting, Conditioning, Filtering and Filling.
There are various home brewing kits available for this purpose that can help you in making the beer in an easier and convenient way. These kits usually provide a liquid or dry malt extract, yeast or the hop extract. These when reconstituted with water produce wort. It is the easiest method available as this doesn’t require boiling or other preparatory methods. You can add sugar according to your liking.
Though these kits can meet the standards as of a commercial beer but they are definitely not as good as the beer that is home brew made from all grain methods and malt extract. The real flavor of beer does lies in the indigenous methods adopted in its making.
Brewing beer at home can be exciting and cheaper than its commercial equivalents. You can yield a beer according to your taste and liking. It is environment friendly as it uses less packaging materials and transportation. There are various information sites available where you can get relevant step by step information about the home made brewing. This will definitely help you in learning this process in an easier style.
Well, planning to take this practice at your home is really not a bad idea indeed. Enjoy the flavors of beer with your family and friends!
Learn how to find out about all the secrets of making a better home beer brewing.
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 2:12 am. Add a comment
Introducing: Home Beer Brewing Secrets
If the idea of being able to craft delicious homemade beer is something that appeals to you – regardless of how much money you have, you’re educational background, your skills or the amount of equipment you own, then you will love this…
But one quick thing before I continue: I have $89.90 in free bonuses reserved in your name. To discover how easy it is to get all of them for FREE, follow the link below.
If you are just starting to brew, if you are curious, or if you are a brewer looking for an A-Z guide, this is the one to get. Home Beer Brewing Secrets gives you a solid foundation of knowledge that will serve you well in your brewing pursuits. Everything is presented in a simple-to-understand format that answers all your questions from the most basic, to as technical as you could possibly want!
Home Beer Brewing Secrets is jam-packed with simple, sure-fire instructions for making your very first beer… accurately, clearly, and simply.
All You Need to Know to Start From Square-Zero
to Being an Expert at Making Delicious, Hearty, Home-Crafted Beer!
Here’s just some of what you’ll discover:
- - Learn the 10 crucial steps to an irresistibly refreshing home brew
- - Learn about the ingredients of all forms of beer
- - How to prevent your precious brew from getting spoiled… using one simple, inexpensive tool
- - Which beer bottle you must use to prevent beer being spoiled during storage
- - Simple formula that lets you adjust alcohol content up or down (I suggest UP!)
- - 4 tips for beer storage
Home Beer Brewing Secrets
Posted 2 years, 3 months ago at 4:22 pm. Add a comment
