Information On Home Brew Ingredients

By Kimberly Hayes


Home brewing is one thing that almost all lovers of this drink have at once tried or imagined. This is because they usually feel the need of having it much closer to them. It may seem like an impossible idea to some but in reality making of the making of the drink at home is comfortable with all precautions and home brew ingredients at hand.

Any drink known is made out of specific or individual ingredients. The same applies to the coming up with this drink. One advantage off this drink is that the parts making it up are all natural making it healthy if not exceeded. Every material used serves a particular function no matter how little it is. The actual fermentation and mixing are done in the simplest means since the apparatus at home are simple.

The most basic ingredients that one will need are malt, yeast, hops and water. In this industry, other additives such as brewing salts and additional flavors may be added. The first ingredient of consideration is the malt. The brewing process is quietly fermenting. The only material known to easily ferment is normal sugar. The malt is usually the only source of sugar.

Any grain can give malt the only difference is the content of sugar available. Rice, oats, corns barley and many others can be used for brewing. Barley is mostly preferred since it has the highest sugar content leading to quality output. One should store the barley in cool and dry places so that to avoid reduced quality.

From the malt or any grain that one will be comfortable with we obtain the malt extract. This malt is usually a solution made of sugar from the grain. The method of obtaining the solution is known as direct extraction unlike in the past where people used to grind and smash the grain. The extract is then broken down to give alcohol.

Water is another important part of our brewing recipe. It forms the largest percentage of beers we drink. It should not be treated very seriously, however. The tap water can be used for the preparation if it is suitable for drinking. The composition of the water can affect the chemical process of breaking down the sugar and even the taste. Excess chemicals in water may interfere with the whole process.

Yeast is our third item which works as the engine of the whole procedure. The beer will never be made if the yeast is not included. It is the organism that comes in the process of fermentation where it breaks down the sugar in the malt extract to give the alcohol. Depending on the temperatures one can either use the Ale yeast that works at higher temperatures above 600 F or the low Lager yeast for temperature below 400 F.

Hops are the last piece of this brewing puzzle. They are responsible for the sweet smell and the taste of the beer. They are also used to ensure that the bitterness that comes from the products of fermentation is bearable. There are many varieties of hops that are used depending on ones likes. In the past flowers and herbs were used.




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