Home brew hobbyists have really kicked it up a notch over the last few years. The growth of home brewing has kept pace with the rise in popularity of small batch breweries, who have gained a lot of steam over large national and global brands like Coors and Heineken. Niche is in. Mass market is out. Nobody wants to be that guy at the bar with a Bud Light tall boy. Nope, they want the beer brewed with artisanal peaches that’s only available three months out of the year.
Given that, it’s really no surprise that more and more people are looking to try their hand at home brewing. If you’re interested in experimenting with ingredients and flavors and you love beer, the home brew route might be right up your alley. But before you start, here’s what you should know.
Invest in a Home Brew Kit
Home brewing takes specialized equipment – most people realize that. Creating a home brew setup isn’t going to save you a lot of money. Even if you drink a lot of beer. This process is for people who truly have a passion for beer.
However, before you run to your local home brewing store and spend money on the latest and greatest in home brewing technology, check for a more affordable home brew kit. These generally range in cost from around $50 to $250. Starting with a less expensive kit gives you a chance to try before you buy (or in this case, invest in better brewing equipment).
Your first batch will generally be a bit pricier than the others. That’s because you’re paying for the equipment upfront. However, the standard batch for a home brew is around five gallons (or about 30 bottles). So once you’ve got your equipment and starter kit, you can expect to see your costs decrease. But again, home brewing isn’t a good way to save money on beer. It’s a good way to create unique flavor and ingredient combinations and experiment with different types of beers.
What Else Will You Need?
Aside from the Equipment and the ingredients in the starter kit (you know, hops, grains, yeast), you’ll need to have a bit of space to tackle a home brew project well. We’ve heard of people home brewing in their studio apartments – and even more impressively – in their dorm rooms. But having some extra counter space or even a dedicated area in the garage is never a bad thing. Home brewing isn’t terribly complicated, but you will need to store the beer while it ferments, which can take up to a week or week and a half.
And while the process of home brewing beer isn’t difficult, it does require precision in maintaining temperatures, knowing when and how much ingredients to add in, and sanitation (actually, keeping every part of the home brew equipment clean is so much a necessity that it can actually ruin your beer if you don’t do it properly). In those ways, home brewing is pretty similar to baking. You have to follow a proper set of instructions in order to get it to turn out the way you’d like.
Do you home brew your own beer? What’s the most creative flavor you’ve concocted? Share your experiences in the comments!
