How to Make a Lager Home Brew

By eHow Food & Drink Editor

Rate: (5 Ratings)

Making your own home brew is fun and economical; you also control the ingredients in your home brew. You can brew lager from scratch or buy a home brew kit. Lagers include American lagers, Pilsners, Bocks and special Octorberfest beers. Here are a few tips to help you make a lager home brew.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Step1
Start with a home brew brewing kit to make lager for the first time. The kit and ingredients will help you understand the home brew process before attempting a recipe from scratch.
Step2
Decide on the type of lager you want to brew. American lagers are generally lighter than German lagers. There are also dark lagers you can brew. Lager contains malt extract, bittering hops and finishing hops. Hops will vary in type and amount depending on the type of lager you want to brew. If you have a favorite beer, find out what type of lager it is so you can buy a home brew kit that is closest to the taste of it.
Step3
Assemble the tools and supplies you'll need to brew the lager. In addition to the home brew kit, you will need a large stainless steel pot, a fermenter, an airlock, racking cane, a hydrometer, thermometer, siphon hose and sterile bottles. You'll also need a paddle or long wooden spoon for stirring, bottle capper and bottle caps.
Step4
Sterilize all the equipment you'll be using. If equipment isn't sterilized, bacteria can kill the yeast needed for the home brew. Clean the area you'll be using as your brewing station and place everything within easy reach.
Step5
Follow the recipe directions included in the home brew kit for lager. It's important to follow the recipe when first attempting to make a home brewed lager. If you aren't happy with the result, you'll understand better the next time how to tweak the recipe.
Step6
Prepare an area for the freshly bottled lager; home brew should be stored in a cool, dark place until the brew is ready to drink. If you don't have a basement, store the beer out of sunlight and away from sources of heat for the best results.

Comments

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chyrd

chyrd said

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on 4/25/2008 Wow... if you follow these directions... you will not only NOT make a lager beer... but you will be thoroughly confused.

Brewing can be as simple or complex as you make it. However, you should at least look up John Palmer's "how to brew beer" online. He breaks down the steps very simply then goes on to explain in detail all of those steps.

If You follow John's book, you should get a great brew first time.

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on 4/14/2008 As a very experienced home-brewer, I must say that these instructions are ridiculous. One could not possibly hope to produce a lager beer (or any beer, for that matter) based on these instructions.

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eHow Article: How to Make a Lager Home Brew

eHow Food & Drink Editor

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