How to Micro Brew Beer

Brewing beer is a terrific hobby, because it requires both nuance and skill, but also because the end result can be a truly terrific product. Many people brew their own beer in their homes, but some people enjoy it so much that they decide to micro brew in larger quantities and sell it. Either way, you can micro brew beer for very little money and make your own beer recipes for yourself or others.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Micro brew kit (or full-scale equipment)
• Beer ingredients
• License (may be needed)

1. Determine how much you intend to brew, and how often. If you are going to brew beer in small batches only, then you can get away with having minimal equipment. If you plan on creating a true microbrewery with the intent to sell your product, then you may need quite a bit of start-up capital.
2. Experiment with different beer recipes, using some traditional recipes and altering proportion or changing ingredients (for example, adding more or less hops). This is how you'll develop your micro brew's distinct flavor.
3. Examine micro brew business models and decide the best way to proceed. If your operation is going to be seasonal, then you'll need to consider hiring part-time help. If you plan on your micro brew operation being a full-time, year-round endeavor, then you'll want to explore full-time employees and dedicated business officers (a chief financial officer, for example).
4. Take care of any and all licensing and paperwork for creating your micro brew business. Look into incorporating to protect yourself, as well as ensuring that you have completed each of the documents required to market and sell liquor.
5. Market and sample your brew to people outside your own circle of friends and family. Doing so will give you the best cross section of opinions regarding your recipes, and will help you figure out how to tweak them to make them better and more unique.

Tips & Warnings

• Invest in great equipment with someone else. While the cost for equipment for micro brewing can be very low, if you actually plan on brewing in larger quantities, then costs can add up. Get a partner, share recipe ideas and sell your beer together!
• Always check with your state to find out what the laws are regarding any micro brew operation. Most states permit those who want to micro brew beer for personal consumption to do so without hindrance, but selling your beer or producing beer in greater quantities usually requires a license.