Making Your Own Beer Kits

Homemade beer is an increasingly popular hobby,

While most people get their beer from the store or a bar, home brewing is an increasingly popular hobby. Today the most popular way of brewing beer at home is by using a beer kit. A delicious tasting drink can be produced using only minimal equipment in a short amount of time. There are many different styles available including ale, bitter, mild, stout and lager. With so many to choose from, you are bound to be able to find one to suit your taste. Does this Spark an idea?

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Campden Tablets
Citric acid
Jug
Beer making kit according to your taste
Sugar
30 quart stock pot
10-gallon plastic bucket with lid
Long-handled plastic spoon
6 feet plastic siphoning tubing
Siphoning wand
5-gallon plastic pressure cask and lid

Instructions

- 1
  
  Purchase a beer kit according to your preferred taste. Kits can be obtained locally from home-brew specialists, supermarkets or on-line.
- 2
  
  Prepare a sterilizing solution by combining two crushed Campden tablets, 1/2 tsp. citric acid, and 1 pint cold water in a jug. Stir well until dissolved. Pour this into the bucket and swirl to ensure it is clean and sterile. Repeat this sterilization process with the stock pot and rinse the spoon in the solution. All the equipment must be clean and sterile.
- 3
  
  Open the malt liquid container and pour it into the stock pot, rinse out the container and add hot water according to the instructions. Stir well until the malt liquid has dissolved.
- 4
  
  Boil the liquid, if necessary, as directed in the kit instructions.
- 5
  
  Pour the heated liquid into the bucket, add the appropriate amount of sugar and top up with water as required. Stir well to dissolve the sugar and allow to cool to between 65 degrees F and 75 degrees F.
  
  Sprinkle the yeast onto the liquid.
- 6
  
  Place the lid on the bucket and allow to ferment in a warm room for five to seven days according to the strength desired.
- 7
  
  Allow the bucket to stand for a further two days after fermentation has stopped and the surface of the beer has cleared. Move the bucket into a cooler area such as a pantry or outhouse and leave undisturbed for a further two days so that it will clear.
- 8
  
  Prepare the sterilizing solution as in step 1. Wash the pressure cask thoroughly and then rinse with the solution to make it clean and sterile. Soak the siphoning tubing and rinse the wand in solution.
- 9
  
  Rack the beer carefully into the pressure cask, ensuring that none of the sediment is drawn into the vessel.
- 10
  
  Dissolve 2 ounces of sugar in a little cold water and add to the cask. Swirl to mix. Screw the lid tightly onto the cask and allow to stand for seven to 10 days before drinking.