What's on tap? Try the homemade brew
By Jeff Renfro
Traditionally restricted to the basements of the rainy Pacific Northwest, home brewing is slowly becoming popular in all parts of the country. Surprisingly simple, it requires a few basic items that are easy to obtain. And with a little bit of patience, home brewing results in large amounts of fantastic tasting beer.
This article is a rough sketch of the required elements for home brewing. It is a good idea to start with a book that explains everything from the most basic terms to the most complicated and specific measurements of gravity. I would recommend "The New Complete Joy of Home Brewing," by Charlie Papazian.
First, you need supplies. Store-bought home brew kits have everything you need, but you can also remedy this problem with a simple trip to The Home Depot. A large pot is a must, preferably stainless steel. The pot is used to boil the ingredients and must be able to hold at least five gallons of liquid. You need a large mixing spoon, a thermometer, plastic tubing and a large amount of bleach. You will also need a large container, made of either glass or plastic, to house the fermentation process.
Next, you need to figure out what you want to make. It is easy to find unique recipes to custom make a dream beer, but you can also find a recipe that mimics the qualities of your favorite mass-produced beer. The recipe will tell you how much of each product you need.
Once you have the ingredients, all that is left to do is make the beer. Specifics vary according to recipe, but there is a basic model that is always followed.
Begin by boiling the barley. This gives the beer most of its flavor and color. Next, remove the barley and boil the hops. The hops create the flavor and smell. Once the cooking is done, you are left with what is known as wort. It is alcohol free, noncarbonated beer. Cool the wort as quickly as possible, transfer it to the container, add the yeast and wait. The beer will take about a week to ferment, and then must be transferred into bottles. A little bit of sugar is added to create carbonation. Two to four weeks after bottling, the beer is finally ready to drink.
I was introduced to home brewing by my father, who has been making beer for more than 10 years. Portland, my hometown, features a thriving brew culture that offers various specialty stores and clubs for sharing recipes. The internet renders all of these advantages and is full of tips and instruction. A fantastic internet resource is www.thebrewhut.com. The site features a message board where people post their favorite recipes and tips. You can even order supplies off of their Web site.
Home brewing has some obvious advantages over buying beer from the liquor store. The initial supply purchase is about $40, but the equipment will last for years. Each individual batch of beer costs $30-$50 dollars, but makes more than two cases worth. Plus, it may be illegal for someone under 21 to buy beer, but it is not illegal to buy barley and hops. A Swig closet is the perfect size to store the wort while it ferments.
Home brewing, if done correctly, results in great beer that is a lot of fun to make. Plus, it legitimizes what would otherwise be considered borderline alcoholism. The only way to make great tasting beer is to know exactly what you are looking for, so get drinking.
Contact Jeff Renfro at (408) 551-1918 or jrenfro@scu.edu.