Beer is fast becoming a beverage of distinction and no longer just something to "let loose" with. There are many home brews that rival the big boys in taste and quality. Brewing a great beer is an art form and there are things to make this process all that much more easier and those are known as beer kits. but even a brew kit requires a bit of know-make a great beer and you need the equipment to do it justice. Beer drinkers are also becoming very health conscious and this article will show you use a beer kit and brew a great low carb beer.
Instructions
Cleaning and Sanitizing Your Equipment
1. Clean the following items with soap and hot water in order to remove any film sediment: brewpot, primary fermenter, brew spoon, airlock and stopper, saucepan, small bowl, rubber spatula, big mixing spoon.
2. Mix your Iodine or bleach in a large basin or tub and soak the above items to sanitize them.
3. Once everything is submerged in either solution wait 5 minutes if using iodine and 30 minutes if using bleach.
4. Set a aside and allow to dry.
Initial Fermentation and Making Wort
5. Bring two quarts of water to a steaming point but not boiling, 160-180F. Remove from heat.
6. Add your beer kit per the kit's instructions.
7. Stir the ingredients you just added until everything is thoroughly dissolved. Place the lid on the pot and turn the heat down to simmer and allow to sit for ten to fifteen minutes.
8. Add four gallons of cold water to your primary fermenter.
9. Combine the contents of the pot to the four gallons of water in your primary fermenter and stir vigorously for two minutes.
10. Feel the side of the primary fermenter and when it feels cold add your yeast.
11. Ferment your mixture as close to the correct temperature range as possible.
12. Wait three to five days.
Bottling and Second Fermentation
13. Follow the first section to clean and sanitize your bottles and bottling bucket.
14. Put three cups of water into the saucepan and dissolve 3/4 cup of dextrose in it. Bring to boil over medium heat, cover and set aside for fifteen to twenty in order to cool.
15. Place your bottling bucket on the floor.
16. Place the primary fermenter on a surface somewhere above the bottling bucket.
17.Attach the hose to the spigot on the primary fermenter and place the other end to the bottom of the bottling bucket. Pour the solution in the saucepan into the bottling bucket then turn the spigot on to allow the brew to flow from the primary fermenter into the bottling bucket.
18. Close the spigot and remove the hose - clean them both well.
19. Move the fermenter out of the way and place the on to a high surface attaching the hose to its spigot.
20. Line your bottles on the floor and place the hose into the bottom of the first bottle and turn on the spigot.
21. Fill your bottle to close to the top and quickly remove the hose and place in the second bottle and repeat until all your bottles are filled or the brew mixture is gone.
22. Cap your bottles.
23. Move your beer bottles to a cool, dark place with a temperature between 60-70 degrees, a basement or attic is ideal.
24. Wait one week and check the cloudiness of your beer. If it has gone clear you may chill your brew. If not, wait several more days.
Tags: bottling bucket, primary fermenter, , your beer, , four gallons, great beer