Brew low cost beer. The amount of time you spend on brewing beer makes the small difference in cost between “just OK” ingredients and top quality ingredients a minor point. Either way, the cost of brewing a 5 gallon batch is much cheaper than buying a couple of cases of beer in the store.
Beer is made of cheap ingredients, so it doesn’t hurt to buy the best. Surprisingly, the cheapest way to brew beer gives you the best results: all grain brewing is the cheapest way to brew when grain is bought in bulk.
You do need a grain mill and a mash tun, so there is a small investment in equipment needed. But you should be able to brew excellent quality beer for less than $2 per gallon, and you could brew a mild ale for as little as $1 per gallon, or less than 10 cents per bottle (one gallon is about 10-1/2 12oz bottles). Most of my pilsners are about $1.50 a gallon brews.
Other ways to reduce the cost of your beer are by growing your own hops and reusing yeast from the fermenter. Easy to do, and it means that I don’t have to buy yeast more than once every half year or so. The hops should last e through most of the winter brews. So all you need is grain, which is about $0.70 per pound in a bulk purchase (much of the cost is in shipping).
Beer Brewing Equipment Basic, simple, cheap equipment that gets the job done. Sometimes it adds to the challenge. But through the mystique of brewing and remember that illiterate alewives brewed for centuries using tried and true recipes and procedures before the dawn of kegerators, ph meters or hydrometers.
Beer Keg Brewing. After using bottles for years, you can jump to the corny keg (Cornelius keg). This is an important step because it makes brewing so much easier. You can still bottle, but just a few bottles per batch, and use a corny keg to fill the bottles. You can use corny kegs as secondary fermenting vessels. You can try out method where you leave the beer in the primary for about two weeks until it clears nicely, and then upi carefully siphon it over to a corny, avoiding transferring any trub.
Bulk Purchase of Grain and Hops.I purchased about 300lbs of grain and 5lbs of hops from North Country Malt. I have two bags of pilsner, two of Munich, one of pale ale and one carapils. This should cover my base malt needs for a year. I can make my house favorite recipes (pilsner, altbier, pale ale) with the ingredients I have on stock. I hope to work through this supply in about a year, which is the shelf life. I will also order specialty malts and hops as special recipes require.
Beer Drinking Philosophy. Beer is good food. Beer is healthy when used in moderation. Beer is a great beverage.
Author: Shannon Brown
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Making beer in any style or form relies on carbohydrates and its properties. Nearly everything that includes carbohydrates, especially sugar or starch, can carry out organic fermentation, which in turn is one prerequisite in effective beer production.
Beer holds to be one of the earliest processed drinks made by humanity, even the ancient Egyptians are recognised as brewing beer. Moreover, there’s chemical proof of beer being brewed before this time, in short beer has a very long tradition as an alcoholic drink.
Although the ingredients for making beer are easy to get hold of, they should be of superior quality, the water used in the brewing process for example should have the correct PH balance to ensure consistency and quality. When talking about consistency its worth mentioning that even when you use the precise ingredient proportions, beer batches might deliver a completely different brew compared to some other batch of beer produced with the exact same ingredient proportions. Factors such as boiling temperature, boiling time period, fermenting temperature and fermenting duration, impact the entire beer producing process.
In order to begin brewing beer you need four basic ingredients. These are barley, water, hops and yeast, not to mention the necessary beer making hardware. The most important components of beer production consist of a fermentation container, brewing kettle and sparge bags. Other accessories to aid the brewing process include funnels, thermometers, hydrometers and other bits and pieces such as tubing and beer bottles.
The beer making process starts with the barley releasing sugar, and then the barley is filtered. The next step is to mix it, and then eventually mash it with water. This is normally done by mashing the whole lot in a metal bowl or container.
The next stage is sparging, which is accomplished by means of a sparge bag, this is essentially the process of re-circulating the mixture via a filter as well as combining additional water. Following this, the mixture is boiled for approximately an hour and a half in the brewing pot, which will allow steam to circulate within the pot. Next, it’s the turn of the hops to be incorporated, once this is done, the mixture is drained off, isolating the water from the solid material.
The final stage is for the yeast to be put in into the water, and then the mixture is allowed to ferment within the fermenter. That’s the basics of brewing beer, so with the proper equipment along with the correct knowledge, making beer can be fun, easy and fast.
Author: Scott G Morgan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low-volume PCB maker
There are lots of various web sites and books on how to home brew beer, which list the common equipment, like brew kettle, conical fermenters and for example a beer bottle filler as well as the various ingredients and recipes that can be used in home brewing beer. One option that has to be made throughout the procedure is whether to use bottles or to make use of beer kegs to complete the procedure and offer a place for the beer to go through secondary fermentation before being all set for consumption. Beer kegs are a great idea for people who would like to store their homebrew before they bottle it and for those who appreciate brewing beer to be used at numerous parties for friends and family since it’s simple to tap and use, providing scrumptious home created draft beer for all those attending.
Home beer kegs can be discovered as a part of home brewing kits, where all of the primary ingredients can be discovered for your beer producing process. These kits will offer home beer kegs that are already sanitized and ready to start to ensure that the individual has one less point to do within the beer producing procedure. Additionally, the beer making kit makes the beer creating procedure more fail-safe, rather than messing with different recipes, particularly for the starter beer maker.
Various other Equipment
Aside from the bottles, beer kegs and beer making kit, there is other equipment that’s required so that you can complete the beer creating procedure. One item is the primary fermenter with the airlock and stopper. This item has being ordered on the internet or bought at a brewing shop because it’s specially made for that beer producing procedure.
This particular piece is what the wort is put in to so it can sit, air-tight, for three to 5 days to begin with fermenting. The carbon dioxide is allowed to escape through the airlock with out permitting air from the outside to get into the process. This ensures that it won’t explode from the fermentation process. Additionally, it makes it possible for individuals to find out when the air bubbles stop coming into the airlock so that they know when the key fermentation procedure is complete and the beer is completely ready for bottling and the 2nd step of fermentation where it becomes carbonated.
The primary fermenting lasts from three to 5 days, or till the air bubbles stop rising into the airlock. From then on the priming solution is made by boiling three cups of water and adding 3 quarters cup of pure dextrose to it so that it could be added to the bottling bucket prior to the ingredients from your primary fermenter. All ingredients should be cool prior to adding them to the bottling bucket. Once done, the bottling or keg procedure can begin, in which the beer will need to sit for a minimum of an additional fourteen days till the secondary fermenting is completed.
Author: Peter Waterman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Pressure cooker
If you want a rewarding bread treat that would require less than 10 minutes of preparation then you definitely have to try out beer bread recipes. In no time at all you would start smelling a delicious aroma of the bread which is a very fruitful reward.
When we speak of beer bread it is basically bread recipes that involve beer and bread for the notion that they are both essential in utilizing yeast for the conversion of sugar into alcohol in order for bread to boil off. You can enjoy beer bread at its best at any temperature and works well with almost anything, from making sandwiches to an accompaniment for your soup or pasta. You can heat it up in your toaster and spread butter over it to make it more appetizing. If you choose to freeze your beer bread make sure that you’re aware of how herbs may intensify in flavor over a period of time.
The basic ingredients for beer bread are flour, beer and sugar. Since it would result in a heavier blend then it would be best to add in a leavening agent such as baking soda or yeast along with sweetener. If you choose to leave out the leavening agent, expect that the bread would become a bit sturdy and moistened especially when overcooked. Another thing is that the overcooking may turn the crust a bit thicker than the usual.
The varieties for making beer bread are infinite. All it takes is adding any ingredients you want while preparing the dry mixture. You can try working on other beers and ales as well. For a richer and heavier flavor, use a stout, dark colored beer or even use a non-alcohol based beers. If you would be using spiced beer or the flavored ones, it would still amount to the same bread taste but with reduced intensity if a traditional beer was used.
If you want to add in more flavor for your bread recipes make sure to incorporate them while preparing the dry ingredients. This would result in a more flavorful variety for the bread. Use cheddar and dill or even sun-dried tomatoes along with some herbs, garlic and feta. Just remember that it is possible that you may not consume the beer bread right away and storage would enhance the flavor. Keep this in consideration when adding in your own preferred herbs and spices.
It is very common that people may have tasted their first sip of beer through this bread recipe. This is where curiosity becomes helpful in coming out with their very own beer bread recipes. Truly, all it takes to make them is 5 minutes of your time. The fun part is that it requires very little ingredients such as flour, salt, sugar, baking powder and of course the beer. It’s also surprising that some manufacturers even came up with a beer bread mix which they sell for $8.00 and some even costs higher.
Try making one of your own beer breads. It is a very good idea for a gift during the holidays. Wrap it up in zip-lock bag and festive tins and you have the perfectly delicious present.
Author: Celyn Tan
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker
Making beer is not a hobby to get into if you want instant results. The rewards are great, but the time, effort and knowledge to get from that first malting of the barley to the cold pint of home made beer requires a deep dedication to this fun home hobby.
Before you jump in feet first and invest money, you should obtain as much information as you possible can. This can be done through the many books and publications you can find at any books store. The Internet is another vast warehouse of information. You can visit beer sites, beer making forums and discussion boards and even purchase videos. Many web sites have great recipes, tips tools and ideas on creating a better beer. Expert home beer brewers love to help out. They might not give you all their secrets, but they are willing to provide assistance with any questions you may have to get started. Join a beer making forum – you will learn as much information on this home hobby to get started and even become a local expert.
The ingredients to making beer are malted barley. Malt barley is used in as the first process in beer making that takes several days and becomes known as malt. The second ingredient is hops, a flower that adds to the flavor, bitterness and aroma of the finished beer product. Yeast is the third ingredient. The yeast also helps in producing the right flavors making it the number one ingredient in creating a good beer. As many of you already know, beer is made up mostly of water. Good tasting water is essential in the beer making process.
The home hobby of beer making has become very popular. Unfortunately many people jump into this with out realizing the dedication and skill that is required to produce quality beer. As a result, many also quit before they know it.
To avoid this pitfall, do your homework. One great way to learn the art of home beer brewing is to get into it with a friend. This will allow you to speak the “Beer Making” language while motivating each other to read, study and brew beer to perfection. But first – research the process, ask questions, read books and only when you think you are ready…Go for it. Start your home brewing adventure.
Author: John Crisano
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Programmable Multi-cooker
Making beer is easy, inexpensive, and most of all, fun. With the rise in popularity of homebrewing, there are a wide variety of top quality ingredients available.
You can literally make hundreds of styles of beer that will taste great and impress your friends. Getting started making beer will only cost you a small amount of money, depending on your level of interest. Most beer making kits range from only $60 to $200 and make great, unique gifts.
How to Make Beer
Making Beer is just like cooking. Each recipe requires different ingredients and techniques. This page is an attempt to go over the basics of homebrewing in order to give you an understanding of how beer is made.
First of all, beer is made from 4 basic ingredients: water, malt (malted barley), hops, and yeast.
Water
Water is the most abundant ingredient in any style of beer. When making beer at home try to use filtered water instead of plain tap water. If your water doesn’t taste good from the tap, you probably won’t like it in your beer either. Do not use distilled water because it has been depleted of its oxygen.
Malt
Malted barley is barley grain that has been carefully soaked in water until it sprouts and then dried. This malting process develops the necessary sugars and soluble starches needed for fermentation.
The malt is then taken through a process called mashing which extracts the sugars and starches from the grain. Although advanced homebrewers can accomplish this step at home, most will buy the malted barley already mashed in a product called malt extract.
Hops
Hops are green flowers that grow on a vine and look similar to pine cones. They perform several roles in the beer making process. Most notably are the taste and aroma they impart on a beer.
Since not all of the sugars will ferment, the malt will cause the beer to be really sweet. Hops will balance out the sweetness by adding a degree of bitterness. Hops will also add a distinctive aroma to the finished brew.
Yeast
Yeast is the catalyst that makes it all happen. In short, yeast is a living organism that feeds off of the sugars in the malt. The yeast will convert the sugars to alcohol and carbon dioxide in a process called fermentation.
There are many strains of yeasts (even in the air we breathe). In order to get the results needed for making beer, a specially cultured beer yeast is required. The yeast will also impart taste and mouthfeel qualities to the beer.
The Beer Making Process
To summarize, the malt, hops, and water are boiled for a period of time. This mixture is called wort (pronounced wert). Then the wort is poured into fermenter and allowed to cool.
Next, the prepared yeast is pitched into the fermenter and an airlock is placed over the opening. Now it’s the yeast’s job to do its thing.
The yeast will multiply like crazy as it consumes the sugars in the brew. After a period of time, usually within 7 to 10 days, the yeast will have consumed all that it can and fall to the bottom of the fermenter.
Finally, the beer is bottled and set aside for a couple of weeks to mature and carbonate.
Making beer at home really is a fantastic hobby and can be a great social activity. Have some friends over and let them try your new brew. Better yet, get them involved and see who can make the best batches. Have blind taste tests with your buddies. Most of all, have fun!
Author: Jason Ditto
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Beer is made with large amounts of sugar, particularly found in malt. To manage the overwhelming sweetness, beer is commonly brewed with hops. Hops are small green flower that grow on vines that reach sixteen feet tall. Farmers support the vines through trellising the vines on wires held up by telephone poles. After harvesting, they are dried and kept in sealed, light-proof storage areas to protect their freshness.
Hops, however, have not always been used as the main bittering agent. Hops were first found in the Czechoslovakia area around 1000 A.D. Later, in the 13th century hops made it to Germany and Holland. By the 14th century, hops were more popular. And like all fads, this changed in the 15th century. Villages regulated their brewing and brewers, including price controls. Local control allowed governments to tax easily and brand their areas to tastes and flavors.
In the 15th century, the German Purity Law was enacted to standardize brewing. Due to unscrupulous activity amongst brewers, this became one of the earliest food and drug type enactments by big governments. Brewers commonly used herbs and flowers to make their beers, but some would use items like eggs and animal parts. As you can guess, this led to awful, foul beers. The German Purity Law (Reinheitsgebot) was to make beer safer and consistent. In 1987, these regulations were lifted, allowing brewers to use other ingredients to make beer, essentially stating in a different law (Biergesetz) that if the ingredient was allowed in foods, it was allowed in beer.
Malt is very sugary and additives like herbs and flowers have been used to bring in a bitter quality to balance out malt’s sweetness. Mostly herbs, these ingredients imparted characteristics that made beers characteristic. Some herbs historically used are sweet gale, sage, common yarrow and pine resin. In the research that I have uncovered over the years, wormwood is commonly spoken about as a bittering agent. Wormwood is curious in that it is a source of thujone, which is considered a narcotic poison by the FDA. Thujone by itself will guarantee a sick stomach. Yarrow also has this quality, only in much smaller ways and lends itself well to bringing quality to lighter colored beers and is also an antibacterial and antimicrobial agent.
When brewing beer in the past, I have experimented with a few herbs and have not been disappointed. Though I like to experiment, I tend to use a recipe. If I had been brewing beer for a long time, I may be more amiable to mixing up a strange recipe or two. For now, I am taking good advice from master brewers, using hops, and looking for a good strange brew to ferment.
Author: Paul A Weese
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
PCB Prototype & Manufacturing
Beer Can Chicken on the Barbecue – it’s an awesome way to wow your guests and have some real fun, too! I mean, come on. What’s more fun – or funny – than a dancing chicken! You’ve seen it on TV with rubber chickens, now you get to taste it too!
This recipe blends an easy beer can chicken BBQ preparation with a secondary spice rub on the outside of the chicken. The beer will give off a good amount of moisture and flavor, with the rub following up from the outside for that one -two flavor punch!
Time Requirements and Basic Materials List
Time Required to Prepare the Chicken: About 15 minutes
Cooking Time: Roughly 1 hour and 30 min.
The Hardware – What You’ll Need
- One 4-5 lb. roaster chicken
- Weber Kettle or other charcoal grill with some head room at the top – domed lids work best
- One medium sized bag of natural lump charcoal
- Chimney coal starter – optional, but lets you get those coals going faster
Ingredients and Measures for the Chicken
- 1 whole chicken (4-5 pounds)
- 1 12 ounce can of your favorite beer – play with flavored beers if you like! (room temperature)
- 2 fresh garlic cloves, minced
- 2 fresh rosemary sprigs – you can use dried rosemary if you like (about 1 teaspoon of the dried stuff)
- 2 teaspoons olive oil – medium grade is fine – no need to go Extra Virgin
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red pepper flakes
- The juice of one lemon – translates to a little less than 1/4 cup
Ingredients and Measures for the Rub
- 1 teaspoon of salt
- 1 teaspoon of paprika
- 1 teaspoon of dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon fresh rosemary, chopped (again, you can substitute dry if you don’t have the fresh stuff)
- 1/2 teaspoon of ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon of lemon zest (I use one of those micro files – be sure not to zest off more than just the yellow color – the white stuff is bitter)
Now – Time to Pull it All Together
Start by getting your coals nice and hot using the chimney starter. Get them into your BBQ grill or smoker and crank the heat to about 225 Degrees F. (You can find grill thermometers online at Amazon.)
Mix together each of the ingredients for the chicken rub in a small mixing bowl and put the bowl off to the side.
WARNING: You are going to get your hands messy. Consider using some latex or rubber gloves!
Your chicken will most likely come with a little gift bag inside – including the giblets and the neck. Take this out.
Cover the outside of the chicken with rub, also rubbing some of it inside the chicken body.
Open the full can of beer… and drink a couple of gulps straight away! (Can’t pour it out… it’s beer, after all!)
Then, take a can opener and remove the top of the beer can. Some folks will say to just punch a few holes in the top, but I feel that removing it allows for more moisture and flavor to move up through the chicken while it cooks.
Drop the rosemary, minced garlic, thyme, lemon juice, and pepper flakes into the beer can, and set the chicken down on top of it’s beer can throne!
Placing the Beer Can Chicken on the Grill
The key to not burning your dancing BBQ Beer Can Chicken to a cinder is to grill it on one side of your grill – keeping the coals on the other side. This way of cooking is called “indirect grilling” – as you are allowing the heat from your barbecue to to reach your protein (the chicken) on the sly, rather than straight on.
With your grill at about 225 degrees F, you’ll cook your dancing chicken for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Your target internal temperature for the chicken is 180 degrees F. I like to check this using my instant read digital probe style thermometer placed into one of the thighs.
When you’ve reached the 180 degree F mark inside the chicken thigh, pull the chicken off the grill – beer can and all. Let the chicken rest for about 10 minutes so the juices can redistribute back through the meat.
CAUTION: If you cut into the chicken too soon – all the juices will run out onto the cutting board – leaving your dancing BBQ beer can chicken dry and well… a little bit sad.
After the 10 minutes has passed, take the chicken off of the beer can, carve, and enjoy!
Author: Kevin Sandridge
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
PCB Prototype & Manufacturing
If your favorite beer comes from a beer store, you may never have experienced the overwhelming pleasure of savoring your own homemade beer.
Sure, the commercial stuff is OK. But if you want the soul-stirring satisfaction of sipping a delicious beer that you’ve made yourself, you’ll want to try the world’s most popular home beer recipe, Goat Scrotum Ale.
Goat Scrotum sounds utterly gross, doesn’t it? The truth is that it’s a beer that everyone enjoys. One of the reasons it’s so popular is that it can be brewed in a variety of ways and in many custom flavors. If you like chocolate, you can make it taste like bitter-sweet chocolate. You may prefer a fruity-gingery ale, a palate-popping spicy blend or a smooth, fragrant brew. There are hundreds of possible combinations and creating your own personal varieties is a fascinating hobby.
Goat Scrotum Ale became wildly popular back in the early 1800s when it was known as “Tumultuous Porter”. The deeply satisfying ale continued to be a great favorite of beer drinkers until prohibition came along and the brew and its recipe disappeared. Lucky for us, the recipe was brought back to an appreciative world of home brewers by a researcher named Charles Papazian.
Making Goat Scrotum Ale the Papazian way was pretty exciting, to say the least! Here are the Papzian ingredients:
5 lbs dark malt extract
1 lb crystal malt
1/4 lb each black patent malt and crushed roasted barley
3 1/2 oz Hallertauer leaf hops
1 cup each brown sugar and blackstrap molasses
1 lb corn syrup
2 tspns gypsum
1 tspn Irish Moss
1 pkg ale yeast
3/4 cup corn sugar to prime the bottle with
To customize your ale and create your very own specialty brew you may use these optional ingredients in whatever combination you wish:
2 to 4 oz freshly grated ginger root
Up to 2 inches brewing licorice
2 tbspns spruce tree essence
1 to 10 dried chili pepper
1/4 cup slightly crushed juniper berries
6 oz unsweetened Bakers chocolate or cocoa powder
Following are Mr. Papzian’s directions:
Steep the crystal malt in the brewing water for one hour at 150F. Remove leftover crystal malt and mix in dark malt extract, brown sugar, blackstrap molasses and a pound of the corn sugar.
Bring to a soft boil until all the ingredients are dissolved completely. Add in a quarter ounce of hops and the optional ingredients you choose to use. Boil fifteen minutes. Then, add a half ounce hops and boil another fifteen minutes.
Toss in the black patent malt and crushed roasted barley. Boil for another
fifteen minutes. Add another quarter ounce hops and the gypsum and Irish Moss. Boil for thirteen minutes. Now stir in the remaining ounce and a half of hops, boiling for two more minutes.
Allow the wort to cool to room temperature. Strain carefully while transferring the liquid into the fermenter. When the wort’s temperature falls below 80F, stir in the yeast.
And finally, when the wort has completely finished fermenting, add the three-quarters cups of corn sugar.
You’re now ready to put your delicious creation into bottles and look forward to that first tantalizing sip.
Author: Grant L. Jensen
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Low-volume PCB Assembly
For any true beer connoisseur, there seems to come a time when sampling the creations of others isn’t enough to satisfy the craving. That’s when most beer fans take the plunge and decide to try home brewing beer. While it can seem intimidating at first, the process is actually quite simple. The tools and supplies are fairly basic and readily available. The easiest way to get started is to buy a homebrewing kit. However, if you want to save a bit of money, you can gather your own supplies for much less.
There are a few basic things that you need to begin home brewing beer. To begin the process, you’ll need a large pot, a clamp and tubing to siphon, and some type of covered fermentor (a 5 gallon bucket should do the trick). You will also need a thermometer to measure the temperature as the process evolves and also bottling supplies, which will need to be sterilized. A basic bleach solution works fine for this.
Once you have gathered the tools you will need, it’s time to turn your attention to the ingredients that will go into home brewing beer. The basic beer is only made up of four things: malt extract, hops, ale yeast and some type of sugar. These are specialized ingredients that will need to be purchased specifically for your homebrewing. If you don’t have a store in your area that caters to this hobby, you can always order from one of the many online retailers. You can also find specific recipes at these outlets or by doing a quick Internet search.
The basic process of home brewing beer begins with boiling the hops and malt together. This sterilizes the ingredients while also cooking off some of the bitterness that is naturally present. Once boiled, the mixture is cooled and the yeast added in order to begin the fermentation process. This is then placed in the fermenting container and sits for several weeks. You will then mix in the sugar product and siphon it into the sterilized bottles. Once bottled, the homebrewing process isn’t complete until the beer ages for at least two to 6 weeks.
As with most things, there is a learning process that comes into play with home brewing beer. If you don’t have immediate success, there’s numerous things that could have gone wrong. Cleanliness throughout the process is important. If bacteria has been introduced anywhere along the way, the final product could be affected. The exact amounts of ingredients can also change the flavor and properties of your home brew. Even something as simple as the ph of the water used can change the final outcome. If you do have a problem, note the outcome and the process followed and look up a good troubleshooting resource to determine what to change for your next attempt. After going through this process several times, you should have it down to a science and be able to produce consistent results.
Home brewing beer is a fun and easy way to indulge your love of all things brewed. The process is simple and the supplies are readily available and affordable. After the initial expense, you will only be purchasing new ingredients for every batch of homebrewing. As a fan of high quality beer, this hobby is a great addition to your repertoire.
Author: James John
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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