Brewing beer - an introduction.

I get a certain reaction a lot:

"You brew beer at home?"

My stock response is yes, and that -if you really want to commit to one of the most rewarding hobbies out there- you can brew beer at home as well. For the beginner it is as simple as a few pieces of kit and a brew set. For the advanced brewer there is a miriad of wonderful intricacies to behold and perform.

Over the next few weeks I will be taking you from the early stages into some of the more advanced techniques involved in brewing your own frosty brew. I'm rolling this out slowly so that everyone who reads this series learns the first lesson of beer brewing.

Patience.

Brewing beer is not a race. It's all about sitting back, letting the brew take form and enjoying some of your favorite store bought brew as your first batch matures.

Why brew your own beer? As I mentioned earlier, the satisfaction is immense. Do not get me wrong; your first brew may fail. However, as you become more experienced as a home brewer you will have batch after batch that is nothing short of perfection.

Why else? Cost is a big factor. When you buy a pint at the bar or pub, you are not just paying for the beer; you are also paying for the shipping, advertising, bottling, and kegging of that cold glass of nectar in front of you. Let's not even get into the taxes you pay on each glass. The average cost of a homebrew is under one pound, or one dollar depending on which side of the Atlantic you live.

So if I have convinced you to brew at home you'll need a few things before you start. Here's a list of the materials:

1. Brewing tub. A 5 gallon jug for Americans, a 25L jug for the British and Europeans. A plastic one is fine.

2. A long handle stirring spoon. Heavy duty plastic or metal is preferred. DO NOT use wood, as often time bacteria gets into the grains and ruins a perfectly good beer.

3. A home brew kit. There are several out there that have the sugar added to the mash. Try to get one with the sugar included. The less steps involved the first time around, the better.

4. Sterilizing powder. Make sure to get some light bleach or sterilizing powder to clean your equipment with before the brew. Even if it is new, it is contamenated.

5. Syphon and bottles.

6. Thermometer. You'll need this to test that your brew is just right.

7. Hydrometer. We'll get into this next time.

Collect all these materials and we are ready to brew. I'll walk you through the steps in my next installment. Remember; it is all about patience.