The Definitive Guide to Home Brewed Beer…
Posted by admin | Filed under Beer, Wine & Spirits
Tags: Autumn, Brewing Beer, Fun Project
“Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members. In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally, it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.” -Cliff Clavin, of Cheers
"One of the hallmarks of the baby boomer generation is that it doesn't live like the previous generation. It hasn't yet given up jeans and T-shirts or beer." -Ron Klugman, SVP, Coors Brewing
Beer is the world's oldest and most popular alcoholic beverage and the 3rd most popular drink overall after water and tea, selling more than 133 billion litres (35 billion gallons) a year. It is produced through the fermentation of starch-based material, commonly barley, though cassava root in Africa, corn in Brazil, and agave in Mexico, among other starch sources, have been used.
Only beverages produced by this method are actually considered to be beer. Neither alcoholic beverages made from the fermentation of sugars derived from non-starch sources (e.g., grape juice or honey), nor beverages which are distilled after fermentation should be classified as such. Read more...
April 29th, 2008 at 12:20 am
Homebrewing for personal consumption has been legal in nearly all states (except Alabama, I think) since the 70’s.
Try this site:
for how to get started…it’s a great hobby!
April 29th, 2008 at 2:22 am
Thank Jimmy Carter. He signed the legislation making home brewing as legal as making wine at home.
Start with a good book. I recommend one by Papazian, The New Complete Guide to Home Brewing. Read the first 42 pages. Then go to and click on “Reader Resources”. That will give you links to catalogs. Eventually, you want to find your local home brew shop. Prices are close to what you get on line, when you add the cost of shipping, and you get free advice with your purchases.
And, yes, it IS fun.
April 29th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
At the federal level, home brewing is legal. At the state level, it is legal in most states. One exception is Alabama where it is still illegal.
As for how it is done, the very basic process usually begins with purchased malt extract that is already hopped. The extract is boiled in water for about an hour and then cooled. This cooled wort (sounds like “dirt”) is added to fermenting tank/bucket along with yeast. The beer is then sealed tightly and allowed to ferment for 7-10 days. After fermentation is complete the beer is bottled.
This is VERY simplified. As a hobby, homebrewing can be very complex. However, there are some good brew kits out there that give you everything you need to get started including instructions.
Best of Luck!
Todd