Home Brewing Equipment

Basic Home Brewing Equipment

Home brewing has long been a tradition in almost every culture of the world. For over 11,000 years, mankind has been brewing his own beer and other beverages. Today, although most still buy their beer, wine or mead from the local liquor store, many are rediscovering the ancient art of home brewing. As with any hobby, though, there is an initial investment in equipment and other supplies. If you’re one of the many looking to begin brewing their own beverages, let’s take a look at some basic home brewing equipment to get you started.

The Hardware

First and foremost of the home brewing equipment needed is a home brewing kit. This is relatively easy to find, and relatively inexpensive. A brewing kit is essential, as it contains most of the items you’ll be using over and over again each time you brew up a new batch. Many of these items can be found in your local hardware store, while others may have to be purchased from a specialty store that caters to wine and beer makers. Checking places like eBay or other online sites may also help keep your cost down, as you can sometimes find used equipment.

A kit can run anywhere from $90 to $400, depending upon what’s included in each kit. At the very least, you’ll want a kit that contains at least one five to six gallon glass carboy (fermentation jar), a funnel, a racking cane, a siphon hose (at least 6 feet long), an airlock for each carboy, a six gallon bottling bucket, and a thermometer. The thermometer should have a range that goes up to at least 150 degrees F (65 degrees C). For the carboy, it is recommended that you stay away from plastic.

You’ll also need a large pot that can comfortably hold at least 3 gallons of liquid, with plenty of extra room. This is the brew pot in which the brew will be boiled. A good brew pot can vary in price up to $50, depending on the size and quality.

Though it can be easy to forget, one piece of home brewing equipment that you can’t do without is a stainless steel spoon with a long handle. You’ll need this for stirring both the mash and the wort as it boils.

The Ingredients

Though not generally considered home brewing equipment, the ingredients that go into your brew are just as important. If you are lucky enough to have a brewing supply store nearby, gathering these ingredients shouldn’t be too much of a hassle. But, if you don’t, worry not. Many suppliers also have websites from which you can purchase both your home brewing equipment and your ingredients.

The basic ingredients for any beer are grains, malts, hops, yeast, sugar and water. The exact ingredients used will depend up on the type of beer being brewed. Many brewers also add various herbs and spices to their brews to give them a unique flavor. Some common additives are cinnamon, honey, and cloves.

Making wine or mead uses the same basic home brewing equipment, but the ingredients are slightly different. Mead is made mostly of honey, water and yeast. Wine requires some type of fruit and added sugar. Again, as with beer, both mead and wine often have spices and other things added to them. For example, one recipe for honey mead calls for rose hips and lavender.

Whatever you choose to brew, it’s certain you’ll enjoy the process as much as the end results. Just remember to share with your friends. They’ll love you for it