If you’ve been searching for some good advice on how you can initiate and improve your brewing adventures both conveniently and efficiently, you’ve ended up in the perfect place. We’ve created a short list of tips that could assist you in perfecting your improving process.
Clean everything as best as possible
Cleanliness is godliness, some say, and we couldn’t agree more. Instead of using bleach or any such artificial and potentially harmful substances, it would be a good idea to get a cheap brand of vodka from the supermarket and utilize it instead. Believe it or not, it makes an excellent sanitizer. Our advice to you is to pour it in a mist-style spray bottle and grab it anytime you need it.
Chlorine is a no-no because it affects the fermentation process and even worse, interacts with maltose molecules at a chemical level. Unless you want your beer to taste like something really nasty, you need to steer clear of it.
Keep a brew log
Whether you decide to go for a simple or complex recipe, the fact of the matter is that nothing beats good organizational skills. On the one hand, keeping a log can help you understand just what recipe you’ve used and can, therefore, give you the opportunity to try something new the next time you prepare a batch.
As for research, you need to make sure that you will be using the appropriate sources that will leave no room for mistakes. Don’t spend two or three whole weeks researching how to brew your own beer. Experiment and learn from every try. There are dozens of forums that can help you get advice from other brewers like you.
How to monitor fermentation and temperature
Airlock activity shouldn’t be your sole indication as to how things are coming along. Because they’re getting more and more budget-friendly with every day that goes by, we recommend buying one of the many hydrometers available for sale. You could also get a thermostat to keep tabs on the temperature, as well, especially if you live in areas where you constantly have to fight off scorching temperatures.
In case the fermentation process isn’t successful right from the start, don’t give up. Try again. Here’s a list of things you might have done that might have affected it.
Consider purchasing a pH meter
While some brewers like to use a multimeter, others would much rather get a pH meter for brewing. If you’re in the market for a new device, you might want to know that, although there are three types of such products out there, the one that’s the most precise and, unfortunately, most expensive, is the bench top alternative. As for calibration, most home brewers seem to prefer those models that come with manual calibration, despite the risk of human errors.
The vast majority of pH meters designed for brewing applications cost about fifty to one hundred dollars, so they won’t necessarily break the bank, but you really ought to understand if the expense makes sense for you.
Ask for feedback
If you’re starting out with your brewing adventures, it would be a good idea to ask some of your other home-brewing loving friends to have a taste of your results. Of course, giving the beer for free to your buddies and then asking for their feedback might not be a perfect method of receiving an honest answer.
Photo: Bill Rand
