Although microbreweries have become extremely popular over the past few years, a growing number of individuals are instead choosing to brew their own alcohol and beer at home. Home-based brewing offers several benefits such as overall cost, purity and the ability to make personalised modifications. However, we also need to remember that a successful brew will take time and a great deal of patience. So, where can you begin? From the use of natural products such as organic sugarcane alcohol to appreciating the best types of fermenters, there are many factors to consider. Let’s take a look at three professional tips.
Cleanliness is Next to Godliness
One of the most overlooked factors in relation to home brewing involves sanitation. Make it a point to regularly clean all of your equipment and pay particular attention to your spirits immediately after they have been cooled (especially beer). This is the time when bacteria can begin to develop due to the fact that the yeast has yet to ferment.
Keep a Cool Head
Assuming that you are planning to brew beer, wort is a crucial ingredient. The problem here is that many novices believe that a slow cooling time will enhance the flavour. Unfortunately, the exact opposite is true. The proteins and tannins contained within may precipitate at an increased rate; souring what might have otherwise been a tasty brew. It is instead better to cool the wort as soon as possible.
Go with Glass
Many low-cost home brewing kits contain plastic buckets that are meant to be used during the fermentation process. While this might be economical, the issue here is that plastic products do not provide a hermetic seal against oxygen (due to their somewhat porous nature). Furthermore, there can be times when ingredients begin to stick to plastic surfaces. These concerns are even more relevant when brewing spirits with the use of refined products such as organic grape alcohol. If you want to enjoy rich flavours while avoiding lengthy cleaning processes, it is always better to opt for glass fermentation equipment.
These are three steps that should always be adopted sooner as opposed to later. Of course, we should never forget that home brewing will take years to master. This is why experts often enjoy the processes themselves as well as the final results. do not hesitate to perform additional online research, as a wealth of information is available.