Comments on: How to Homebrew http://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-homebrew/ Personal Finance Blog for Young Professionals Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:59:53 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: hoptical_allusions http://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-homebrew/comment-page-1/#comment-4267 hoptical_allusions Tue, 04 Aug 2009 03:15:38 +0000 http://20somethingfinance.com/?p=150#comment-4267 In no particular order : - beer spoilage is not a problem for homebrewers. Alex, spoilage for homebrewed beer is less of a problem. Homebrew beer does not spoil like commercial brews because it contains a live culture of yeast. In fact, the beer ages well _because_ the yeast is still present in the brew. As an extreme example, I consumed a couple bottles of beer aged for 10 years, but this was a beer specifically designed to age for years. For contemporary examples of beers designed to age, see e.g. Stone Brewing's Vertical Epic series or the Dogfishhead 120 Minute IPA. As practical, simple advice, the aging time of a homebrew will depend on its color (really the roasty flavors) and its ABV content and its hop content -- a dark, high alcohol, hoppy homebrew will last age well for a long time. If you're really worried about it, just have a party after making each batch. Your friends will love you. - homebrewing looks hard, but it's not It's not hard; people have been doing it for millenia. It is, however, time consuming. There are lots of cheap ways to improvise equipment that works well, provided the brewer understands the purpose of the equipment and how to properly maintain sanitary techniques. - homebrewing isn't just beer I have brewed Japanese sake, all kinds of beers, mead and hard cider. The other poster mentioned wine, and he is right, wine drinkers can save boatloads of money brewing their own wine without sacrificing quality. Brewing wine is very easy; growing quality grapes is very hard. I know several other people who have produced homemade fruit brandy (non-distilled, but quite potent and delicious nonetheless). - hop shortage solution = grow your own Hops are now the most expensive component of brewing for me personally. They are not hard to grow, however, since they are basically a weed. A number of my friends grow their own hops, and a few hop vines yield more hops than most brewers can use. - my favorite part My favorite parts of homebrewing are : * it's endlessly satisfying to receive positive feedback from adoring friends * I get to formulate heretofore unheard of recipes * the satisfaction of a successful and edible experiment * building equipment is fun In no particular order :

- beer spoilage is not a problem for homebrewers.

Alex, spoilage for homebrewed beer is less of a problem. Homebrew beer does not spoil like commercial brews because it contains a live culture of yeast. In fact, the beer ages well _because_ the yeast is still present in the brew. As an extreme example, I consumed a couple bottles of beer aged for 10 years, but this was a beer specifically designed to age for years. For contemporary examples of beers designed to age, see e.g. Stone Brewing’s Vertical Epic series or the Dogfishhead 120 Minute IPA. As practical, simple advice, the aging time of a homebrew will depend on its color (really the roasty flavors) and its ABV content and its hop content — a dark, high alcohol, hoppy homebrew will last age well for a long time.

If you’re really worried about it, just have a party after making each batch. Your friends will love you.

- homebrewing looks hard, but it’s not

It’s not hard; people have been doing it for millenia. It is, however, time consuming. There are lots of cheap ways to improvise equipment that works well, provided the brewer understands the purpose of the equipment and how to properly maintain sanitary techniques.

- homebrewing isn’t just beer

I have brewed Japanese sake, all kinds of beers, mead and hard cider. The other poster mentioned wine, and he is right, wine drinkers can save boatloads of money brewing their own wine without sacrificing quality. Brewing wine is very easy; growing quality grapes is very hard. I know several other people who have produced homemade fruit brandy (non-distilled, but quite potent and delicious nonetheless).

- hop shortage solution = grow your own

Hops are now the most expensive component of brewing for me personally. They are not hard to grow, however, since they are basically a weed. A number of my friends grow their own hops, and a few hop vines yield more hops than most brewers can use.

- my favorite part

My favorite parts of homebrewing are :

* it’s endlessly satisfying to receive positive feedback from adoring friends
* I get to formulate heretofore unheard of recipes
* the satisfaction of a successful and edible experiment
* building equipment is fun

]]> By: Alex at Homebrew Supplies http://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-homebrew/comment-page-1/#comment-670 Alex at Homebrew Supplies Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:50:19 +0000 http://20somethingfinance.com/?p=150#comment-670 Thought about brewing my own beer for years. The thing that was stopping me is the size of my apartment which until recently was tiny. But, now we've moved and I'm ready to plan my first steps into this. The other thing is that we're not drinking beer that often, not one per day that's for sure. So, this creates a little problem of the batch getting spoiled and storing all those bottles (separate fridge?)... Cheers, Alex Thought about brewing my own beer for years. The thing that was stopping me is the size of my apartment which until recently was tiny. But, now we’ve moved and I’m ready to plan my first steps into this.

The other thing is that we’re not drinking beer that often, not one per day that’s for sure. So, this creates a little problem of the batch getting spoiled and storing all those bottles (separate fridge?)…

Cheers,
Alex

]]> By: Tame Your Debt http://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-homebrew/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Tame Your Debt Sun, 10 Aug 2008 16:07:09 +0000 http://20somethingfinance.com/?p=150#comment-458 I have to admit I'm more of a wine person than a beer person but I decided to try and make some wine a few years ago from a kit. It was actually incredibly good fun and saved me an absolute heap. The wine wasn't too bad either (though I'm no expert!). I have to admit I’m more of a wine person than a beer person but I decided to try and make some wine a few years ago from a kit. It was actually incredibly good fun and saved me an absolute heap. The wine wasn’t too bad either (though I’m no expert!).

]]> By: Trevor http://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-homebrew/comment-page-1/#comment-401 Trevor Thu, 10 Jul 2008 14:27:23 +0000 http://20somethingfinance.com/?p=150#comment-401 After letting his home brew equipment sit around and collect dust for the last 5 years my dad finally decided to give me his equipment and all supplies. I will be brewing a batch of beer in about a week. G.E. I will let you know more when the batch is bottled. After letting his home brew equipment sit around and collect dust for the last 5 years my dad finally decided to give me his equipment and all supplies. I will be brewing a batch of beer in about a week. G.E. I will let you know more when the batch is bottled.

]]> By: Derek http://20somethingfinance.com/how-to-homebrew/comment-page-1/#comment-376 Derek Wed, 25 Jun 2008 16:09:03 +0000 http://20somethingfinance.com/?p=150#comment-376 I would add that a hop shortage is a huge factor in the rise of beer prices - http://ezinearticles.com/?Worldwide-Hop-Shortage---Will-Homebrewers-Get-Hopping-Mad-Or-Smile-Over-The-Brew-Kettle?&id=802924 Sam Adams tried to help the small brewers by offering 20,000 pounds of hops at the price they pay which is much less then small breweries can get hops for - http://www.samueladams.com/promotions/HopSharing/Default.aspx -Derek I would add that a hop shortage is a huge factor in the rise of beer prices – http://ezinearticles.com/?Worldwide-Hop-Shortage—Will-Homebrewers-Get-Hopping-Mad-Or-Smile-Over-The-Brew-Kettle?&id=802924

Sam Adams tried to help the small brewers by offering 20,000 pounds of hops at the price they pay which is much less then small breweries can get hops for – http://www.samueladams.com/promotions/HopSharing/Default.aspx

-Derek

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