By Nora Heston Tarte
Have you ever dreamed of embarking on a DIY beer-brewing venture? There’s no better time than now to hops to it with these simple steps for creating your own palatable beers. Becoming a local brew master is as easy as 1-2-3.
Step 1: What To Buy
Your first shopping list is dependent on how far you plan to take your newest hobby. If you’re simply looking to whip up a batch for your own enjoyment, stick to the basics. A brewing bucket, a bubbler, and a siphon hose (about $20 total) are all you will need, and nearby home brewing stores like Barley & Wine in Modesto stock several. To get a little more in-depth, splurge on a fancy kit.
Step 2: Pick Your Poison
While you may be inclined to make your favorite, don’t forget to start simple. American brews are a good jumping off point—think ambers, pale ales, and wheat beers—as are some German choices like the dunkelweizen and altbier. Gather your ingredients and any additional tools such as a grain-steeping bag and priming sugar, yeast, and caps.
Step 3: Let the Games Begin!
Place your purchased grains in the tied-off grain bag and let them soak in hot water, much like you’d make tea, all while being careful to follow your recipe. Next, bring your concoction to a low boil and add in the malt extract. With most recipes you’ll want to drop the finishing hops in about five minutes before you turn off the stove. Cool it to 70 degrees Fahrenheit (or the temperature your recipe recommends if different). Pour into bucket, add filtered water, stir in yeast, place bubbler on top, and let ferment. Don’t forget to consider location, too, hops can be quite strong, and you might not want that smell lingering inside!
After two weeks, your beer is almost ready to taste. To finish, boil two cups of water, stir in priming sugar, and add to the beer. Novice beer makers can serve their brew in the next couple of days, but to keep it on hand for later, consider bottling. Prep 50-60 beer bottles, fill each one, cap them, and let sit for a few weeks before drinking.
So, how did it turn out? Delicious? Hopfully. If not, don’t fret. The Lodi Beer Fest is just around the corner on April 23 (2-5 PM). Here you can taste expertly made craft beers from local breweries including Dancing Fox and Scotto Cellars as well as big names like Sierra Nevada. But hey, keep at it. Maybe next year you can bottle your own festival-worthy flavors. After all, you’ve got a year to practice!
Buy Your Gear:
Barley & Wine
2307 Oakdale Rd., Modesto
(209) 523-2739
Barleyandwine.com
Taste Away:
Lodi Beer Fest
Lodi Grape Festival, 413 E. Lockeford St.
(209) 369-2771
Grapefestival.com