Home Brewing Equipment Basics
No home brewer could ever produce a brew without the following equipment: Brewing Guide Novice and expert home brewers alike never start without first consulting their brewing guide. Depending on the coverage of the guide, it could serve to provide the necessary information to create brew according to a recipe, provide recipes, or the combination of both. A guide may also detail the different processes of creating the most common brews prepared in non-commercial scales. For starters, a guide that covers all the basic information you need should do. For intermediate brewers, the guide you should pick should cover brewing extensively. Brew Kettle This is what you use to boil the beer or whatever beverage you are trying to create. No matter your skill level, you should always get yourself a stainless steel pot which should hold at least 5 gallons of liquid. As you progress through this craft, you can start brewing larger amounts of liquid. A ceramic on steel brew kettle is also a good alternative so long as it's in perfect condition. Otherwise, stick with stainless pots. For those considering to use aluminum kettles, be warned that this type isn’t always used by expert brewers. Kettles made from aluminum as these often absorb the flavors from the brew which could be mixed into subsequent batches. Fermenter A fermenter is any container made from high quality plastic or glass that is used to hold the brew solution while it ferments. Any container will do so long as it is airlock and has a small valve through which fermentation gasses could escape. This valve should allow the escape of gas but should not allow the entry of microbes and dust that could contaminate the solution. Funnel If you're using a carboy (a glass bottle that holds 5 to 6 liters of liquid), you should use a funnel. This makes it easier to transfer liquid from the brew kettle into the carboy. A brewing funnel is different from ordinary kitchen funnels as this often come with a screen that filters unwanted particles such as hops. Unless you can use a siphoning device, you should have a funnel ready. Straining Tools Apart from the brewing funnel, an extra straining tool should also be used. This is a must for brewers who use grains in their solutions. Apart from this, a straining vessel called the lauter tun should also be available to strain out large particles from the boiled beer. Siphoning Tools Siphoning is a good alternative to straining as it limits the exposure to particles in the air while it's being transferred from one fermenter to another or to individual containers. There are a few varieties of siphoning tools – from steel tube to plastic tube. Any of these could do so long as they are guaranteed to have been made from food-grade materials. Any non food-grade siphoning tools will leach chemicals into the brewed beer passing through them, thereby contaminating the fermented solution. For better liquid control, use an external pinch clamp with your siphoning tube. Bottling Equipment Unless you're storing your beer into cans, a bottling equipment will come in handy. This should include bottle cappers, bottles, caps, and bottle filling wands. Finally are a few essential tools that can help ensure that your home brewed beverage has the highest quality possible. These are the wort chiller, thermometer, and hydrometer.
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