Rhode Island Beer Snobs

When people find out I home brew, I often get asked about how to get started brewing, what’s involved, what it costs, and all that. I just got asked about it today, and figured it’d make good fodder for a blog post. Below are a few of the questions I get most.

Is it hard to make your own beer?

No, not at all. The process is not all the different than making home made soup, actually. You take a big pot, you measure out ingredients, and you boil and simmer according to the directions. I usually allot the good chunk of a Saturday afternoon to brewing, and another good chunk a week or two later to bottling.

What kind of beer can I make?

Anything you can buy, and then some. You can brew anything from the lighest light beer to the darkest stout or porter. The key is to home brew what you like to drink. I have a friend who brews almost exlusively IPAs, because that’s what he drinks. I’ve brewed wheat beers, pumpkin ales, pale ales, and some really interesting experimental beers.

Where do you get your supplies?

If you have a brew supply store nearby, give them a shot. Most are very helpful and knowledgable, and you can save on shipping by picking supplies up right there.

You’re also helping a local business out and have someone who can answer questions that may come up as you brew. Most will even try your beer and offer suggestions…or give you the chance to try their beer or the beer of other home brewers, which is always fun.

If you don’t have a local shop, there are many sites on the internet where you can buy supplies and have them shipped right to your door. I’ve heard good things about MidWest Brewing Supplies, and their prices seem good.

As far as bottles go, you can either buy clean, empty bottles, or you can re-use the ones you drink from already. You can clean, de-label, and re-use any non-twist-top beer bottle, which is the way to go because it’s both recycling AND saves you money by being cheaper than buying new bottles.

Is it expensive?

No, not really. Starter kits can cost as little as $60, and enough ingredients for a 5 gallon (45-50 beer) batch run anywhere from $30-50 (depending on the style). Once you’ve bought the equipment, expect costs of about $1 per 12 ounce beer…better than buying craft brew at the local package store, and a lot cheaper than drinking in a bar.

What do I need to get started?

Most suppliers have a startup kit that costs somewhere between $60-80. Midwest has a few that should get you going, including a $60 model, a $90 model, and many more that go up from there. The more expensive the kit, the more stuff you get, but if you’re on a budget, there’s nothing wrong with starting with the cheapest setup and then adding on later as you see fit.

The same supplier you buy your equipment from should have ingredients. For beginners, its usually easiest to buy a pre-assembled ingredient kit. These contain all the ingredients you need to brew a batch of beer, and usually run between $30-40. Kits are available for pretty much any of style of beer you want, from lights to lagers, to stouts.

I usually recommend kits to beginners because they give you exactly what you need, and if you follow the directions, you get a good beer. Once you get a few kits under your belt and have some confidence, you can branch out into puttting together your own brews and inventing your own recipes.

Any other tips?

I always tell new home brewers that the one key is cleanliness. The time you spend sanatizing your equiptment and bottles, while a bit tedious, goes a long way towards making sure your beer is a top notch brew you can be proud of.

Really, making beer is a great hobby…it’s part cooking (which some people do as a hobby), part arts and crafts (bottling…why put a ship in a bottle when you can put a beer in one), and much more. There is all kinds of knowledge in beer brewing…science, agriculture, history…to nourish your mind while your homebrews nourish your stomach and spirit.

Plus, there’s nothing like showing up at a party or gathering of friends and family with a cooler full of your home brews…now that’s a great hobby…one you can share, 12 ounces at a time!

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