Beginner's Guide to Beermaking

Making your own beer is an enjoyable and satisfying hobby.

ESSENTIAL EQUIPMENT TO MAKE 40 PINTS OF BEER

25 litre Bucket with Lid
Syphon
VWP Sterliiser
Pressure Barrel or 23 x 1 litre Plastic Pet Bottles with caps
(Grolsh style Glass Bottles are ideal)
Beer Kit of your choice
(Extra Malt Extract or Sugar might be required for above)

In addition we strongly recommend the use of a Hydrometer/Trial Jar and a Thermometer

WHICH BEER KIT?

COOPERS 1.7 KILO AUSTRALIAN BEER KITS. These kits are made from the finest two row barley and hops. If you are a lager drinker, theirs is amongst our best sellers.Their Bitter is also a winner .(Sugar is required)



MUNTONS GOLD 3 KILO ALL MALT KIT These kits have a fully malty flavour and are rich in colour. No extra sugar is required.

WHAT DO I DO?

It is important in beer making to sterilise your equipment and to maintain a constant temperature ideally between 20 - 25oC (65 - 75oF). STEPS TO MAKING A GOOD BEER

(1) Clean and sterilise you equipment
(2) Stand the can of malt in boiling water, and then add this to the bucket. If require add the extra malt extract, brewing sugar or sugar and than add boiling water. Top up with cold water, and stir well
(3) Add the yeast sachet when liquid is cool. Replace the lid loosely on bin. The yeast will turn the malt (and sugars) into alcohol. Carbon dioxide is given off while this is happening and will escape around the sides of the lid
(4) Once the fermentation has completed, this usually takes between 5/7 days, beer finings to add fast clearing can be added
(5) The beer can now be syphoned off into either bottles or a pressure barrel
(6) The priming sugar is now added (this gives the beer natural carbonation) The bottle tops can now be put on. Leave in a warm place for 3 days
(7) Then transfer the bottles or barrel to a cool place for the beer to clear

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE BEFORE I CAN DRINK THE BEER?

The initial fermentation in the bin takes normally 5/7 days. Once transferred to the bottles or barrel the beer will clear between 1 - 3 weeks. It can be drunk as soon as it its clear but we would recommend you allow it to mature for at least 3 weeks.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO MAKE?
If you are new to homebrewing then the whole process will normally take about 1 hour if you are using a pressure barrel and 1 1/2 hours if you are bottling. CHEERS!