Brewing beer is a hobby that has been growing in popularity for the last several years. There are so many different kinds of ales that people seem to love experimenting with their own varieties and flavors to get a unique taste. You don't need to purchase expensive equipment or ingredients to get into the hobby. If you fail at your first attempt, it is easy to adjust the mixture and make a successful batch the next time. Some folks even try starting from scratch with their own Illinois homegrown hops.
You can purchase hop rhizomes, which are underground roots, online or from a commercial grower. There are different varieties to choose from. Once you have the plants, you will need to plant them in a sunny area that has good drainage and healthy soil. These vines are going to grow up to thirty feet or so, so you will have to put the plants in an area where there is room for a vertical pole or trellis.
The flowers are the first sign the plants are getting ready for harvest. It may take some time to get good at sensing when they are really ripe. A keen sense of smell, touch, and sight is necessary to gage their readiness. Since these vines are tall, you will need a ladder to get the fruit off the highest stems. Without a ladder, you will have to pull them down and strip the fruit off.
Drying them is the next step, and that must be done as soon as possible to keep the fruit fresh and viable. The easiest thing to do is to spread them out evenly on a piece of cloth or old screen. They have to be protected from the weather while they are drying. If you are processing them during warm weather, it should only take a few days for them to be ready.
They should only take a few days to dry, and then you will need to find a place to store them. For hops you are going to use immediately, a sealed container is sufficient. If you want to store them for a longer period of time, experts suggest you seal them in zip locked storage bags and put them in the freezer until needed.
Once you are ready use them, it is time to experiment. The alpha acid content can be an issue and determining it can be difficult. Some brewers place the hops in cheesecloth before they add them to the boil. You may have to consult recipes, or friends and family who have experience in this part of the process.
One of the most attractive aspects of this hobby is the affordability of the ingredients. Most of the equipment you need for the process, you probably already have in your home. Because it's so inexpensive to do, you can afford to experiment with flavors and various strengths. Trying to sell it to make some extra money isn't a good idea however. It is best to share your batches privately.
Brewing beer can be a lot of fun and the more you do from scratch, the more unique your special brand will be. You'll impress everyone by starting with the plants and ending with the toast.
You can purchase hop rhizomes, which are underground roots, online or from a commercial grower. There are different varieties to choose from. Once you have the plants, you will need to plant them in a sunny area that has good drainage and healthy soil. These vines are going to grow up to thirty feet or so, so you will have to put the plants in an area where there is room for a vertical pole or trellis.
The flowers are the first sign the plants are getting ready for harvest. It may take some time to get good at sensing when they are really ripe. A keen sense of smell, touch, and sight is necessary to gage their readiness. Since these vines are tall, you will need a ladder to get the fruit off the highest stems. Without a ladder, you will have to pull them down and strip the fruit off.
Drying them is the next step, and that must be done as soon as possible to keep the fruit fresh and viable. The easiest thing to do is to spread them out evenly on a piece of cloth or old screen. They have to be protected from the weather while they are drying. If you are processing them during warm weather, it should only take a few days for them to be ready.
They should only take a few days to dry, and then you will need to find a place to store them. For hops you are going to use immediately, a sealed container is sufficient. If you want to store them for a longer period of time, experts suggest you seal them in zip locked storage bags and put them in the freezer until needed.
Once you are ready use them, it is time to experiment. The alpha acid content can be an issue and determining it can be difficult. Some brewers place the hops in cheesecloth before they add them to the boil. You may have to consult recipes, or friends and family who have experience in this part of the process.
One of the most attractive aspects of this hobby is the affordability of the ingredients. Most of the equipment you need for the process, you probably already have in your home. Because it's so inexpensive to do, you can afford to experiment with flavors and various strengths. Trying to sell it to make some extra money isn't a good idea however. It is best to share your batches privately.
Brewing beer can be a lot of fun and the more you do from scratch, the more unique your special brand will be. You'll impress everyone by starting with the plants and ending with the toast.
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