Self-brewed beer has become a popular choice nowadays which led to the popularity of microbreweries. Microbreweries are basically small scale producers of beers and liquor and this can be done even at the comfort of one’s home. Beer buffs have gained interest in this type of beer because it can be created based on one’s taste and preferences giving it a more personal taste and feel. As more and more people are getting hooked into this micro-brewery concept.
Embarking on a personal microbrewery either for personal or business purpose can pose some hurdles. First is that there are countries or states which prohibit microbreweries- to the extent that some laws are even passed against it. However, if this is not the case, then you are in for a fun experience in brewing your own beer. The next thing you should do is to buy yourself the necessary microbrewery equipment. This equipment can be bought from local brew stores or shops; or one can go online and look for cheap deals over eBay or similar websites.
Basically, you would need a large brewing pot- it can be just as any pot that you can find at a local store provided it could hold 3-4 gallons of beer. A ladle is also a must and preferably, it should be made of plastic or metal to lessen the risk of contamination. Apart from these, a fermenter is also required which should have an airtight lid. It is important to be sure that the fermenter is able to hold about 6-7 gallons of liquid to give allowance to the foam that will be produced in the process of fermentation. An airtight lid with lock is needed as well, to allow carbon dioxide to escape in the process of fermentation to avoid contamination of the end product.
A hydrometer and a thermometer are also important because it will track the specific gravity, temperature and density of the beer as well as its alcohol content. Bottling equipment is the next tool that you will need. Transferring the fermented beer to individual bottles has to be a little meticulous to prevent air from combining with the bottled beer, thus the need for siphoning. The transferred beer needs to be capped tightly in order to promote a longer shelf life.
Buying microbrewery equipment might seem a little costly at first but once you have already produced several batches of beers, it will surely cover up for your initial investment.