The Ingredients of Beer
If you’re not going to be using a beer kit then you’ll need to buy the ingredients. Here’s what you’ll need:
- Water (known as liquor): The largest ingredient that you need – if you’re lucky, it will also be the cheapest! The water will alter the final taste of the beer, depending upon its own minerals.
- Malt: Usually made from barley, your best bet as a beginner will be to make use of liquid malt, which comes in a can.
- Hops: Originally used as a preservative, hops adds a level of bitterness to the beer. Experience with using different types of hops (you can use more than one type in a single brew) to find out which produce the best tastes.
- Yeast: Vital, of course, for the fermentation process. You need to ensure that you use brewer’s yeast and that it’s the correct variety, depending on whether you’re aiming for ale or lager.
- Sugar: Avoid using household sugar if possible, as these will not give you the taste that you are looking for. There are specialist brewer’s sugars available that are relatively inexpensive but will do a great job.
The Beer Brewing Guide in full: