One of the most satisfying stages of homebrewing is observing the layer of krausen, which forms on top of the wort a few hours after pitching the yeast. The presence of krausen tells you that fermentation is taking place and that, in a few days, your beer will be ready for bottling or kegging. Like…
Category: Beginners Guides
Can A Refractometer Measure Alcohol? (Measure Alcohol With A Refractometer )
A refractometer is an instrument used to measure the concentration of a given substance in an aqueous solution. Brewers commonly use refractometers to measure sugar concentration in the wort, which can then be used to calculate beer or wine’s alcohol content. Refractometers are used widely used in the food industry. They are available with different…
How do you know fermentation is complete?
Fermentation is the most critical step in the brewing process when yeast turns the sugar in the wort into alcohol and carbon dioxide. Depending on the type of yeast used, the concentration of sugar in the wort and ambient temperature, fermentation will usually take between five days and several weeks to complete. Once fermentation stops,…
What Is Sparging In Beer Making?
When you’re first getting into beer making it can often seem a lot like alchemy; part science, part magic and with a lot of strange words that more experienced brewers use to describe unknown and mystical procedures. Three words that come up a lot are lautering, sparging and vorlauf. But what do they mean and…
Easy Viking Mead Recipe | How To Make Mead Step By Step
Mead is the oldest alcoholic beverage known to man and is believed to have its origins in Asia, some 7,000 years ago. Probably discovered by accident, mead soon spread to other parts of the world and is known to have been consumed by the Ancient Greeks, Romans, Mayans and of course the Vikings. Early civilisations…
How Much Water Should I Put In A Homebrew Airlock?
Once you’ve pitched the yeast, it’s time to move the fermenter to a dark place and fit the airlock. Between eight and twelve hours later, carbon dioxide should start bubbling out through the airlock, indicating that fermentation is taking place. This brings us to the age-old homebrewer’s question of how much water should I put…
How To Measure Alcohol Content With A Hydrometer
Once you’ve got your first couple of batches of homebrew under your belt, it’s time to start measuring the alcohol content of your beer. Not only is it good to know just how strong your beer is. It also helps you improve your brewing technique and, with practice, will help you consistently brew better beer.…
What Size Fermenter Do I Need? (Plastic VS Glass VS Metal and Sizes)
Fermenters come in a wide range of shapes and sizes to fit all budgets and home brewing needs. In this article, we compare the different sizes and styles of fermenters and discuss the pros and cons of each type. The first thing that you need to consider when purchasing a fermenter is size. During the…
How Much Equipment Do You Need To Brew Beer? (Beginners Guide)
So you’ve decided to try your hand at brewing your own beer? Good choice, there are few things in life more satisfying than pouring yourself a glass of beer that you’ve brewed yourself. It’s also a lot of fun. The first thing you’re asking yourself is probably something like: What equipment do I need to…
