Brewing your first beer can be intimidating. You’ve got to work your way through a long list of ingredients, make sense of new terminologies – mashing, lautering, fermenting, hops, etc.
Well, dear reader, worry not! We’ve got your back. In this post, we share a simple fool-proof way to brew your first beer using malt extract kits. Yes, you can brew better beer than what’s described below. But, this recipe is an excellent choice for beginners to gain confidence.
What is a malt extract kit, and why use it?
We asked a few of our brewer friends at the largest beer manufacturing company in India to share their advice for first-time brewers. All of them suggested that beginner brewers should skip grain mashing and use malt extract kits. And, here’s why.
One of the critical ingredients in brewing is malted grains. Brewing involves the manufacture of beer from grains. The malted grains – generally barley – are soaked in water at a particular temperature for a specific time. This process is known as “mashing.” It involves extracting fermentable sugars from the grains. The yeast then eats up these sugars in a fermentation process, creating alcohol as a by-product of the process.
When you use malt extract kits, you can skip the mashing process. Instead of waiting for the grains to mash, you can directly use the malt extract. The malt extract can be either in the form of a thick syrup or dry powder. It is made by extracting the liquid from mashing and dehydrating it.
Here are the top 5 reasons why we suggest malt extract kits for first-time brewers:
- Saves Time – Skipping the mashing process reduces the time taken for brewing substantially
- Saves Space & Money – You don’t have to invest in large equipment like a mash tun, boiling kettle, etc.
- Improves Efficiency – One of the biggest challenges for beginner brewers is keeping the alcohol levels in check. With a malt extract, you have more control over the process.
- Improves Consistency – Easily hit the target gravity every time you brew a new batch.
- Simplifies the Brewing Process – Especially for beginners.
Okay, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and get started! Are you excited?
Step-by-Step Guide to Brewing using a Malt Extract
- Wash all the utensils – pan, spoon, and measuring cup – thoroughly with soapy water. Rinse with hot water and dry well.
- Heat around 2 gallons of water. Bring it to a boil.
- Pour in a can of hopped malt extract. You can purchase malt extract at a brewing specialty store or get it online at sites like com. Make sure to keep stirring so that the extract doesn’t settle at the bottom of the pot (in beer parlance, this is called the wort).
- Add around 4 – 6 cups of sugar in the mixture. Stir well till it dissolves completely. More the sugar more is the alcoholic content of the final product. So be careful with the amount of sugar you add.
- Slow boil the mixture for around 15 minutes.
- Fill a bigger vessel with ice-cubes or cold water. Place the hot pot (wort) in the cold water bath. The temperature of the liquid should be between 75 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Pour the mixture into a sterilized bucket/kettle.
- Add around 5 gallons of tap water. If tap water is not ideal, you can use mineral water.
- If you’re using dry yeast, you have to activate it before adding it to the mixture. Mix the components of the yeast packet in half a cup of hot water and let it sit for five to ten minutes.
- Add the activated yeast to the mixture. Do not stir vigorously. Just mix it gently.
- Close the vessel tightly and let it ferment at room temperature for 7 to 10 days. The ideal temperature during the fermentation phase is 70 – 80 degrees Fahrenheit.
Waiting! Yes, you need to wait at least 6 to 7 days before your beer will be ready.
- The next step is to bottle your brew. Make sure to sanitize the bottle and caps before you fill it.
- Add ½ teaspoon of sugar into each bottle. This is known as priming sugar and will help in adding carbonation to your beer.
- Tightly close the bottle caps and wait for at least two weeks before drinking. Store the beer bottles at room temperature (between 65 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit) during the secondary carbonation stage.
That’s it. Your beer is now ready to drink. Knockback the caps and enjoy the fruits of your labour.
What to know while using Malt Extracts to Brew at Home?
- The more sugar you add in your mixture, the more alcoholic your beer will be. Also, note that more sugar means it takes longer to ferment. You’ll learn the right amount of sugar to add with practice. Four to six cups of sugar for a five-gallon batch is a good place to start.
- Beer making kits are available online. These kits have everything you need to make your first batch. You can use these kits until you get the hang of brewing.
- Make sure to sanitize all equipment. Proper sanitisation prevents the growth of bacteria – the biggest threat to good beer.
- Be patient. Remember that you need to give your brew adequate time to ferment during the primary and secondary stages. You need to leave your brew for at least four weeks during the second stage to develop flavors. So, wait, and you’ll be rewarded with an awesome drink.
Finally, relax and enjoy the process! Brewing is as much fun as beer drinking. Brewing is easy and is hard to mess up. So, go ahead and create great beer. Check out our other blog posts for more tips, ideas, and brewing banter.