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.
Once they start flowering, you will have to know when they are ready for harvesting. Experts say this is a matter of experience. You have to determine it by smell, sight, and touch. Unless you are a commercial grower with equipment to remove the fruit, you will have to do it by hand. Some people leave the plants in place and use a ladder to reach the tops, and others pull the plants off the trellis and pluck the fruit from the ground.
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.
The next step is to store the dried hops. You need to get them into a sealed container and keep them there if you are going to use them in the next few days. If you want to keep them longer, you should put them in zip lock freezer bags, deflate the bags to remove excess air, and store them in the freezer until you are ready to use them.
The next step can be the most difficult. You will have to determine the alpha acid content, and that can take some trial and error. If you have friends and family who are experienced in the brewing process, they may be able to give you some good advice.
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.
Once they start flowering, you will have to know when they are ready for harvesting. Experts say this is a matter of experience. You have to determine it by smell, sight, and touch. Unless you are a commercial grower with equipment to remove the fruit, you will have to do it by hand. Some people leave the plants in place and use a ladder to reach the tops, and others pull the plants off the trellis and pluck the fruit from the ground.
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.
The next step is to store the dried hops. You need to get them into a sealed container and keep them there if you are going to use them in the next few days. If you want to keep them longer, you should put them in zip lock freezer bags, deflate the bags to remove excess air, and store them in the freezer until you are ready to use them.
The next step can be the most difficult. You will have to determine the alpha acid content, and that can take some trial and error. If you have friends and family who are experienced in the brewing process, they may be able to give you some good advice.
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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