Brew Kits Blog

In his article, Matt Mosher covers the topic of brew kits and home brewing – specifically college students making their own home brew. He points out that all a student needs is “a little space and ambition” and a beginner brew kit to get a taste of the hoppy, er… hobby.

What’s that, you ask? “When I was a student, we drank Mickey’s Wide Mouth and liked it, by God!!”?? Well, Mosher is getting us up to speed with this new generation of college students. He reports that while it’s not the average student who goes in for the finer-tasting brew, they do exist and seem to be growing in numbers. And since college students aren’t known for having lots of expendable income, it seems that some of them have taken up the hobby of beer brewing.

Gourmet and imported beers run higher on the price range, and for those with expensive taste the cost of consuming premium brew can add up. In a time when every dollar counts, beer enthusiasts can quench their exotic thirst by brewing their very own batches of gourmet beer.

We get some statistics from the article, too.

“Brewing beer is a very passionate hobby for a small percentage of beer drinkers,” said Becky Dyster, owner of Niagara Tradition Homebrew Supply. “Roughly 5 percent of consumers brew their own beer.”

We also get some valuable advice from Irv Brese, a beer certificate judge from Niagara Falls:

The best way to find a flavor of beer to create is to try many different kinds of beer from stores or bars, then replicate it or make your own version of it, according Irv Brese, a beer certificate judge from Niagara Falls. In most cases the result is a unique batch of tasty beer and the satisfaction of hard work.

According to Dyster, beer can be brewed in almost any apartment or house. The only space needed is for a six-gallon bucket to sit around for several weeks while the beer ferments. Space is also needed to store any previously brewed beer, but in the college environment, long-term storage usually isn’t an issue.

So what’s the down side to brewing your own beer? Well, it is a bit of work. You need to sanitize everything and then there’s the clean-up process, too. But Dyster points out the feeling of accomplishment that brewers enjoy when the successfully complete a delicious batch. She also points out that the process can be made much easier by using brew kits, rather than the raw ingredients.

Beginning brewers can choose from a variety of basic kits that require just some sugar, water, and the start-up kit.

The different types of kits available range from English ales to stouts, to special holiday blends. They can be obtained online or at a brewing supplies store.

Intermediate and advanced-level brewers on the other hand, add their own grain and hops to the mix. With great how-to books like “How to Brew” by John Palmer and others, anyone can make great beer at home or in their dorm for just a fraction of the price they would normally pay in the store.

Read the original article here.