Home Brewing, Supplies, and Equipment

The idea of brewing alcohol at home might seem like a novel idea, but in fact alcohol has been brewed domestically throughout the history of the drink, which is over 7000 years old. Brewing techniques have passed on from the Egyptians to the Greeks to the Romans and so on all the way to present day. Ancient Chinese cultures also practiced home brewing.

All of which is to say, home brewing is nothing new, and in fact has a long and rich history. To many people today it seems like an exotic or rare concept simply because alcohol is mass produced and more readily available in grocery and liquor stores. In fact, though, before methods introduced in the industrial revolution that allowed mass production, home brewing was far more common.

And, of course, any time alcohol has been made illegal, home brewing has experienced a kind of resurgence. Most notably, in 1920 when the United States outlawed the manufacture of alcoholic beverages, many home breweries sprung up almost overnight.

As an interesting footnote, although home wine-making was legalized with the repeal of prohibition, due to a clerical error, the words “and/or beer” were omitted from the document, which technically kept the home brewing of beer illegal until a bill passed by Congress in 1978. This bill legalized home brewing of small amounts of beer without being taxed—as long as the beer wasn’t sold commercially.

The practice of home brewing continues to thrive today, though in more of a niche space, as mass-produced alcohol is readily available. Today people like to brew their own beer for a variety of reasons. For one thing, home brewing can be cheaper than buying beverages in the store, especially once you have all of the brewing equipment and start to brew on a regular basis.

Perhaps more importantly, home brewing allows the consumer to adjust recipes according to personal tastes. This can create personalized beverages that are simply unavailable on the market elsewhere. Some people also take advantage of the individual control home brewing allows to adjust the recipes to contain fewer calories.

Homebrewing can be either a passion or a hobby—sometimes for this reason the practice is referred to as “craft brewing.” And, as with other crafts, there are assorted competitions for homebrewing. For passionate brewers, homebrewing becomes an art.

Another, less talked about benefit of brewing from home is the fact that doing so can reduce the environmental impact of your drink consumption simply because it eliminates the need for packaging and transportation. In fact, once you have some reliable jugs and bottles, you can reuse them for years.

Finally, for those who frequently host gatherings or parties, it is hard to think of a more lively beverage to serve than a beer you have prepared and brewed yourself. And, again, since you have control of the recipe, you are able to brew beers according to a season or theme if you so choose.

There are many advantages to home brewing. Whether you are a first-timer with a casual interest in the practice, or you have perfected your favorite recipe and have been brewing for years, bearcreekbrewing.com aims to provide you with reliable, useful information that you can use to help you reach your goals. Thank you for visiting and please check back often as the information is regularly updated.

 

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