Can't Find Your Answer?
If you're unable to find the answer to your specific question here, please visit our Knowledge Center located on the MR.BEER® Community website.
1. I lost my brewing instructions - can I download a copy?
Absolutely. You can find a printable versions of all the MR.BEER® brewing instructions under the "Instructions" tab on each applicable product page, or
click here for a list of all our PDF downloads.
2. Where is my yeast?
Underneath the black plastic lid of every MR.BEER® Hopped Malt Extract you will find 1 packet of dry brewing yeast.
3. How long does it take to brew beer?
It takes as little as two weeks to brew the standard MR.BEER® recipe, which contains an HME and Booster™ Pouch. When you begin brewing recipes that contain additional ingredients, more brewing time may be required. Some of the most complex recipes can take up to 6 months before they are ready to enjoy. In general, most beers taste better if you allow extra time for fermenting and conditioning.
4. What do I need to make beer?
Brewing beer is an amazing hobby because there are so many different methods you can use to make your home brew. Whether you are using a 2-gallon fermenter and naturally carbonating in 1-liter bottles or you are using a 10-gallon fermenter and force carbonating 5-gallon kegs, the end result should always be great tasting beer. With MR.BEER® you need only a few things to make some of the most amazing beer you have ever tasted.
1) Brew Keg -- The brew keg is where fermentation occurs, turning sugars into alcohol.
2) Hopped Malt Extract (HME) -- MR.BEER® HMEs contain all the essential ingredients needed to make beer- malted grain in extract form and hops, plus they include a dry ale yeast packaged under the plastic lid. All you add is water.
3) Booster™ or Unhopped Malt Extract (UME) -- These ingredients add the additional sugars needed to create the appropriate amount of alcohol. Booster™ simply adds the required sugar, and UMEs add the required sugar and additional flavor.
4) One-Step™ Sanitizing Cleanser -- The most important key to making great beer is proper sanitization. OneStep™ assures a sterile environment every time you brew.
5) Bottles -- In order to carbonate, store and serve your beer you will need bottles. MR.BEER® sells 1-liter PET bottles that are perfect for bottling your beer.
When you purchase a Home Brewing Kit from MR.BEER®, all the essential ingredients you will need to make your first batch of beer will be included along with a brewing guide that contains much more detailed information about the beer making process.
5. Is it okay to open the fermenter during fermentation?
No. You can easily introduce a rogue organism that may sour the beer. The best thing to do is trust that your yeast is functioning perfectly. If you want to check on the activity level of the beer, shine a strong flashlight on the outside of the keg to see if fine bubbles are still rising, or if there is yeast foam still floating on the beer.
6. How do I brew with hops?
When brewing with hops, it's best to place them in a sanitized muslin hop sack to minimize hop particles in your finished beer. Tie off the open end of the sack, and place it in your boiling water just before removing the heat. Proceed as usual, leaving your hop sack in the fermenter for the entire fermentation, unless your recipe directs you otherwise. Just throw it away after bottling your beer -- it's not reusable.
7. After seven days my beer is still cloudy. Can I bottle it yet?
Hold off just a little longer. Sometimes the fermentation takes a little longer than expected, especially when brewing at cooler temperatures, or when brewing with extra fermentable sugars or old yeast. In some cases, fermentation may take up to three or four weeks before your beer is ready to bottle.
8. Does the brew keg have an airlock?
The MR.BEER® brew keg does not have a traditional "airlock". However, the brew keg has been specially designed to automatically release CO2 and keep out contaminants. Positive pressure produced during the fermentation process keeps airborne contaminants from entering the brew keg. For best results, keep the brew keg at a constant temperature for the entire duration of the fermentation process.
9. Can I filter my beer?
Beer filtration is a tricky thing for the home brewer, requiring pressurized cylinders and high pressure filter plates. Filtering through coffee filters or cheesecloth will only produce aerated beer and cause spoilage. The easiest way to get the clearest beer is to give the beer ample time to settle in the fermenter and do not disturb the fermenter during bottling.
10. Can I reuse the MR.BEER® bottles and caps?
With the appropriate care and cleaning you can reuse your bottles and caps many times. You should always check your bottles for internal scratches that can harbor unwanted bacteria, and always make sure the caps' threads are not stripped or damaged in anyway. As long as you take care of your bottles and keep a close eye on their condition, you shouldn't have any problems reusing them.
PLEASE NOTE -- The ring that snaps off of the MR.BEER® caps the first time they are used is a tamper proofing ring for commercial use, and will not affect the seal of future batches.
