10 Things To Consider Before You Start Homebrewing

So, you say you want to start homebrewing, aye? Or maybe you already do, either way, these tips might still be just what you need.

At Mr. Beer, our mission is to make homebrewing, as simple, all-inclusive, and as straightforward as possible. There are still a few things that are helpful to know before you get started. Here are 10 of the best tips you should know! Keeping these things in mind will help you to have many successful and fun brew days to come.

 

1.    1. Never neglect your sanitation

This is probably the single most important part of your brewing procedure. Cleaning and sanitation should never be rushed or overlooked. Brewing beer in a dirty fermenter can lead to an infection that will have you wanting to pour your brew down the drain. Dirty bottles can take a delicious brew and turn it sour and undrinkable.

 

2.     2. Move quickly once your wort is off the heat

Heat over 175 degrees, causes your hops to continue to bitter within your wort so, for this reason, it’s important to get the wort transferred to the cold water inside the keg as soon as possible once you have completed the wort making process. This helps lock in the correct amount of bitterness and preserve the integrity of your flavors.

 

3.    3. Try brewing a stout or a porter if you are not having luck with lighter styles

This is a pretty “old” piece of brewing advice, but it’s a good one, nonetheless. When it comes to brewing, the devil is almost always in the details. For that reason, darker beers can leave a bit more “margin for error” when it comes to being a newbie.

 

4.    4. Use high quality, fresh ingredients

This may go without saying, but just like any other thing, the quality of the ingredients you are using, matters. Always do your best to use “in-date” extracts, grain, and hops. A good thing to remember about grocery items like juices and purees is that if you do not enjoy it outside your beer, you probably will not like it in your beer either.

 

5.    5. Check your fermenter with water before starting your brew

If you are just starting out in your brewing hobby, with a brand new LBK unit, make sure you test it for leaks with water first, if you have a leak, contact us ASAP and we are happy to ship you a replacement. Avoid a big giant mess by taking a small amount of time to verify you have a leak-free fermenter.

 

6.    6. Think about the future, and make sure you are available to bottle when your beer will potentially be “finished”

It has happened before, and it will likely happen again, you start your brew and then remember you will be out of town, making you a week late to bottle…. Hey stuff happens, but it’s always a good idea to check out your calendar before getting started.

 

7.    7. Read and understand before getting started

Before you start, read through your brewing instructions, and make sure you have a solid understanding. This way, you can contact us if you have any questions, before getting in the weeds.

 

8.    8. The only “dumb” question is the one you don’t ask

I know you have heard that before… This time, we really mean it. If something doesn’t make sense, don’t be afraid to ask for help!

 

9.     9. Get yourself a brew-pot

You can certainly brew Mr. Beer refills in very small kitchen pots, but if you would like to move onto recipes at some point, it is a great idea to purchase a pot with at least a 2-gallon capacity.

 

10.  10. Bring a friend

Brewing, even with Mr. Beer can be a lot more fun when you enjoy the process with a buddy. It’s also not a bad idea to have some extra lifting power if you’ve “skipped” arm day for a while.

 

As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments.

 

Cheers!

Ashley