Being from the NW and specifically from Bend, OR (where some of the greatest micro brews come from like Deschutes Brewery and Good Life Brewing) I have developed quite a taste for good beer; some may say a "beer snob" well I'll wear that title. I love a good beer with distinguishing flavors and depth. Not that I won't enjoy a cold Coors Light or even a Keystone, but there is something great about drinking a local beer with some personality.
Because of my love of micro brews, my good friend Pierce Kennedy decided it was time for me to try brewing a batch for myself. He had done it a few times before and got me my own beer making kit from the Brooklyn Brew Shop (http://brooklynbrewshop.com/). My one gallon kit came with everything you needed and the website provided instructional videos and information on how to go about brewing your own beer.
My kit was for a Bourbon Dubbel, a Belgian style ale. Even though I had never brewed beer before, the Brooklyn Brew Shop provided step-by-step instructions; however, this did not make the process less frustrating. Don't get me wrong, making your own beer is fun, you learn something new, and it is extremely satisfying to get drunk on the beer YOU produced, but it is a long process that must be closely monitored along the way.
After pre-soaking oak chips in bourbon, sanitizing everything (which is extremely important), creating the mash and the sparge, boiling, waiting two weeks for fermenting, bottling, and waiting another two weeks I finally had 2 growlers full of delicious Bourbon Dubbel. It had good flavor and made me want to try another batch down the road.
For anyone that is interested in brewing their own beer, I would highly suggest Brooklyn Brew Shop; I would also suggest to talk to someone who has done it before and to brew with a buddy, because no one likes to drink alone.
~Michael
Michael, really enjoyed your post! I actually have a friend that brews a lot of his own beer and he absolutely loves it. A thought too: For some who would prefer to go somewhere to get the whole brewing experience with a little more instruction and supervision (like me!), they also have places that are U-Brew style. They're everywhere too so you can just go, pick your style of beer (pale ale, amber, stout, etc.), and they give you the recipe so you can brew it at their location. You get the same experience without doing it in your own house.
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
To follow up on Alyssa's post, a friend of mine in Munich told me about this place where you can do a 5 h seminar. After that you receive a certificate as "brew master hc" :)
ReplyDeleteBtw, you should also check out the App Beer me.