Richard Helweg - The Complete Guide to Brewing Your Own Beer at Home: Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply

The Complete Guide to

Brewing Your Own Beer at Home

Everything You Need to Know Explained Simply

by Richard Helweg

A few years back we lost our beloved pet dog Bear, who was not only our best and dearest friend but also the Vice President of Sunshine here at Atlantic Publishing. He did not receive a salary but worked tirelessly 24 hours a day to please his parents.

Bear was a rescue dog who turned around and showered myself, my wife, Sherri, his grandparents Jean, Bob, and Nancy, and every person and animal he met (well, maybe not rabbits) with friendship and love. He made a lot of people smile every day.

We wanted you to know a portion of the profits of this book will be donated in Bears memory to local animal shelters, parks, conservation organizations, and other individuals and nonprofit organizations in need of assistance.

Douglas and Sherri Brown

PS: We have since adopted two more rescue dogs: first Scout, and the following year, Ginger. They were both mixed golden retrievers who needed a home.

Want to help animals and the world? Here are a dozen easy suggestions you and your family can implement today:

• Adopt and rescue a pet from a local shelter.
• Support local and no-kill animal shelters.
• Plant a tree to honor someone you love.
• Be a developer put up some birdhouses.
• Buy live, potted Christmas trees and replant them.
• Make sure you spend time with your animals each day.
• Save natural resources by recycling and buying recycled products.
• Drink tap water, or filter your own water at home.
• Whenever possible, limit your use of or do not use pesticides.
• If you eat seafood, make sustainable choices.
• Support your local farmers market.
• Get outside. Visit a park, volunteer, walk your dog, or ride your bike.

Five years ago, Atlantic Publishing signed the Green Press Initiative. These guidelines promote environmentally friendly practices, such as using recycled stock and vegetable-based inks, avoiding waste, choosing energy-efficient resources, and promoting a no-pulping policy. We now use 100-percent recycled stock on all our books. The results: in one year, switching to post-consumer recycled stock saved 24 mature trees, 5,000 gallons of water, the equivalent of the total energy used for one home in a year, and the equivalent of the greenhouse gases from one car driven for a year.

Author Dedication

Thanks to Karen, Aedan, and Rory for putting up with all of my projects, no matter how much space they take and how stinky they are.

Introduction

Ive always wanted to do that. This is a statement often expressed when the subject of home brewing beer comes up. This statement is usually followed by, but it seems so involved. I dont have the equipment or the space. I really dont even know where to start. This book is here to say, You can do it. Brewing your own beer at home is fun, not as difficult as you may think, and economical, especially if you enjoy a variety of craft beers, or beers brewed using traditional brewing techniques and in small batches as compared to the popular beers brewed by the major industrial brewers.

According to the New York Times , a grassroots phenomenon has fueled the revival of craft beers in America over the past 30 years so challenge yourself to create the best beers around for you and your friends. Whether you are into lagers or ales, the craft of home brewing beer is within your reach. Grab your beer stein and prepare to make this art form your next hobby.

You might have tried a great beer recently and want to know how to create something similar. With the various innovative methods outlined in this book, brewing like the pros is now easier than ever before. You will be able to start small and gradually learn to make more complex ales, lagers, and stouts over time, all while having a fun experience. This book will guide any prospective brewmaster through the process of making a unique brew from inception to first pour. There are many advantages to making your own beer, starting with the low cost and the control you have over the maturity, strength, types, and volume of your creation. All of the rules and guidelines for home brewing have been laid out for you, along with the fascinating history of this popular beverage.