Sunday, February 5, 2012

A Beer Lover's Hobby (Beer Brewing Books)

Do you love beer? Are you thinking of getting into beer brewing because you love drinking beer? You may think that brewing your own beer is a little over the top. But in truth, starting to brew your own beer at home is a great hobby. It can be a very creative approach to the love of fine beer. Brewing your own is easier then you ever imagined; with a readily available beer brewing kit, and a little knowledge you can get from reading some of the many beer brewing books available, you can be on your way to making your first batch of beer at home!

There is a large difference between a real beer lover, and a typical "guzzler". Beer in fact has a rich history, and the variety and uniqueness of flavors, textures, and blends is almost as vast and strong as wine. As we know wine connoisseurs have a very good knowledge of wine, and can tell a fine wine when they taste one, the move towards making beer can make you a beer connoisseur, involved in the culture of beer, someone that seeks the finest in flavors, the side that seeks to gain a rich insight into beer, by making it, and improving every time they do. This is what differentiates a real beer lover from the regular old beer "guzzler".

By encouraging yourself to become a beer connoisseur, to develop this new found passion for brewing, you are emphasizing the noble and creative side of your love for beer. Besides information learned from some of the best beer brewing books, you can learn a lot from your local brewing store. There are many clubs dedicated to brewing fine beer. Once you get started, your passion for beer becomes more about improving the quality and taste of your beer, rather than just drinking it.

Along with the creative side of brewing your own beer, there are also some economic benefits to it. As with everything that can be purchased, beer prices keep going up. But the costs of making your own beer at home are amazingly low if you break it all down to cost per glass of beer you brew. Of course, there is the equipment you need to buy. But the cost of that is not prohibitive; you do not need a large vat and other shiny equipment used at large breweries. In fact, you only need a basic beer brewing kit, which is basically a scaled down version of the large breweries. And the cost for these kits is very affordable; you can have your own beer production factory in your own home for $100 to $200, taking up very little space at that. And then, when you see how much beer you can make per batch, that it is a very smart investment.

Tuesday, January 31, 2012

How To Creating Unique Home Brews

If you're into brewing beers, I'm sure you've always wanted that beer flavor that was a little different than the others. In fact, you might have wanted a beer flavor that was off the chain when it comes to taste and strength. You have to find your taste and chase it!

To review the basics of brewing so that you are up to speed, the first thing you want to do is boil malted barley to release the malt sugars. The malt sugars are then boiled with hops for seasoning purposes. Cool the solution and add yeast to begin the fermentation process. Now, that's as simple as brewing gets.

There is an entire science to how long to boil and at what temperature. The fermentation process varies from brew to brew. But, we're going to focus on the seasoning. When you add hops to the boil for seasoning purposes, this is a great time to make your distinction. There are other times throughout the brewing process as well when you can make slight changes that could really bring a beer to a whole new level.

So, let's try to find that distinct beer that fits your taste. Then, we'll chase it until we nail it. Because we can't let a good beer get away. It's not in the heart of any beer enthusiast to ever let one go.

If you think that's not true, look at some of the beers we've launched. Ever heard of milk beer called Bilk? It exists. They make it in Japan and they use the milk that gets discarded from the local farmers. How about a champagne mixed beer, a pizza beer, or vitamin enhanced beer? Yes, they also exist. We even have the world's strongest beer at 25%. But, don't think you'll just buy that anywhere.

Monday, January 30, 2012

Free Living (Tips for Gluten)

Gluten is a certain protein found in most grains, and it is especially prominent in wheat. For those with allergies or Celiac disease, it is important to avoid wheat and wheat products. For those who are on a diet free from gluten, they will find things that work for gluten-free living which have been learned and shared through the years, since this diet has become so common. Here are some of the top tips that make daily life and eating healthful and gluten-free easier.

Balanced Diet
Eating a balanced diet is important for everyone, but those who must keep an ingredient out of their diet that is found in so many foods that people normally eat must keep it a priority to eat balanced meals with proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains and foods high in calcium like dairy products.

Cooking With Corn
Corn can be found in many foods, and eating it in different forms can make the diet much more interesting. Consider keeping things on hand like tortillas, pasta and popcorn, as well as corn chips and corn bread.

Bakeries
Find a bakery that makes delicious and healthful gluten-free baked goods for all of those in the community who eat a diet free from gluten. Besides breads, the bakery can make specialty cupcakes and other gluten-free desserts. The specialty bakery will likely develop some successful recipes that use grains free of gluten, like rice and corn, along with other ingredients that make the gluten-free baked goods possible.

Getting Creative with Rice
Like corn, rice is also a versatile grain. Some of the many ways to eat rice are crackers, bread and pasta. Additionally, many dishes using rice can bring in variety, like rice and broccoli casserole, paella or jambalaya and mini seven-layer burritos made with corn tortillas. When craving pasta, consider that some types that mix rice and corn seem to cook up more like wheat pasta.