I’ve never home brewed, but I’d like to.
My son has home brewed some mead. It was actually pretty good. It’s not a beer technically I think, but it was like a beer in some ways.
But in lieu of a tasty homebrew I’ll just enjoy a Schlitz.
I am surprised at how pricey brewing kits are. There has to be a cheaper method?
Prosit!
p.s. here is a great drinking song on youtube, it’s Andre Rieu and the thee tenors singing the drinking song from the “Student Prince”: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CErL59tpNc
I put together a guide for first time brewers that is just about as low budget as it gets. I tried to keep it under 50 bucks.
See what you think. - http://www.knewshound.blogspot.com/2007/11/homebrewing-1a.html?m=1
Cheers,
knewshound
Yep Mead is about as easy as it gets. It is actually a Honey wine - Honey, water and yeast. It can be very, very tasty.
If you like cider you can brew hard cider for almost nothing in the winter time...
Get gallon jug of apple juice, pour out some to leave a three inch (about) gap.
Add a cup and a quarter (about) plain sugar.
Shake well, shake again.
Add 1/5 (about) packet of yeast, EC-1118, from a brew store.
Put the TOP ON LOOSE and set it someplace room temperature where you can see it.
After 2 weeks (about) set it outside in the cold, but protected from animals, leaving the TOP LOOSE.
After two weeks (about) bring it in leaving the TOP LOOSE.
After another week gently and carefully pour it into clean half-gallon or quart jugs-leaving behind ALL the stuff at the bottom to throw away- and put it in the fridge or outside if it’s cold enough.
Tighten the top after a day.
Your sweet sparkling hard cider is ready next day!
It’s easier and more efficient with a carboy, sanitizer, airlocks, siphon, etc. but you only spend about a half hour of time fooling with it and a buck on the yeast- which will make 4 more gallons too.
This was what I started with a few months ago. I haven’t gone to making beer yet but I’m doing a simple wine and will do a mead soon.
Love saving money while I learn and watching those yeasties bubble.