A beer brewing kit gives homebrewers the opportunity to try their hand at a fun and rewarding hobby. The kits typically include everything needed to get started, including ingredients and brewing equipment, and are available online or at most homebrew stores.
Crafting beer is all about personal expression, and that’s what makes it so unique. Some craft breweries passionately uphold Reinheitsgebot (the German purity law that states beer must only be made with water, barley, and hops) while others may go off script and experiment with a mix of spices, herbs, or even coffee to create a one-of-a-kind brew.
Many craft breweries also prioritize using locally sourced ingredients. This practice helps support local farmers and reduces the environmental impact of shipping ingredients across long distances. Moreover, it can add a distinct flavor to the finished product that’s hard to replicate when using a pre-packaged ingredient.
Beer is a complex beverage that contains various vitamins, minerals, and nutrients. It is rich in iron, potassium, magnesium, zinc, calcium, copper, phosphorus, and sodium. Additionally, it’s loaded with soluble fiber, and can provide a great source of energy when used as part of a balanced diet.
A walk through the beer sections of neighborhood bodegas or supermarkets around the country shows that the majority of beers on shelves are actually mass-produced, branded products from massive brewing conglomerates. Yet tucked away in smaller quantities among these offerings are the specialty brews created by independent breweries. The question is: What exactly defines a craft brewer, and why is the definition so contentious?
