The brewing process itself has been around for thousands of years. It is not only a very popular beverage, but also an excellent source of nutrition. Beer brewed with fresh ingredients like hops, grains and yeast contains soluble fiber, as well as trace amounts of potassium, calcium, zinc, iron, phosphorus and dietary silicon. Drinking craft beer in moderation may actually help prevent heart disease and even strengthen your bones.
When you make your own beer, you’ll find that you have a lot more control over the ingredients you’re using. You’ll start with the wort (the water and malt), which you will boil to produce the sugars that the yeast will consume during fermentation. The wort is then cooled and transferred into the fermenter, where you will add the yeast.
Once the yeast have consumed all of the wort’s sugars, it will begin to produce alcohol and carbon dioxide. This process, known as fermentation, can last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. During this time, the flavors of the brew will develop. Once fermentation is complete, the brew will be filtered and transferred into bottles or cans for consumption.
Most breweries are locally owned and operated, meaning that the money stays within the community that the brewery serves. This is one of the reasons that it is so important to support your local breweries!
