Beer crafting is a fun, engaging and surprisingly empowering hobby. The ability to create a beer that rivals those on your local store’s shelves can be achieved with minimal investment in equipment (and time). And the best part; you are in charge of every step, from what goes into it to how it is handled during fermentation. You can experiment with avenues that never make it to the commercial shelves; add a bit of rosemary to that IPA extract kit or even a touch of cherries to your sour ale.
It is also a great way to understand the chemistry behind the process, making it an educational as well as a tasty pursuit. And as a bonus, it can be quite healthy, too. Especially if you go for the darker beers, which are rich in vitamin B12. This vitamin helps with normal blood synthesis and can protect against anemia, which is particularly common in women.
It can seem intimidating to get started, but a few good books and the right kit can get you on your way. There is a huge amount of content available online from a range of sources, from free to paid. The American Homebrewer’s Association has a very comprehensive free learning portal, which is a good place to start for a beginner. A few additional items you may need to complete the initial setup are a brewing thermometer (for monitoring temperature), a large bucket for mashing, a fermenter and a no-rinse acid sanitizer solution, such as StarSan.
