Popular Mechanics (South Africa)

HOME- BREWING TIPS

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When experiment­ing, there are a few things to keep in mind to get the best results.

Sanitation: This is one of the most important steps on brew day, as it keeps bacteria at bay. Once you’ve washed your equipment, use a no-rinse sanitiser to clean everything you’ll be using.

Chill fast: After the boiling step is complete, chill the wort as quickly as possible. The wort is most vulnerable to infections by bacteria and wild yeast at temperatur­es above 27°C. Fast chilling also causes tannins and proteins to coagulate and fall out, which can improve the clarity of the final product. Boiling: Tilt the lid of your brew pot while it’s boiling. Boiling vaporises unwanted chemicals, and tilting the lid will give them the chance to evaporate out.

Aerate the wort: Boiling reduces the oxygen content of the wort. Oxygen is essential for yeast reproducti­on and if oxygen is not added back to the wort it may lead to the developmen­t of off-flavours during fermentati­on. No need to get complicate­d – the cheapest way to aerate is by simply shaking it for several minutes. Ingredient­s: It’s simple – the better the quality of your ingredient­s, the better the quality of your beer. Go for the freshest and best ingredient­s you can get your hands on, store your ingredient­s correctly and use them within the advised time.

Start simple: Keep your ingredient­s and brews as basic as possible, and remember that darker brews are often more forgiving when you’re starting out.

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