Do you know what sparging is? Sparging is the second stage of brewing. Don’t ask me why..It is when you filter water through the mash to dissolve the sugars. The result of sparging the mash is a dark sugar saturated liquid that is called the wort.
Getting into a hobby like craft brewing does call for learning some new words and processes, but it is so much fun it feels like you are in a different world. Home brewing is becoming more popular during the economic downturn. It is a way to save money and have fun with a new hobby right at home.
Home brewing has a long history, which archeological evidence. The same basic processes were used in ancient Egypt Many descriptions of various beer recipes can be found in Sumerian writings, a lot of of the oldest writings known.
Although the process of brewing is complex and varies greatly, some stages are common and essential. Like sparging does not happen until you have mash. Mashing is the first stage. You crush the malted grains and soak in warm water to create an extract of the malt. Then to convert the starches in it to fermentable sugars you keep the mash at a constant temperature just long enough for the enzymes to do their work. After that you sparge. Then you boil the wort and any remaining ingredients so you can eliminate excess water and destroy all remaining microorganisms. The boiling stage is also when you add the hops. You can use whole hops or an extract.
The fourth stage is fermentation. The yeast is now added. Cover and leave the home craft brew and let it ferment. Sometimes you might choose to ferment it again to allow the yeast to settle even more. Your craft brewing process requires one last step and that is packaging
At the final stage, the beer will contain alcohol, yet not too much carbon dioxide. The brewer will have a few options to increase the levels of carbon dioxide. The method most brewmasters use is force carbonation directly into the keg or bottle.
At the end of the craft brewing process the beer is completed Then you simply package it in bottles, cans, casks or kegs. If your brew has been unfiltered you might want to store it for a bit more fermentation in a tank or cask to smooth it out .
Some craft brewing enthusiasts prefer a long conditioning period for different strong beers like barley and wines. It depends on what the brewmaster enjoys drinking. You are the brewmaster if you are making your own personal home brew. Have fun with the craft brewing and you will enjoy your new hobby of home brewing.
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