What are the possible hazards that can occur in a brewery, and how can you mitigate them

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Most of the people have got involved in the craft brewery with the revolution and change. This is because this is one of the profit building industries around the world. Many join this industry in order to earn huge amounts and maximize their wealth as much as they can. This is yet one of the energy saving industries as well. There is no hazardous waste which is extremely harmful of the wildlife. The temperatures are kept according to the brewer s that there is no over boiling and no chemical reaction of the liquids.

Therefore, there are a number of hazards that can possibly occur in the brewery. There are many workers in the brewery factory who face these hazards and make sure that they stay safe and secure. There might be chances of any mishap or accident which can harm the employees working. Since the brewer is burning at high temperatures, it is extremely crucial to make sure that all the safety hazards are being followed inside the factory. One single mistake and carelessness can cause a serious problem inside the factory.

Hazards which occur in a brewery and how to mitigate them

There are a number of hazards that occur in a brewery. Some of these hazards are as follows:

  1. Working in confined spaces:

Most of the brewer factories have really confined places or entries to work. These places often have extremely hot and gaseous environment which lead to the deficiency of oxygen. There are also mechanical agitators which are extremely hot to even stand near them. That is why there are more chances of suffocation or burning in those places.

Owners should brief out their employees about the confined places in the factory that how to keep them protected and safe. The employers should make sure that:

  • Special isolation procedures should be introduced to stay safe.
  • Design rules to permit employees to go to these confined places without wearing proper safety thermals.
  • Ensure that there is an efficient rescue team for reducing the risk of any loss of life.
  1. Emitting of the hazardous energy:

There are a lot of other metallic, plastics and other machines related to canning, pumping, hydraulics and packaging equipment which emit hazardous energy ad rays. These rays can cause different skin diseases or might cause cancer due to its electronic rays.

To prevent from these rays the management should include training programs to train the workers on how to use stay secure and what should be the first aid if any accident occurs.

  1. Lifting of raw materials using the trucks:

The raw materials and equipment used for machinery is extremely hazardous as it also emits negative energy when brought closer to the body. There are certain metals which do have extremely dangerous and cancerous particles. If due to any mishap with the lifting or loading trucks the packaging is affected, there might be chances that the contact of these particles with the hands or any body part might lead to infectious diseases.

To prevent from these accidents the employees should make sure to check that the lifting and loading trucks a fully functioning and there are no mechanical faults in it.

  1. Hazardous chemicals used for sanitization:

There are also a lot of strong chemicals used for sanitization of the brewer. These chemicals if touched without wearing gloves can be hazardous. There are chances of skin cancer due to these chemicals or solutions.

That is why there should be awareness on how to use gloves and other or wearing anything else for protection.

  1. Walking on the wet floors:

This is the most common hazard in the entire world. This is to not to walk or move around on the wet floors. If any employee slips by any chance, he can fall on some hot burning equipment.

The employers should make sure to keep the sign boards and make the workers particular about following them strictly.

  1. Managing the thermal hazards:

The hot gases and air from the burning brewer can cause the body to burn due to extremely high temperatures.

Therefore it is required to wear proper isolation thermals in order to stay safe from burning.

 

Conclusion:

These safety hazards are always introduced in the factory so that employees stay safe and there not even a single chance of loss of any life. The companies should be strict about these safety hazards.

 

 

 

Which Beer Is Good For Health

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The consumption of alcohol, whether as beer, whisky or anything else, is a staple of the modern world.

Something of a standard in modern day food habits, they hold an important place in the daily lives of many.

 

There are several different varieties of beer available when you hit the local bar or pub.

Since there is a general awareness that alcohol is bad for health, people have started to become more health-conscious and keeping a track of their alcohol consumption.

This leaves them with one question, which is with regard to whether drinking beer can be healthy in some way.

There are certainly some healthy advantages to drinking beer, the details of which have been explained in the sections below.

The Alcohol Content

To begin with, the beers which contain the lowest amount of alcohol content would be a good start.

One of the best ways to measure this is using what is called ABV or Alcohol by Volume. It is a standard estimate to know the amount of alcohol in a given drink. With regard to beer, there are beers that have alcohol content as low as 0.5%, and as high as 40-60%.

The beers on the lower end of the percentage spectrum are usually healthier than those on the high end. The ABV of the beer is usually mentioned on the beer can or bottle, along with the ingredients, manufacturer details, etc.

As a general rule, the lower the alcohol percentage, the safe the alcohol percentage would be. This advantage however would probably be negated if the alcohol were to be consumed in large quantities, the details of which are explained in detail further down below.

Also to note is that there are ‘beers’ which have 0% alcohol content. These are of course imitation beers and not actual beers, where the drink is made to taste like beer without any alcohol in it.

 

 

Select Beer Varieties

Another thing to note is specific beers that may prove to have useful and specific health benefits.

A few of them are mentioned below.

 

1) Heart-Friendly Beer

It has been known for a long time that beer has a positive effect on heart health. It was found, for example, that moderate consumption of beer was associated with a lowered risk of heart health, according to a study in 2012. The reason for this was attributed to the many natural antioxidants, which are found in abundance in beer.

A good example of such a beer is the Abita Purple Haze.

 

2) Gluten-Free Beer

This is a great beer for those who may have gluten allergies. Given that beer is made entirely from grains, it would be impossible to escape from the potential allergic reactions that may come from drinking everyday beer.

About the only problem with gluten-free beer is that it is a bit difficult to source. This however, is not something to worry about given how the internet makes it possible to purchase it. In addition to this, there is a growing market for gluten-free beer, which should prove to be very helpful.

 

3) Brain Beer

Also called brain-health beer by some, it has been shown that this beer would actually help to better brain function.

It has been observed that moderate drinkers tended to have fewer strokes in their body compared to those who don’t drink.

The ideal beer for the benefit would be any beer that is rich in iron, niacin, riboflavin, etc. In general, it would mean that any beer would do, given that they all contain the vital nutrients that were just mentioned. This however, should also take into consideration the amount of alcohol that is present, with a lesser percentage of it being the better pick to go with.

 

On Consumption in Moderation

In addition to this, another important thing to consider is the issue of quantity.

It doesn’t matter what you are consuming, for everything is poison in large quantities. It is for this reason that there is a quote that goes,

“Anything in excess is poison …”

And indeed, this is certainly true. Anything that you overindulge in, in any manner, will have detrimental effect on your health. It doesn’t necessarily have to do with your health per se.

On the contrary, it can be other things like your time, peace of mind, sense of wellbeing, financial stability, etc. The point here being that whatever you do in life in excess, will always have a negative effect in one way or another; which brings us to the subject of moderation, where one engages in the object of our interest in moderate quantities.

Simply put, drinking in moderation is a good way to stay healthy, as opposed to excess consumption.

 

 

As a whole, the above mentioned varieties of beer can be considered as safe for consumption, at least within reasonable bounds.

In addition to this, one should also add that beer is essentially alcohol at the end of the day, meaning that one will have to curtail on excess consumption.

At the end of the day, what matters more than anything else, is moderation as opposed to anything in specific. It is the only way to truly ensure that one stays healthy in the long run.

How does a micro-brewery work as a business

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If you are wondering what micro-brewery exactly is then let us define it for you. A micro-brewery is a small scale craft beer business which includes making beer in small quantity and the business is independently owned. The bench-mark of a micro-brewery business is the quality, taste and unique brewing techniques used to set brewers apart.

In the USA, about 15000 barrels of craft beer is sold annually and the statistics seem to be rising consistently. How to start off and actually make micro-brewery work as a business is some crafty business in-itself.

Pick a business model

Micro-brewery business differs from state to state. Each state in the US has its pre-defined alcohol laws and you must abide by the rules. First and foremost it is important to decide the segment of the brewing market you want to pave your way to. The Brewers Association for Small and Independent Craft Brewers has separated the craft beer industry into 4 segments. These are:

Micro-brewery: selling less than 15,000 barrels yearly with 75% of it being sold offsite. Taprooms are used for offsite beer sales.

Brewpubs: 25% of craft beer is sold offsite at these restaurant breweries. Wine and spirit can also be bought and sold from other manufacturers.

Contract Brewing Company: Brewers making high-quality craft beer are hired to make quality and locally brewed beer for their company. The company is in charge of advertisement, sales and distribution of the beer but not manufacturing.

Regional Craft Brewing: this includes traditional or innovative beer brewing, however, it still has vague outlines which need clarity.

Any entrepreneur who has prepared several beer brewing batches at home and knows some unique techniques can start a brewing business easily.

Know what’s legal

A 3-tier system is enforced by each state to be followed by brewers. The three-tier system is separated as; the production of beer, distributors and sellers or retailers in the state. Usually, breweries depend on distributors to sell beer so a good relationship is essential to be established between brewers and distributors.

The Brewers Association is a good resource is you want to look into a state’s law:

  • The Barrel Cap laws
  • Self Distributions Laws by State
  • Brewery Sampling and sales law

 

Choose a good location

Micro-brewery business can’t thrive in areas which are remote and distant. Before choosing a location for a startup, make sure you have taken a market survey. A few factors to consider before you choose a location are:

  • Asses the number of local brewery plants already persisting in the area you are planning to start your setup at.
  • Feasibility of reaching to the distributers, where they are located in that area and their availability to deliver your craft beer to the retailers.
  • You should have studied the state laws thoroughly of the state where you plan on setting up your plant.
  • The security, parking, and the traffic that the area received every day.
  • Make sure your micro-brewery business is located in a residential area to attract buyers.

You brand Image

Your brand says a lot about the quality of the beer you are offering. Make sure your logo is catchy and intriguing enough to make your beer trial worthy. Use both print as well as electronic media to advertise your brand. Its human nature to try out new beverages out of curiosity so make sure you are emphasizing on the advertising bit. Target your customers and what experience they can have from your beer that others don’t offer.

How to make potential customers

You must make it a habit to take customer feedback so that you know where to improve. Don’t ever compromise on the taste of the beer, ensure the taste is the same from the first fresh glass of beer to the last one. Give your customers a variety of craft-brewed beers to pick from so they can explore their taste niche.

Make the availability of your beer viable in certain areas you can cover and cater to. Let customers order your locally brewed beer delivered to their locations.

Packaging matters

The way you present your product speaks volumes about your quality and experience. Something that looks good is meant to taste good too so don’t compromise on the quality or packaging. Two options are greatly picked from when selling beer that is in cans or bottles.

A packaging can benefit your microbrewery business as you can customize it providing details and ingredients used in brewing highly quality beer. For the startup, you can go for DIY techniques which will cost you less and you can control the quality of your packaging system as well.

Conclusion

To conclude, local beer brewing business is growing rapidly but before you plan on starting one, you must know these basics of getting the most out of a Micro-brewery business!

History of Beer

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Beer is something that has become a staple in many parts of the world.

A widely consumed beverage, it makes up an important sector of the world’s economy, along with other alcoholic beverages.

 

As much as the world loves beer, not many know about its history.

Many people are almost clueless about the history of this interesting drink, even if they happen to be big fans of it and chug it down every day.

When it comes to the actual history of beer, it certainly has an interesting history. And this is a story that goes back hundreds and possibly thousands of years old.

The Earliest Records

Coming to the actual story of beer, one could say that a rough understanding of alcohol is a good start.

Nobody knows the true origins of alcohol, but it is clear that someone a long time ago figured out that alcohol had ‘pleasurable’ characteristics. The earliest records go back to places like Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt. This would take the date back as far away as 5000 BC.

Then again, the dating may go back much further than that. One of the earliest evidences of beer goes back to the residues of beer found in the Raqefet Cave in the Carmel Mountains in Haifa, Israel. It was here that archeologists found residues of beer that go back as far as 13,000 years.

Likewise, once can also find references to alcohol in the Bible, where it is praised for its ‘mirth’ giving properties.

It wasn’t long before people started to tinker with the basic ingredients and ended up with the many varieties of beer that can found today.

 

The Foundation of Modern Beer

Ancient history aside, the beer that we know of today, are largely derived from the recipes that were perfected in medieval Europe. A drink common in the middle ages, it was consumed widely by people throughout northern and eastern Europe.

While the recipe of beer widely varied, its foundation was largely the same in terms of its cereal base. Given that grapes were rather rare across Europe, using cereals like barley, oats or wheat was more of a necessity rather than choice.

It was soon discovered that the use of hops was a great way to preserve beer and enhance the flavor. One clear mention of this can be found in the writings of Carolingian Abbot Adalard of Corbie, in 822, who wrote about the use of hops in beer.

As the foundation of the beer recipe was standardized, people started to tinker with the flavorings, whether it is adding fruits, vegetables, herbs, spices, flowers and so on. Some of the recipes died out, while others became immensely popular.

 

The ‘Globalization’ of Beer

The rise of the industrial revolution led to widespread changes in the way beer was manufactured. Before this transformative era, beer and other alcoholic drinks were largely prepared at home or small businesses. The application of industrial principles made its production possible at a scale never before seen in history.

And with the industrial age began the era of colonization, where large parts of the world came under the direct or indirect influence of European countries. And with the colonial influence, came the colonist’s way of life, such as dressing, language, modern governance, food habits, social customs and even beer. Colonialism is what made beer a global drink, given how it allowed for this drink to spread far and wide.

It should however be added that beer and other alcoholic drinks were widely prepared throughout the world, and is not something ‘exclusive’ to Europeans; for example, Indians love a local brand of alcoholic drink called the ‘Tadi’. The same goes for other cultures as well. If anything, one could say that the recipe of local alcoholic drinks eventually ended up being adopted into the recipes of local beer varieties, making them something of a specialty unto itself.

In addition to this, the modern media has certainly played a major role in the growth of beer consumption. Whether in movies or lifestyle magazines, the taste of beer and other such drinks have been greatly hailed as something of a hallmark of fine living, prompting greater adoption of beer and other beverages.

 

 

Last but not the least, it should be added that there is a lot more to the history of beer, than what is mentioned above.

It would certainly take up an entire book, if one were to really look into the story of beer, and how it became what it is today.

But do look into this subject, for you will be surprised at what you come across in your quest for knowledge.

How to choose equipment for micro, commercial and nano beer brewing

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Beer is a drink that has been around for a very long time.

Today, it is one of the most popular drinks in the world, consumed on just about every occasion that can be imagined.

 

It is prepared in a variety of different ways, each serving a different purpose.

From industrial output to home preparations, it is one beverage that is produced in a variety of different ways. As exciting and interesting as this world of beer might seem, it does come with its own challenges.

One of the many challenges that exist, with regard to the preparation of beer, is that of the equipment.

With plenty of variations and unique requirements to be addressed in every given case, it can get confusing when it comes to selecting the appropriate beer-making equipment.

Given in the list below are the three major kinds of beer making equipment, and the strategies that can be employed when selecting the ideal equipment.

 

  1. Micro-beer Brewing Equipment

Micro-beer is a reference to beer prepared by small breweries, also called craft breweries. In fact, beers they produce are also known as craft beers.

The process of selecting the ideal micro beer brewing equipment is given below:

  1. Batch Size –

The batches prepared should be sufficient for craft breweries. The exact quantities produced, should be sufficient for small scale businesses to maintain beer supplies. This is usually a lot less than the quantities used in large scale beer production.

  1. Maintenance –

It should be easy to maintain in general, but it is especially important in the case of micro breweries, given that maintenance is an expense unto itself.

  1. Personnel Requirements –

The number of personnel required for running the machinery should be limited, as labor charges are often expensive for small brewers.

  1. About the Manufacturer –

It is preferable that the beer equipment is manufactured locally, to keep costs low.

  1. Add-Ons –
    Check if the beer making equipment has all the necessary additions, such as thermometers, pressure gauges, etc. These are often not sold along with the main equipment, when it comes to small scale production. Buying a complete brewing kit or set is a better choice, compared to buying it one piece at a time.

 

  1. Commercial Beer Equipment

The term commercial beer is a reference to the beer that is produced on a commercial basis, in large quantities. This happens to be the predominant form of beer produced today, and is a massive industry involving huge companies.

The process of selecting the ideal commercial beer brewing equipment is given below:

 

  1. Batch Size –

The equipment should be in a position to produce vast quantities of beer for every single batch. It is a necessity, given that these businesses are operating on a large scale, and require huge amounts of beer to be produced on an everyday basis.

  1. Maintenance –

The maintenance factor should be almost minimal, and possible to do by those operating the equipment. Nano breweries, just like micro breweries, have a limited amount of cash to spend, making it very necessary that maintenance costs be kept to a minimum.

  1. Personnel Requirements –

The number of personnel required for running the operation should be limited. This is however, not as big a concern, as it would be in the case of small and micro brewers.

  1. About the Manufacturer –
    It doesn’t matter if the equipment is manufactured at home or abroad, as long as it gets the job done. What matters for large scale manufacturing is productivity more than anything else.
  2. Add-Ons –

The equipment that is sold tends to be all encompassing, and is often far more complex than any ordinary home-brewing kit. The concern therefore, that it may not have the required additional brewing supplies is rather unfounded. At the same time however, it is necessary to check the details of the additional hardware that is supplied with the main equipment, just to make sure that it suits the company’s needs.

 

  1. Nano Beer Equipment

The term nano beer is actually related to the craft beers, in the sense that both are produced in small batches. At the same time however, nano beers are produced in quantities that can be considered as extremely limited, in comparison to craft beers, with most batches of nano beers limited to about three barrels at most.

The process of selecting the ideal nano beer brewing equipment is given below:

  1. Batch Size –

The amount of beer produced by nano beer equipment should be just enough for the required batches of about beer barrels. Anything more and it will lead to wastage of input.

  1. Maintenance –

The amount of maintenance required for nano beer equipment should be very limited, given that the workforce is limited as well. This is particularly important for nano brewers, considering that many of them tend to be used for personal purposes or small businesses, which cannot afford additional maintenance charges.

  1. Personnel Requirements –

Just like in the case of craft beers, it is important that the personnel required for the nano beer equipment are very limited.

  1. About the Manufacturer –
    It is preferable to buy the equipment from local companies rather than foreign ones, given that the costs are usually high.
  2. Add-Ons –

It is highly unlikely that all the necessary additional hardware like pressure gauges, thermometers and so on, are provided with the main brewing kit. This is therefore something very important to check up, before making the purchase.

 

Last but not the least, it should also be added that there are other things worth considering as well in this regard. These include things like the cost of the equipment, after sales service and so on, all of which tend to be rather general in nature, rather than being something unique to each of the above mentioned categories of beer making equipment.

The above mentioned list is but some of the most important ones around, and nothing more. Depending on your unique needs and requirements, other considerations may also have to be taken into account, when getting the ideal hardware for the job.

 

What are the best beginner recipes for home brewed beer?

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Beer has been around for quite a bit of time.

And when it comes to beer, it can be said that it is a world unto itself, in more ways than one.

Of the many things it has to offer, one of the more interesting trends in the world of beer, is that of homemade beer.

 

When it comes to homemade beers, there are a lot of things that need to be taken into account.

These include, among others, the ingredients, equipment, the right conditions, adequate effort and time, and so on. All of these things can prove to be a rather difficult thing to balance for the average person, especially novices.

the best beginner recipes for home brewed beer

For beginners planning on making beer at home, there are several recipes available.

Given in the list below are some of the best beginner homemade beer recipes you can try out.

 

  1. The American Pale Ale

This is one of the more popular beers in the United States.

Popular because of its simplicity and flavor, it is an excellent pick for beginners to make.

 

Ingredients:

  • 7 kg light dry malt extract
  • 450 gm crystal malt (10 ºL)
  • 112 gm crystal malt (40 ºL)
  • 28 gm Chinook hops for bittering
  • 28 gm Cascade hops for aroma
  • 28 gm  Cascade hops for flavor
  • 140 gm priming sugar
  • 1 pack brewers yeast
  • 1 grain steeping bag
  • 1 flavor hops bag

 

Three gallons of water is placed in a pot, after which is placed a steeping bag filled with grains. The bag is boiled in the pot at a temperature of 68 ºC and then steeped for half an hour. Once this is done, the excess water is to be squeezed out from the bag. The contents are then boiled again, and mixed in with malt extract, after which is it subjected to another boil, only this time with hops. The mixture, called wort, is to be boiled for 45 minutes, after which the flavoring hops are added. The entire mixture is then boiled for about 15 minutes and then mixed in with about 2.5 gallons of cold water. The entire mixture is placed in a primary fermenter, to which is added hot wort and sealed. Water is to be filled halfway, and allowed to cool to about 24 ºC.

Once the temperature has reduced a bit, the yeast is to be introduced into the pot and sealed for fermentation. The tank is to be left at a steady temperature of about 24 ºC and above 16 ºC. Once this is done, the fermentation will begin within 8 hours to two days. At the 4 days mark, more or less, the fermentation process will come to an end, after which the aroma hops are to be introduced in a process called dry hopping.

The beer is to be left for another week or so, after which the entire mixture clears up. This is when the beer is almost ready. The solution is to be introduced in bottles or containers, along with a solution of sugar; the solution is prepared using about 140 gm of priming sugar in 1 cup of water, slowly brought to a boil and then allowed to cool.

The bottlers are then sealed with about an inch of air space and refrigerated, for future consumption.

 

  1. American Wheat

This is one of the most well known traditional beers, rooted in Germany, popular in the central United States, given its large population of German Americans.

It is well known for its clear yellow color, as well as the ‘wheaty’ flavor and its signature fluffiness.

 

Ingredients:

  • 6 kg wheat malt
  • 1 kg 2 row malt
  • 220 grams rice hulls
  • 28 grams Cascade hops
  • American Hefeweizen yeast

 

The preparation of the American Wheat beer starts with heating 12 l of water to about 72 °C, and into which is added the crushed grains. In addition to this, the grains are mashed at 66 ºC for an hour. The wort is then recirculated for 20 minutes, after which it is collected at about 2 l every five minutes.

After completing the above step, sparge water is collected and heated to 88 °C, after which is poured into the wort, until the total water content is about 1 inch above the grain bed. The sparge water is to be collected at about the same rate that the wort gets collected. The grain bed temperature, upon reaching about 77 °C, is to be cooled with sparge water until it reaches the same temperature.

From this, about 20 l of wort is collected, to which is added 1.9 l of water. The entire content is boiled for an hour, to which are added hops as soon as the boiling begins. It is then allowed to ferment at around 21 °C with yeast.

The process should take a few days, after which the content is to be filtered, chilled and stored for further consumption.

 

 

Last but not the least, it should be added that as you begin preparing your own home brews, the entire process will become a lot easier.

And indeed, the skills you gain from making this beer can eventually be transferred to even more complex recipes, allowing you to eventually become an expert like no other.

Finally, if you want to learn about homebrewed beer websites or blogs, click to view.

Choosing between All-in-one beer brewing machine and separate equipment, and the ‘Why’ behind it

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Beer-making is a major industry today.

Making up a sizable chunk of the beverage economy, the industry is growing steadily all across the world. Given the trends, it is very likely that this will continue well into the distant future.

 

When it comes to the actual manufacture of beer, one of the most important things to consider would be that of making the beverage.

There is a lot of things to consider, when preparing that final drink, one of the most important being that of the beer making equipment.

Checking out the many kinds of equipment on display, it becomes clear that there is a lot of variety to go around. Of them all, one could say that all of them can be categorized into two main types, namely, all-in-one types and the other being separate equipment.

Choosing between the two styles can prove to be rather confusing. If you’re into purchasing beer equipment, and would like to know more on the ideal one for your needs, the below sections should make it clear.

 

  1. All-In-One Beer Equipment

This is the kind of beer equipment, where, as the name would suggest, comprises of everything. From the time that the grains are introduced, to the time when the final beer is filtered out, all of it is taken care of by single equipment. There is almost no need for add-ons to a large extent, unless you are into extremely customized beers.

The usage of this kind of beer equipment is usually used in cases where the equipment is required for large batches of standardized beer. In most cases, the preparation involves manufacturing beer, whose recipes are standardized in nature. It is ideal for companies and large businesses, which are focused more on the quantity rather than quality. The main reason or this is because it is easier to buy something that is ‘plug and play’, rather than going to the trouble of assembling everything from scratch.

In addition to this, small beer companies and beer enthusiasts may also go for standardized all-in-one equipment, if they just want the beer, and wish to avoid the trouble of assembling something on their own.

Also important to add here is that the equipment is advantageous when it comes to operation and maintenance, making it ideal for brewing standardized beer in large quantities. Maintenance is a lot more efficient as there is just a single company or vendor that is needed for the service, as opposed to several companies.

Last but not the least, it can be an economic choice to buy all-in-one beer equipment in a lot of cases, which makes this a rather sound financial decision.

 

  1. Separate Equipment

This is the second category of beer equipment, and is essentially what can be described as ‘custom made’ in nature. They include machine and other equipment derived from a variety of sources, as opposed to being sold as a set by a single company.

The usage of separate equipment to manufacture beer, usually is because the beer being made is very specialized in nature. The most common reason why this is done, is because the beer being made, has a very unique, and at times patented recipes. This uniqueness of the recipe makes conventional all-in-one variety of equipment rather difficult to go for, and at times obsolete.

In the same way, everyday beer enthusiasts go for separate equipment as well, particularly in cases where experimentation is involved. This is because the specialized nature of separate equipment allows for tweaking and playing with recipes, to come up with interesting brews.

One of the main disadvantages of this is that buying separate beer equipment can be rather expensive, in certain cases. One would have to take this into consideration before going for separate equipment, as it can have a negative effect on the overall budget.

Another problem is that when several different parts are used to assemble a custom beer brewing, it may become cumbersome to deal with the operation and maintenance later on. This is because it is not always that the different parts work together in peace. Likewise, one single company or vendor may not be able to fix up the final assembly, if something should go wrong.

 

To sum it all up, there are indeed many more things that are taken into account, when it comes to an all-in-one beer making equipment.

The above mentioned list are but some of the key considerations, and nothing more. Your own preferences may vary, depending on the exact needs and requirements.

What are some good home brew beer blogs/sites?

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One of the most popular drinks around happens to be the beer.

A drink that goes back thousands of years, it is today a very popular beverage around the world.

With plenty of different flavors, preparations and indeed, a whole history behind it, this is one drink that isn’t going away anytime soon.

 

For a lot of people, beer is nothing more than a drink to be enjoyed on special occasions.

But to others, it is a passion like no other. It is usually those who are passionate about beer that usually prepares them at home. And then there are those who just happen to be curious about the whole thing and nothing more.

 

When it comes to making beer at home, there are a few things that need to be taken care of.

For one, preparing beer requires a lot of specialized equipment, in order to get that final beverage.

Then there is the need for information on how to prepare the drink, which in turn ranges from generalized information to specific details about unique recipes.

If you happen to be searching for home-brewed beer recipes, it would be an excellent idea to check out online.

With more information than you know what to do with, one is essentially spoiled for choice.

Given in the list below are some good home brew blogs and sites:

 

  1. American Home brewers Association

The American home brewers Association is an excellent source for home brews, with a host of amazing recipes and strategies available on how to make beer at home.

The organization itself is non-profit in nature, and is entirely about the love of beer, and helping out beer enthusiasts everywhere.

With a host of amazing posts published, this is one blog that one shouldn’t miss out on.

Site: homebrewersassociation.org

 

  1. Home Brew Answers

The Home Brew Answers is a great home brewing site, focusing on the bare essentials and basics of making beer at home.

While there is a lot of other details and information as well, the blog’s primary focus is on the actual preparation process, and dealing with the many challenges along the way.

Site: homebrewanswers.com

 

  1. The Mad Fermentationist

A private blog by a renowned beer fan and enthusiast, this is one of the best blogs you can check out if you are into home brewing.

The site contains a host of amazing and interesting information on how to prepare beer, unique recipes, tips, tricks and more.

Focused on just about every aspect of beer-making that you can imagine, this is one site you shouldn’t miss out on.

Site: themadfermentationist.com

 

  1. Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine

This site is an excellent source of information, if you are interested in unique craft brews, and their preparation. With a host of interesting details on the preparation of craft beers, this is one beer blog you should definitely check out.

In addition to this, there is a lot of general beer information as well to look forward to, when you visit the blog.

Site: beerandbrewing.com

 

  1. Experimental Homebrewing

This is a great online resource on how to prepare home-brewed beer.

As much as it is a great source of general home brewing information, the real treasure of this blog is in its interesting beer recipes and preparation styles, all of which make it a wonderful beer blog.

Site: experimentalbrew.com

 

  1. The Not So Professional Beer Blog

As the name would suggest, this is a blog dedicated to beer, in a ‘not so professional way’.

The main focus of the blog is about preparing craft and nano beers, in an experimental way. In it, you will find some very interesting experiments on the subject, as well as an insight into the beer culture of Portland.

Of the many things that it offers, this blog is a great pick if you’re into new tastes and beer recipe experimentation.

Site: notsoprofessionalbeer.com

 

  1. Four Brewers

As the name would suggest, this is a blog where different brewers get together to discuss about the world of beer.

The blog features a host of rich content, ranging from general information on beer, to specific details on home as well as craft beers. In addition to this, the site also features a beer podcast that you can check out when you visit.

Site: fourbrewers.com

 

 

It should also be added that there are indeed many more amazing resources just like the ones mentioned above.

So if you are interested in finding suitable resources in your quest for excellent homemade beer, there is plenty to go around online.

Raw Materials and Equipment Required for Homebrewing

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As the name suggests, homebrewing is the process through which an individual(s) makes beer, cider, or mead from home. The operation marks the 40th anniversary of the federal legalization in the United States. It has seen dedicated technicians and casual hobbyists drive craft beer trends and culture. Currently, the homebrewers association has 46,000 members since its inception in 1978.

There is a considerable variation in the starter kit, and the list of available options is continuously growing. However, there are standard equipment and ingredients that must be in use if one is to brew their favorite drink successfully.

Ingredients for Breweries

Quality is king, and there is no room for compromise. One has to choose from sourcing the best raw materials from the best producers in the world. It is of utmost importance for a brewer to have access to the highest quality products. Consequently, it is only fair if one works with well-established, quality-conscious producers.

  1. Malt from Germany

Weyermann is a German producer famous for producing the best lager and special malt. The producer is widely known due to their high-quality and consistency, and also for offering the most extensive known selection of own-produced crops. The organization has more than 85 kinds of malt. Depending on what one is looking to brew, they can get wheat, smoke, rye, Czech, and organic malt, among others.

  1. Hops from Britain

Apart from Charles Faram being renowned for their extensive knowledge with hops and hop products, they also deliver over 100 various hop types from all the larger hop producing regions in the world. Hop products are essential in home brewing as they are primarily used for flavoring, bittering, and act as a stability agent in beer. They are responsible for imparting the various flavors and aromas found in a beer.

  1. Yeast from Fermentis

Fermentis is owned by the French company Lesaffre and is known for offering the best yeast solutions in the world. For example, they are known to deliver different types of yeast for various uses (distillation, beer, and cider). The yeast offered differs in quality, and the packets are available for a microbrew, homebrew, and industrial brewing. The entire assortment lives up to the firm’s standards, the same way that it has been approved for organic labeling. Additionally, the yeast that is produced at Fermentis is usually used for the production of cider and distillation of alcohol.

  1. Natural Solutions

Most brewers use the natural solution as it helps produce extracts for aroma, flavor, and bitterness from hop pellets. Also, they extract the oil making it easier to get the right balance of aroma and flavor in a finished beer. The products usually come as blends, but also from specific types of the hop.

  1. Water

Water is crucial in beer brewing but not something to worry about as tap water will work perfectly.

Homebrewing Equipment List

The best way to highlight the necessary equipment for homebrewing is to break the process up in various phases.

  1. Creation of Wort

During this phase, there is the making of sugary solution that becomes beer after being fermented using yeast. There are two varying ways in which a wort can be created (all grain or extract).

Extract Equipment

8-gallon beer brewing kettle: The kettles are specialized stainless made explicitly for brewing. Usually, a steel or aluminum kettle will work perfectly. As part of the process, one is required to boil water for around 20 minutes to create an oxide layer, and it is only done once. For a 5-gallon boil, a kettle should be at least 8 gallons, but if possible, a bigger pot should be used.

Heating source: Several ways can be used while heating the wort with the propane burner being the most common one. Nevertheless, it is possible to use the electric systems if they are installed with a specific electric element that helps in boiling.

Mash Paddle: The mash paddle is not required during extract brewing but is required during stirring of extracts into the water to prevent scorching and clumping.

Chiller: It should be noted that having a chiller is optional, although it helps reduce the brew day time and also the chances of an infection taking hold in the beer.

Thermometer: This is required to check the temperature of the wort before transferring it to the fermenter and pitching yeast.

All Grain Additions:

When brewing all grain, there is a need for some extra equipment.

Mash tun: This is an igloo style cooler which has a false bottom and a ball valve drainage port.

5-gallon kettle: It is usually used as a hot liquor tank (HLT). It is has a drainage valve port and used to store hot water for sparging. However, HTL and mash tun can be replaced by a more affordable BIAB bag.

  1. Fermentation

Hydrometer: It is used to measure the remaining amount of sugar in the beer. Usually, the reading is taken before pitching the yeast and after two weeks.

Iodophor or star san: These are sanitizers that are used to kill bacteria present in fermenters for testing equipment.

Bucket: This is used as a fermenter for the beer and should be big enough to hold the wort and have space for foam buildup.

Stoppers: This is to be used to fasten the buckets.

Temperature control: During fermentation process temperature plays a critical role. In most cases, yeast warms the fermenting beer above the ambient temperature by several degrees which might create off flavors.

  1. Bottling

Bottles: For every gallon of beer made, a maximum of 10 bottles is required.

Siphoning equipment: This is necessary for moving the beer to a bottling bucket or directly into the bottles.

Caps: They are used to seal the bottles. It is also advisable to use oxygen absorbing caps as they help reduce oxidation in the beer.

Capper: This is used to fasten caps onto the filled bottles.

The equipment required during the three processes is available online or from the supermarkets. The list comprises of essential equipment needed to brew beer. However, there are many upgrades available that can help a person brew better beer and more efficiently.

How to Handle Nano Brewing Equipment

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The German beer culture has caught on and become a critical part of our lives. Nowadays, some people are looking to brew for themselves, which requires the use of brewing equipment. Nevertheless, the process of making beer has proved to be involving and sensitive, meaning one must take care in every aspect of the creation process. One of the best ways to ensure that care is taken is thorough cleaning and sanitizing of the nano brewery equipment. Additionally, the environment in which the beer is being made should be cleaned and disinfected to ensure that the beer is healthy and well preserved. As such, there are a few things that need full attention.

Cleaning Nano Brewery Equipment

Scrubbing has proved the most effective way of cleaning equipment. However, it is impractical to clean commercial brewery equipment as it might take many hours to clean. Consequently, it is advisable to use cleaning agents besides scrubbing to ensure the equipment are clean. It is imperative to avoid damaging the machine during the cleaning process. Using a sponge or a soft cloth reduces any chances of causing any damage. Most household cleaners should be avoided as they are not suitable for human consumption.

Chemicals Used for Cleaning Nano Brewery Equipment

Percarbonates: It is a mixture of sodium carbonate and hydrogen peroxide. The mixture has proved useful during the cleaning process. Cleaning is ensured through activation of oxygen that makes the whole solution to become alkali. This mixture is not only fit for consumption, but it’s also environmentally friendly.

Chlorine: It is highly useful to clean both used and new brewery equipment. However, it should only be used to clean metal equipment as it reacts to plastic.

Powder brewery wash: Most of the equipment used has odd shapes that make it impossible to scrub. As such, it is advisable to invest in a stronger solution that will help remove stubborn dirt from the equipment.

Sanitizing Nano Brewery Equipment

Sterilization is necessary when cleaning equipment as it removes organisms that might cause batch spoilage. The following products can be used for sterilization;

Star san: It is useful in killing microorganisms, and it also has no odor and flavor. Also, it leaves a protective film that keeps protecting the equipment after use.

Iodophor: It is widely used in the food and medical industry for sanitizing food. It is a mixture of sanitizer, iodine detergent, and germicide.

Heat: It is used to sanitize equipment through boiling or use of dry heat. When using heat, one should make sure they stick below the melting point of equipment being sanitized and also to slowly cool them to avoid breakage.

Venting Propane

A room must be well ventilated due to the gases by various burners. For example, when working in a poorly ventilated place can cause carbon monoxide poisoning if using propane burners. In most cases, the side effects range from a mild headache to fainting in the case of extreme levels of carbon monoxide.

Need to Wear Protective Gear

During a brewing day, one should fit on protective gear to avoid sustaining any form of injuries. Equipment used in nano brewery varies from hot to sharp and may cause severe injuries if they come in touch with any part of the body. To protect such burns and injuries, one should not work in a brewery with open-toed shoes or touch a boiling kettle without having the safety boots and protective gloves on. Additionally, one should wear a respiratory mask when milling grain. This is to protect the person from harmful bacteria that are present in grains.

Cleaning Up Spills

When working in a brewery, one should expect spills from time to time. A spill might cause one to fall over and hurt his elbow, knees, and also it might result in burns. As such, spills should be quickly cleaned as a failure to do that might prove hazardous wellbeing of the workers.

Loose Hose Connection Clamps During Hot Liquid Transfer

It is easy to forget to fasten hose clamps which are usually loose after several times of being in use. Well fastened clamps help reduce the chances of a hose being blown off after pressurized pump is fired up, thus sending hot water and wort flying.

Gravity Testing

Not testing the gravity of beer before bottling can prove to be costly afterward. One should make sure that the beer being bottled is fully fermented to avoid chances of the bottle exploding as they can cause serious injuries or damage to the other equipment. To prevent bad blow ups, one should consider putting the bottles inside a box to reduce the chances of damage occurring in the event something goes wrong.

Unscheduled Brewing Day

Planning for a brewing day in advance makes the whole process much safer. It allows one to arrange the equipment and the room as they desire, thus reducing the chances of being injured. In most cases, when one starts brewing without prior planning, the exercise usually leads to frantic actions, which might result in injuries.

Boilovers

Boilovers are a common occurrence during the homebrewing process. Boilovers are common during boiling and hop addition as that is when beer tends to foam quickly. One should be attentive to the kettle and act as required if they notice a boilover. To prevent such issues, one should always have a larger kettle than the boil volume. Failure to have appropriate measures in place can lead to burns and also flare-ups on open flame burners.

Transporting Full Glass Carboy

Glass carboy necks are not very firm and can snap off and shatter, resulting in cuts. It is advisable for one not to carry full carboy by the carboy handle only. Instead, one should consider products like bucket sling and brew hauler.

Conclusion

Nano-brewing equipment has been made highly available, but the quality of the beer is dependent on other aspects such as cleanliness. No one should overlook the significance of such an element if they are to be successful. Also, all the guidelines on how to handle and maintain equipment should be adhered to for the well-being of the people using them.