Runs With Beer

Depending on the location and the dominant food crop grown in the area, various food items have been fermented and distilled for the manufacture of liquor. Brewing one’s own liquor has always been very important for people in a society and interestingly, most of the popular brands today (Jack Daniels, Johnny Walker etc.) are actually named after the individual brewers and masters of their craft. In case you are looking for home brew and brewing ingredients, you cannot go wrong with Australian Home Brewing. The company started in 1968 which means they are in their 40th year of operation. In fact, they started in this business when “homebrew” was illegal. It was not until 1972 when the Whitlam government was in power that the Attorney General, Lionell Murphy changed the law to allow people to ferment beer, wine & other drinks for their own use. Australian Home Brewing has always looked after the needs of people who are interested in making their own drinks at home. They supply the ingredients, equipment and information you need to make your own drinks & also make sure that you get the maximum drinking pleasure & enjoyment from brewing by backing you with expert help. You can have as much help as you want from them and it is all free. In addition, they are part of a Nation-wide Network of Specialists called BREWnet. This gives them a vast pool of knowledge and expertise to call on so you will always be able to get an expert answer. If we don’t have the answer to your question, they will be able to get it from someone else in the network. If you would like some advice, or if you have any questions to ask, please visit them at their website www.liquorcraft.com. You can also order distilling equipment, Air Still and any other brewing ingredients that you need.

We all know how popular DIY is all through the world and actually home brewing is nothing else but a kind of DIY (and one with an enjoyable final product). Previously, making spirits at home used to be quite cumbersome, but a new technology promises to make it easier and hassle free. Air Still have been used for home brewing for some years now but the Still Spirit Air Still System represents a revolutionary breakthrough in Air Still Technology. Based on the pot still system it is a simple to use set up that is proving to be quite popular among home brewers.

In case you are looking for home brew and brewing ingredients, you cannot go wrong with Australian Home Brewing. The company started in 1968 which means they are in their 40th year of operation. In fact, they started in this business when “homebrew” was illegal. It was not until 1972 when the Whitlam government was in power that the Attorney General, Lionell Murphy changed the law to allow people to ferment beer, wine & other drinks for their own use.

Australian Home Brewing has always looked after the needs of people who are interested in making their own drinks at home. They supply the brewing ingredients, equipment and information you need to make your own drinks & also make sure that you get the maximum drinking pleasure & enjoyment from brewing by backing you with expert help. You can have as much help as you want from them and it is all free.

In addition, they are part of a Nation-wide Network of Specialists called BREWnet. This gives them a vast pool of knowledge and expertise to call on so you will always be able to get an expert answer. If we don’t have the answer to your question, they will be able to get it from someone else in the network. If you would like some advice, or if you have any questions to ask, please visit them at their website www.liquorcraft.com. You can also order distilling equipment, Air Still and any other brewing ingredients that you need.

Making Absinthe at home (non-distilled)Note: Making your own absinthe using the methods indicated here are completely legal in the United States at he time of this writing and in most countries. I do not and will not ever advocate any action that is illegal.NOT Medical Advice:We have found and most research presents that absinthe is essentially harmless inthe quantities normally enjoyed by absinthe patrons, but as with all of life, too much of a good thing can be bad. Enjoy all things in moderation. You should have no problems enjoying the occasional or even daily glass of absinthe following the directions here. However to CYA us and yourself, you had best consult a qualified medical professional before partaking of your first batch.You’re more likely to get sick from that takeout last night (was that really chicken?) than your absinthe brew, but we cannot and will not be held responsible for your actions.What is Absinthe:Absinthe is an alcoholic drink made with an extract from wormwood (Artemisia absinthium). It is an emerald green drink which is very bitter (due to the presence of absinthin) and is therefore traditionally poured over a perforated spoonful of sugar into a glass of water. The drink then turns into an opaque white as the essential oils precipitate out of the alcoholic solution (louche). Absinthe was once popular among artists and writers and was drunk by Van Gogh, Baudelaire, and Verlaine, to name a few. It appears to have been believed to stimulate creativity. However, in the 1850′s, there began to be concern about the results of chronic use. Chronic use of absinthe was believed to produce a syndrome, called absinthism, which was characterized by addiction, hyperexcitability, and hallucinations.This concern over the health effects of absinthe was amplified by the prevailing belief in Lamarckian theories of heredity. In other words, it was believed that any traits acquired by absinthists would be passed on to their children. Absinthe’s association with the bohemian lifestyle also worked to compound fears about its effects, much as has happened with marijuana in America. Absinthe was subsequently banned in many countries in the beginning of the 1900′s.

A word on quality and purity:This is of the utmost importance. Really it is. We’re talking about your health here. Do NOT trust your health to ingredients that you don’t know the origin of.That goes doubly for anything found in any magic or metaphysical or “head” shops. These products are usually questionable at best, and I would not take them internally. You’re usually ok with tobacco from those guys, but don’t trust their herbs (no, not that kind of herb. That’s a different book altogether).Other considerations are how the herbs were harvested. Were the plants organically grown? Are they certified organic? Were pesticides used? Were they tested for purity? What was their processing procedure to ensure that the active chemicals in the herbs are still potent? These factors make HUGE differences in the quality of your end products. Pesticides cause disease and cancer (and worse) and improperly harvesting can destroy the delicate active chemicals in the oil.More on this later, I just wanted to make you aware of it now before you skim ahead, read the ingredients and pop down to your local head shop.Supplies:Aside from the herbs we will talk about below you will most likely need the following tools to help in this process.1 ½ or full gallon jar with lid1 small non-died cotton cloth sack or reusable tea bag ( can usually befound at a health food store )1 Brita water pitcher (optional)Sugar cubes – usually found in any decently stocked grocery store.Coffee FiltersTraditional Absinthe:The real deal super-duper honest to goodness genuine absinthe is very pricey (overly so), difficult to make (thus the price) and not really possible to get in the US currently. The FDA regulates the amount of active ingredient in absinthe that is available on the US market. We don’t like that. We want lots of active ingredient and we don’t want Uncle Sam telling us what’s best for us now do we? I digress..Traditional absinthe is a blend of herbs for color and flavor with the primary herb being wormwood. This special recipe is fermented into a wine, then distilled (like whiskey or any other spirits) and bottled as traditional commercial absinthe.Distilling is a messy and very involved business, not to mention highly regulated in the US. It’s not legal for common citizens to do this, and most of us don’t want to because of the trouble involved in doing so. Though, if I ever move to Mexico I admit I’ll probably do it just to be able to say I make my own moonshine.Bragging rights and all that…Easy-to-make absinthe:This is what we want. We don’t want to bother with all that complicated jazz involved in distilling and we want our absinthe ASAP. Therefore, we will skip the distilling process and buy distilled alcohol over the counter. A high quality vodka works great, or if you really want to get crazy just buy Everclear. Both work equally well. The Everclear has the advantage of also being used as flamethrower fuel if you’re into that sort of thing.A note on quality vodka:It’s a little known secret that the only difference between gut-rock vodka and high quality vodka is the amount of filtration involved. You can take a bottle of very cheap vodka and run it through a carbon filter, like a Brita water pitcher, and make premium smooth voda, I’ve done it many times, works great, and you can even continue to use the same pitcher for water again. If you’re going to do this a lot, spend the $20 on a Brita water picture (available in any dept store) and buy the cheap vodka.Puff puff pass…I told you, we’re not talking about that kind of herb. But, we do need to get the rest of the ingredients. Here’s the rundown of commonly used ingredients. We’ll give you some sample recipes and you can play with what you like.Wormwood: Essential in all recipes as it has the active ingredient thujone.(see: wikipedia > Thujone ) Also responsible for absinthe’s trademark green color.Star Anise: Just about in all recipes. Has a licorice flavor and is used in many forms of brewing. Acts to offset the bitterness of the wormwood.Fennel Seed: also offsets the bitterness and is part of the traditional absinthe flavoringAngelica: Traditional flavoring ingredientHyssop: Gives a crisp note (flavor) to the finished product and helps give the traditional green color.Other common ingredients in some recipes include Licorice, Peppermint, Coriander, Lemon Balm, Dittany and Juniper. Anything that gives a potent and sweet flavor will work.My personal favorite recipe is as follows:½ cup of dried organic Wormwood3 tablespoons of dried organic Hyssop1 tablespoon of dried organic Angelica root1 teaspoon of Fennel Seed (easily found in grocery stores)However, I should note, that I don’t particularly care for licorice flavor so a more traditional recipe might look like this:A more traditional recipe:½ cup dried organic Wormwood¼ cup dried organic Hyssop3 tablespoons dried organic Star Anise3 tablespoons dried organic Hyssop1 tablespoon Fennel Seed1 tablespoon of dried organic Angelica root1 teaspoon of Fennel Seed (easily found in grocery stores)Mix it up!Ok, so now we have our high quality distilled spirits and we’ve got our herbs measured in the right proportions…. How do we make absinthe?Well, we need to get the flavors and chemicals from the herbs into the alcohol.Stuff all of your herbs into the little cotton bag we mentioned earlier, you can get that at just about any health food store. In a pinch, I’ve also stapled two coffee filters together and made a little pocket. You’re basically making a large tea bag.Put your herbs in the tea bag, put the bag in the jar mentioned earlier and drown them in 1 large bottle of vodka or Everclear. You can also use ½ a bottle of Everclear and ½ vodka. Makes no difference.Put the lid on the jar and give it a good shake to get the bag totally saturated. Then reach in and squeeze out the bag, dip it again and re-squeeze.Put the lid on the jar and store in a COOL DARK PLACE (not in your garage behind the heater) or on your window sill.Every day come back and give it a good shake, squeeze the bag and shake again.Do this for 21 days. (you don’t have to wait 21 days, you’re probably good after 12 days or so, but I find you get better results after 20 days. )Filter it!After 21 days (or 12 if you just couldn’t wait) you’ll need to give the bag one last good squeeze to get all the goddness out of it.Remove the bag and discard or wash out for re-use. (don’t re-use the herbs… put fresh ones it, obviously)Strain the whole mixture through 2-3 coffee filters stacked together. I usually just put the filters in the bottom of a funnel and pour the stuff back into the vodka bottle.Your absinthe (and it’s now absinthe) should be a very pretty green color and fairly clear.If you want to do some super filtration you can find a 1-micron filter to use instead of coffee filters. Not sure where to buy them but I’m sure an internet search would turn them up. I’ve always been very happy with the results from coffee filters.Congratulations! Have a beer and celebrate. You’ve just made your first bottle of absinthe!Absinthe Kits:There are several vendors that sell kits with herbs already pre-measured in bags with other goodies like slotted spoons and the like. These kits are usually cheaper to get if you just want to make 1-2 batches. The little toys and add-ons they come with are especially cool. My favorite vendor for these kind of kits are There are other kits on the market but these seem to be the best quality and I just love the goodies they throw in. You also get a traditional slotted absinthe spoon, a cool absinthe glass and they throw in some sugar cubes too. All you need is the alcohol.Where to buy quality herbs:Now if you’re going to be making this stuff regularly, you’ll want to buy your own high quality organic herbs. If you can buy them fresh from a local grocer and they can GUARANTEE they are organic that is absolutely the best way to go.However, I highly doubt you’re going to find organic wormwood anywhere. I don’t do this often, but I have to pimp this company out. I’ve ordered from them many many times and they have nothing but the best quality herbs that are certified organic and pesticide free and they package properly so that the herbs are as potent as possible. I just can’t say enough about these guys. You’d think I owned stock or something ( I don’t ). They just really know their business. I also use their herbs for cooking and medicinal uses. They’re also reasonably priced. Sources Used: Wikipedia.com & http://absinthe.msjekyll.com/

Other Sources:http://www.SimpleHomeBrewing.comhttp://www.squidoo.com/easybeermakinghttp://www.squidoo.com/honeymead

The basic ingredients used in the brewing of beer are quite simple. They are – Water – Even if you are trying to save water by drinking more beer, you do need it for brewing the bubbly. Starch – Use malt, dextrose, corn syrup, or a combination of all these for a better brew. Hops – No jumping around please. The flowers of the hops plant are used to flavour the beer. The unique taste of your beer is due to these flowers. Yeast – Rise and bubble! Yeast is of course necessary for the fermentation, which is the backbone of beer brewing.

Finings – The final touch, so to say. Finings or clarifying agents are used to precipitate the substances that cloud the drink. This makes the beer appear bright and clean. Apart from these ingredients, you will also need the equipment for the brewing. This consists of fermenter & fittings, hydrometer, and bottling equipment with a capper. You don’t need to go searching around for these products. You will receive all of these in any home beer brewing kit you buy.

In case you are looking for home brew and brewing ingredients, you cannot go wrong with Australian Home Brewing. The company started in 1968 which means they are in their 40th year of operation. In fact, they started in this business when “homebrew” was illegal. It was not until 1972 when the Whitlam government was in power that the Attorney General, Lionell Murphy changed the law to allow people to ferment beer, wine & other drinks for their own use.

Australian Home Brewing has always looked after the needs of people who are interested in making their own drinks at home. They supply the ingredients, equipment and information you need to make your own drinks & also make sure that you get the maximum drinking pleasure & enjoyment from brewing by backing you with expert help. You can have as much help as you want from them and it is all free.

In addition, they are part of a Nation-wide Network of Specialists called BREWnet. This gives them a vast pool of knowledge and expertise to call on so you will always be able to get an expert answer. If we don’t have the answer to your question, they will be able to get it from someone else in the network. If you would like some advice, or if you have any questions to ask, please visit them at their website www.liquorcraft.com.au. You can also order distilling equipment, Air Still and any other brewing ingredients that you need.

Brewing beer at home is something that has stood the test of time. Still, those of us for whom convenience is the issue may find that we would much rather go to the liquor store and pay to enjoy beer brewed by companies who have done it for years, with equipment suitable for mass production. However, as with everything else in life, convenience costs. It may not be much at the time, but add it up over a years worth of parties, games, dinners and nights out and it starts to amount to a lot.
Paying for your own beer brewing supplies may not seem to make sense at first, as you will think to yourself that you could have a few nights worth of drinking for the same price and not have to go to the effort of ensuring that your brew tastes like it is supposed to. However, the more you think about it, the better an idea it becomes. OK, so the cost is a little bit more than a few crates, but once you’ve got the kit you can keep using it, and when you find your supplier, beer brewing supplies can make more quantity for your spending than you would be able to buy for the same amount.
To some people, the idea of making their own beer is too much like hard work. That’s why we have major breweries to do it for us, is it not? Well, of course it is, but then again you could think of it this way – you can eat in a restaurant every night of the year, but you’ll save money and develop a skill if you cook your own meals. The longer you keep practising, the better your beer will get, and before too long you will have your own recipe which will be customisable to give you the taste you want every time.
Beer brewing supplies are easily sourced. Most larger towns will have a specialist store that stocks the required equipment and ingredients, but don’t worry if your town doesn’t as there are plenty of suppliers on the internet. In fact, buying via the internet may be the best option anyway as the prices tend to be lower. Do a little online research first to find out what you need. Like-minded beer lovers can be found in various beer brewing forums and they are always happy to give tips and recommendations to newcomers.
Once you have bought the necessary equipment and supplies, you will just need to follow the instructions that come with them. It is simple enough, just remember not to miss out any of the steps. Hands on learning and regular practice is the best way to make progress. Once you have the basics learnt, you can then start deviating from the standard processes in order to make your own special recipes. Brewing your own beer may sound like too much hassle but its really worth the effort.

Brewing beer at home is something that has stood the test of time. Still, those of us for whom convenience is the issue may find that we would much rather go to the liquor store and pay to enjoy beer brewed by companies who have done it for years, with equipment suitable for mass production. However, as with everything else in life, convenience costs. It may not be much at the time, but add it up over a years worth of parties, games, dinners and nights out and it starts to amount to a lot.
Paying for your own beer brewing supplies may not seem to make sense at first, as you will think to yourself that you could have a few nights worth of drinking for the same price and not have to go to the effort of ensuring that your brew tastes like it is supposed to. However, the more you think about it, the better an idea it becomes. OK, so the cost is a little bit more than a few crates, but once you’ve got the kit you can keep using it, and when you find your supplier, beer brewing supplies can make more quantity for your spending than you would be able to buy for the same amount.
To some people, the idea of making their own beer is too much like hard work. That’s why we have major breweries to do it for us, is it not? Well, of course it is, but then again you could think of it this way – you can eat in a restaurant every night of the year, but you’ll save money and develop a skill if you cook your own meals. The longer you keep practising, the better your beer will get, and before too long you will have your own recipe which will be customisable to give you the taste you want every time.
Beer brewing supplies are easily sourced. Most larger towns will have a specialist store that stocks the required equipment and ingredients, but don’t worry if your town doesn’t as there are plenty of suppliers on the internet. In fact, buying via the internet may be the best option anyway as the prices tend to be lower. Do a little online research first to find out what you need. Like-minded beer lovers can be found in various beer brewing forums and they are always happy to give tips and recommendations to newcomers.
Once you have bought the necessary equipment and supplies, you will just need to follow the instructions that come with them. It is simple enough, just remember not to miss out any of the steps. Hands on learning and regular practice is the best way to make progress. Once you have the basics learnt, you can then start deviating from the standard processes in order to make your own special recipes. Brewing your own beer may sound like too much hassle but its really worth the effort.

One would think that combining natural ingredients into a boiling pot in your kitchen is a recipe for catastrophic explosions galore, but it’s actually a recipe for having a good time brewing beer at home.

So how does one go about brewing beer at home? Simple. You can purchase a home brew kit from a hobby store and get to work creating your own tasty homemade brew from the comfort of your own kitchen. Where’s the fun in that?

Why not invite the friends over and create individual brews based on which each person likes? This should be a time of fun, creativity, daring and brew making. When you decide to make beer at home you are investing in an evening or even a couple of evenings of good old fashioned fun.

Here are a few tips on how to truly find the joy of home brewing.

Visit a Hobby Shop

There is a hobby shop in almost every town. Take a trip to the one closest to you and find a home brewing kit. These kits will come with the beginner needs to enjoy brewing beer at home. If you have no clue how to get started, you’ll be glad to know that most home brewing kits come with guides on how to start the home brewing process. You don’t have to go this alone- chances are the hobby shop owner knows a few things about brewing beer at home. He’ll answer any question you have as long as it guarantees a sale.

Gathering the Supplies

Once you get your home brewing kit home, you’ll need to look through the included guide for a list of all the ingredients and tools you need to get started. Chances are you’ll need hops, water, seasonings and sugar- but you’ll also want to get creative with your ingredients. Remember that this is home brewing, which means you make beer how you want to make it.

Have Fun with Home Beer Brewing

The joy of home beer brewing is within reach. Buy your kit, gather your ingredients and get to beer making. Have fun experimenting with different flavors and levels of body- with home brewing you can be as creative as you want, or you can just stay with the tried and true and make something everyone will like.

Make beer at home, everyone should!