Brewer's Assistant

So many of you  know that my boyfriend is a home brewer and wine maker. He and his friends started this amazing blog about their love for homebrew! You can check them out here KC Hop Heaven.

If you're interested in learning about homebrew - I would highly suggest following their blog

Anyways, on Friday night, I was the Brewer's Assistant. So, around 445 on Friday afternoon my job started.

1. I measured 10 gallons of filtered water and poured that into the Blichman Boil Kettle.

2. I turned on the propane tank and lit the burner. (in the garage!!!)

3. Goal- heat water to 165 degrees.

4.  The 165 degree water will ensure that he will hit the certain MASH temp for his beer

     * MASH - by mixing the grains and the water, you're mashing the grains from starches to sugars. 

5. The grains and water will MASH for approximately 60 minutes.

6. Then we had to heat up more water to raise the MASH temperature to 170 degrees. This is called "Mash Out". It stops the enzyme reactions during the MASH.

7. Mash out lasts about 10-15 minutes. Essentially it helps the mash flow easier out of the mash ton back into the boil kettle.

8. Next boil the WORT 60 minutes in the boil kettle.

*Wort is the liquid extracted from the mashing process. Wort contains the sugars that will be fermented by the brewing yeast to produce alcohol.

9. Periodically during the boil hops are added.

* HOPS are used primarily as a flavoring and stability agent in beer, to which they impart a bitter, tangy flavor.

10. Eventually after the boil is complete, you have to chill down the beer in order to pitch the yeast. The yeast will not ferment if the temperature is too hot.

11. Transfer the wort to carboy or conical ferment-er to ferment the beer.

 

12. Wait...a few weeks depending on the type of brew.

13. Keg or Bottle the beer.

14. ENJOY.

    


So I must confess that I did not do every single step...but i initiated the process. I had this crazy lady watching me the entire time. Maybe she was worried that I would blow the house up igniting the burner with the propane tank...? Smart Girl