Let's face it, many people think beer is just beer. But let's also be real here, people, there's different strokes for different folks! There are countless kinds of beers, all equipped with different flavors, textures, aromas and alcohol contents. This post will definitely encourage you present beer lovers to hop on the home brewing bandwagon and get to fermenting! And maybe it can even convince those of you who don't like your typical market beer to reach above and beyond the horizon and give home brewed beer a try. Beer isn't the world's most consumed beverage for nothing, guys.
Best Beer and Homebrew Recipes | How to Make Beer at Home
There are, of course, two categories of beer: ales and lagers. And in the list below, we've included various types of recipes that fall under these categories. How about you take a gander and start fueling up on motivation to turn your empty closet or storage space into a malted barley and hoppy bonanza!
Equipment and Supplies
Before you get started on any beer recipes, try checking out A Walkthrough and Cost Breakdown of Brewing Your Own Beer. It's a terrific resource you can turn to in order to know what supplies you need according to your brewing level expertise!
(via The Simple Dollar)
1. Triple Lindy
As you may see, this Belgian Triple requires two grains and some cane sugar so it sits smoothly on the pallet. If done correctly, the Triple Lindy should be a pale beer that's spicy and subtly malty — it should also yield in a high alcohol content.
(via Barlow Brewing, click here for full tutorial)
2. Irish Stout
This stout takes about four weeks to brew and it's also a recipe for advanced beer makers. The brewer / blogger says this is great for St. Patty's as long as it's done in advance. She also indicates that you should place a request with your butcher for his finest corned beef flat . . . hmmmm, very interesting!
(via Bad Mama Genny, click here for full tutorial)
3. Blackberry Stout
If you like blackberries and love dark beers (and/or vice-versa) then this is a recipe to try out! Like any modern beer, the flavor of this recipe relies on hops! And like any brewing recipe it's good to be cautious with the fermentation process. There's a good chance of contamination there so be careful.
(via Do It Yourself from Scratch, click here for full tutorial)
4. All Grain Beer
Grain beer is usually a challenge to brew, so if it's your first time then don't have expectations of yourself. Use the process as a learning experience. This recipe and process requires infusion, a method of mashing which is simpler than decoction.
(via Beer & Wine Journal, click here for full tutorial)
5. Dark Brett Saison with Candied Figs, Star Anise, Cinnamon and Sweet Orange Peel
Saison is a nineteenth century Belgium beer which is now broadly interpreted as a pale ale. This recipe in particular is totally experimental and sounds absolutely divine: the citrus of the orange peel, the sweetness of the fig, the fragrant flavor of anise and the cinnamon kick are surely to-die-for.
(via Small Place Big Brews, click here for full tutorial)
6. Smoked Baltic Porter
This beer tutorial uses American 2-Row malt and a few flaked oat grains. It also hones in on a traditional base malt like Munich and the required smoked Bamberg malt that really brings everything together in a pleasantly smoky kind of way.
(via Barlow Brewing, click here for full tutorial)
7. Noble Hopped Pilsner
There are varieties of noble hops which are adequately characterized as aroma hops, since they have relatively low alpha bitterness, and are highly aromatic. These hops have high amounts of the hop oil and humulene. They also provide a mild, slightly spicy flavor.
(via Literature and Libation, click here for full tutorial)
8. German Bock
Bock came to life in the thirteenth century and is an essentially strong malty beer. With a little pilsner malt in this rendition of a german bock a little can go a long way. The color you should get in the end is a dark amber to brown tinge.
(via Not Crude Matter, click here for full tutorial)
9. Standard American Lager
Aside from ale's lagers are among the most popular beer in the country, as a matter or fact, they tend to be America's favorite and best selling beer. Do Bud Light, Coors Light, Budweiser and Miller Light ring a bell? These are at the top of the 2014 Top Domestic Beers List. So here's a standard American lager recipe to continue on with the trend!
(via Meek Brewing Co, click here for full tutorial)
10. Lager
Along with the standard American lager, our trusty blogger at Meek Brewing Co decided to make a totally separate post devoted to tips in order to improve your lager, how thoughtful!
(via Meek Brewing Co, click here for full tutorial)
11. American Pale Ale
Did you know that pale ales were first made from malts dried with coke? This, of course, started in the early 1700s. Don't worry, that's not exactly what this recipe calls for and is definitely not what it yields! This recipe should yield in a moderate to high hop flavor with a teeny ounce of citrus. The flavor rests on the dried malt extract, yum!
(via Clairemont Central, click here for full tutorial)
12. Sugar Puff Beer
Who would've thought that the old cereal in the pantry could be the gateway to your next home brew? We didn't, that's for sure. As long as the sugar puffs are not completely stale you may use them due to their fermentable sugars. Why not try it next time you think of throwing out your sugar puffs?
(via The Guardian, click here for full tutorial)
13. Grapefruit American Pale Ale
From the orchard to the fermenting process the grapefruits used in this recipe are bound for a fruitful fate. Just try and imagine ruby red grapefruit zest sitting on your tongue infused with the smooth yet strong nature of hops. Delicious! This is something you must try!
(via The Mad Fermentationist, click here for full tutorial)
It's always good to remember that inspiration can go a long way! All you have to do is look around you to do something slightly unique with your home brews. However, classics are classics! Try a mix of both at home. I'm sure once you start making your own beer at home you won't be able to stop!
That's it for our beer recipe list, folks! Do you have a beer brewing project that you'd like to share with us? Leave the link in the comments section below and we'll add it to our roundup! Don't forget to sign up to our newsletter to get all the latest updates on craft projects in the making! Like us on Facebook (button below) to get fun craft projects in your feed! Pin your favorite projects to Pinterest to share with friends.
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Remember not to throw out your spent grains. They can be reused to bake scones and breads. I also feed mine to my pigs. They love them, and they enjoy the beer too. Remember a happy pig tastes better.
Thanks, Brian!
how do you make vodka and other clear kinds of alcohol
@Cayla , you don’t! It is illegal to make liquor without a license. They are made by very precisely made steps and require following exact timings and guidelines. Since the resulting alcohol is so strong it can be fatal if not done correctly. This is not the case with beer because the alcohol content is quite low by comparison (about 8% on average), and about the worse outcome is just having a beer that tastes nasty.
So Sweet. I’ll be trying my first this weekend..