Brew Your Own Beer
The craft beer market is a $26 billion industry, according to the Brewers Association. No matter how big a piece of that pie belongs to you, you can save money — and have a little fun — by taking up home brewing.
Most beginners start with the malt extract method before they try more advanced methods. You’ll need to make an up-front investment in some supplies, and sanitized equipment is a must.
Basically, you boil water and malt extract, add hops and yeast and seal in a fermenter, which you then monitor for three or four weeks. You then prime the mixture with sugar to encourage carbonation and transfer the mixture to a dispensing container. Finally, you fill, cap and store bottles for two to three weeks to allow for carbonation, at which time the beer will be ready to drink.
