Makin’ Beer – Part One
This week’s craft is: Beer!
In the last week I’ve been discussing the craft and process of beer-making with my dad. What started out as a few questions ended up with making a batch of beer just to demonstrate the process. So, every couple of days for the next two weeks until the beer batch is done, I’ll give some of his answers about beer-making, throw in some trivia, and actually go through the beer process as it unfolded. (The image to the left is a glass of my dad’s homemade wheat beer.)
The Interview:
Q: How long have you been making beer, and how did you get started? (the image to the right is my dad “cooking” a batch of beer wort in his kitchen.)
A: I’ve been making beer about 4-5 years since I came upon a Mr. Beer kit in a shop in Kemah, Texas. I like beer, so I thought I would get it and try it.
Q: Why did making beer appeal to you – why did you start?
A: It was an opportunity to make something with grain and with yeast. I also like making bread, but the process of making beer is more interesting, and it takes longer. In addition, I was interested in learning about beer because it is one of the most ancient foods.
Q: What has turned out to be the most interesting aspect of beer-making? (Barley grains pictured to the left.)
A: I like it because it is a process. There are a number of steps in making beer, and it is interesting to prepare and watch each step in the process. Sometimes you have to do something, but a lot of it is watching as it prepares itself. That’s interesting.
In addition to the process, it is more fun than other things you can make because it creates a food product in the end. It’s not something you just throw away or can’t use.
Making Beer, Day One:
(Follow the link to see the ingredients and the directions for the first day of beermaking.)
