This page describes easy to follow, step by step instructions on how to make beer or lager from a kit. It is not as difficult as you might think so why not have a go!
Dont worry if you dont have any equipment you can get a Complete Starter Kit that contains all the equipment that you will need. Alternatively you can begin with a Basic Starter Kit
and build up from there as you gain more experience. The simplest way to brew beer is to use a malt extract that contains malt and yeast to make 40 pints of beer.
Once you have the urge to have a go at brewing then I recommend that you take a look at one of these books -
How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right for the First Time
Brew Your Own British Real Ale (Camra)
Includes detailed brewing instructions for both novice and more advanced home-brewers, as well as comprehensive recipes for recreating some of Britain's best-loved beers at home. includes detailed brewing instructions for both novice and more advanced home-brewers, as well as comprehensive recipes for recreating some of Britain's best-loved beers at home.
Homebrewing For Dummies
Easy–to–follow, step–by–step instructions for everything from making your first “kit” beer to brewing an entire batch from scratch. Before you know it, you’ll be boiling, bottling, storing, pouring, and kegging your own frothy, delicious beer.
STEP BY STEP INSTRUCTIONS
You may prefer to watch my step by step video first but please come back here and read the following step by step notes for more details on quantities, tips and methods.
Get Ingredients
The simplest way to brew beer is to use a malt extract that contains malt and yeast to make 40 pints of beer.
Here I am using a 40 pint Cooper's Canadian Blonde lager kit. There are hundreds of varieties of beers and lagers to choose from; a few are listed below:
The other ingredient is sugar. Follow the instructions that come with the kit as to how much to use. Generally I use 1kg for 40 pints. This gives a beer of about 4% to 5% alcohol.
The other ingredient is the yeast which comes in a sachet with the kit.
Yeast is a living organism and must be treated with care - it only works correctly at room temperature - cold conditions will kill it so will hot water.
The yeast turns the sugar into alcohol giving off gas as a waste product (the bubbles during fermentation).
Warning: Dont be tempted to add more sugar than advised in instructions in the hope of making super strong alcohol beer - you will end up with a sickly sweet brew. Unfortunately alcohol kills the yeast. Its ok for low alcohol levels but dies off as the alcohol rises.
Sterilise
The most important item for success is good cleaning/sanitization. Clean all your equipment with hot water and a sterilising solution. This made by disolving one Campden Tablet in a litre of water.
If you dont sterilise then bacteria will get into your brew and turn the alcohol into vinegar.
Open the can of malt and place in a saucepan of boiling water. This softens up the malt making it easier to pour out.
Wash it around making sure it comes into contact with all surfaces (including the lid).
Empty out the sterilising solution and then pour the malt extract into the Brewing Bucket.
Pour in the 2 litres of boiled water.
Add the sugar. I used cane sugar but some home brewers say that a much better flavour is obtained if you use Brewing & Wine Making Sugar. It is said to ferment easier, increase yield and give cleaner flavour than regular Sugar
Mix well until all the sugar and malt has disolved.
Top up to 40 pints with cold water.
Once the liquid is cool enough (20 degrees C) then sprinkle on the yeast. Place the lid on the Brewing Bucket and leave to ferment for about 5 days. Gas will be given off so you may have to loosen the lid a little.
(Dont forget to first sterilise the barrel with a Campden Tablet).
Add 10 teaspoons of sugar to the Barrel
and screw the cap on tightly. This extra sugar will ferment with the remaining yeast in the beer and give off gas. This gas will pressurise your barrel giving your beer its fizz.
Alternatively you can bottle your beer. You will need to buy some Beer Bottles, some Crown Bottle Caps and a Bottle Capper. If you do bottle your beer then dont add sugar to the bottles as the gas pressure could cause the bottles to explode.
Leave for two to three weeks until your beer clears.
The last thing to do is pour yourself a well earned pint. You'll be surprised at how good it tastes.
that contains all the equipment that you will need. Alternatively you can begin with a 
and build up from there as you gain more experience. The simplest way to brew beer is to use a 
that contains malt and yeast to make 40 pints of beer.
Everything You Need to Know to Brew Beer Right for the First Time
Includes detailed brewing instructions for both novice and more advanced home-brewers, as well as comprehensive recipes for recreating some of Britain's best-loved beers at home. includes detailed brewing instructions for both novice and more advanced home-brewers, as well as comprehensive recipes for recreating some of Britain's best-loved beers at home.
Easy–to–follow, step–by–step instructions for everything from making your first “kit” beer to brewing an entire batch from scratch. Before you know it, you’ll be boiling, bottling, storing, pouring, and kegging your own frothy, delicious beer.
in a litre of water.
using a 
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, some 
and a 
. If you do bottle your beer then dont add sugar to the bottles as the gas pressure could cause the bottles to explode. 
