SUPPLIES
- For all recipes:
- 5-gallon crock or carboy
- Cheesecloth
- Large rubber band or string
- Bottles or jars
- For the Persimmon Beer:
- 2-1/2 gallons persimmons
- 1 pint honey
- 4 lbs. sugar
- For the Honey Beer
- 4 lbs. honey
- Large stockpot
- Packet of wine yeast
- For the Home Brew
- 5 lb. can Blue Ribbon malt syrup
- Small box of raisins (optional)
- Three or four white potatoes, peeled and cut into small pieces
- 10 lbs of sugar
Overview
Making beer at home is a fun hobby and a terrific way to develop a brew that perfectly suits your taste. It also allows you to experiment with recipes that you will not find at the liquor or package store. For many generations, persimmon and honey beers were popular beverages, that are simple to make and offer distinctive tastes. Even a simple lager beer can be made with ingredients from the grocery store.
Persimmon Beer
Step 1
Cut the persimmons in half and remove the pits.
Step 2
Place the persimmons into the crock and cover with hot water. Let the persimmons sit for one or two days or until they're soft.
Step 3
Add the pint of honey and 2 lbs. of sugar to the persimmons.
Step 4
Cover the crock with cheesecloth and use a large rubber band or a piece of string to hold the cheesecloth in place around the crock.
Step 5
Let the mixture ferment until any signs of bubbling stop. This may take a week to 10 days.
Step 6
Add another 2 lbs. of sugar and let the mixture ferment again for another week or so until the bubbling stops. This step may take another week.
Step 7
Strain the mixture into jars or bottles.
Honey Beer
Step 1
Pour 4 lbs. of honey into a large stockpot. Add 1 gallon of water.
Step 2
Cook over medium low heat until the honey thins and mixes completely with the water. If using raw honey, bring the mixture to a boil to kill any bacteria in the honey.
Step 3
Pour the honey mixture into a 5-gallon crock or into a carboy. Add water to fill to about two inches from the top.
Step 4
Add one packet of wine yeast to the mixture.
Step 5
Cover with cheesecloth or add an airlock to the carboy.
Step 6
Allow the honey beer mixture to ferment at least 30 days. The longer this sits the better the beer will be. Many old timers would allow six months for the best flavor.
Simple Home Brew
Step 1
Combine the malt syrup, 5 lbs. sugar and the potatoes in the 5-gallon crock. Add the small box of raisins, if desired.
Step 2
Cover the crock with cheesecloth and let ferment until the bubbling stops. This will take a week to 10 days.
Step 3
Add another 5 lbs. of sugar to the mixture, stir thoroughly and re-cover with the cheesecloth.
Step 4
Allow to ferment a second time until the bubbling in the crock ceases. This step takes approximately another week.
Step 5
Strain the mixture though cheesecloth and bottle. Chill the beer for the best flavor.
TIPS AND WARNINGS
- TIP : All fermentation times are approximate. Outside conditions, such as where the crock is stored and how hot or cold the area is will play a part in how long it takes to get the final product. In humid conditions, the time may be shorter than what is listed. The best indication is to check daily after a week to see if the bubbling has stopped.
A simple airlock for a carboy can be made with a large wine cork and food grade tubing. Choose a cork that will seal the carboy. Drill a hole in the center of the cork and insert one end of the tubing to where it extends 3 or 4 inches from the bottom of the cork. Place the other end of the tubing in a glass jar half filled with water.
If you cannot find malt syrup at your grocery store, you can find it at a local brew shop or online.
