Best Places To Buy Beer Brewing Essentials

Beer is made from a few core ingredients: water, grain, hops, and yeast. If you're looking to buy these ingredients to make your own beer, there are several online retailers that stock them. Beer Maverick, for example, has compiled a large database for hops, grains, and yeast for use in beer-making. Hops and Grain, BeerMenus, and Midwest Supplies are also online stores that sell beer-making ingredients.

Grain: Malt, adjunct, and base malts

When it comes to grains, there are two main categories: base grains and adjunct grains. Base grains, such as 2-row barley, make up a large proportion of a beer recipe. Adjunct grains are then added to the recipe to impart colour, flavour, and viscosity to the finished beer.

Before barley and wheat grains can be used to make beer, they must undergo a malting process. This involves soaking the seed in water until it starts to grow, then drying it in a kiln. The method of drying can create different colours and flavours of malted grain. Malted barley and wheat are often referred to as "malts".

Grains give beer three important qualities: malt flavour and aroma, colour, and sugar. Malt flavours and aromas can range from bread-like to chocolatey. The colour of the beer is determined by the type and amount of grain used. The SRM scale is the most accurate and widely used method for determining colour, with pale lagers and pale ales at the lighter end, and stouts and porters at the darker end. Grains also provide the sugar that yeast consumes to create alcohol.

Some examples of malt grains include:

• Pilsner malt
• Pale ale malt
• Chocolate malt
• Caramel malt
• Wheat malt
• Vienna malt
• Acidulated malt

Adjunct grains include:

• Flaked corn
• Flaked oats
• Flaked wheat
• Flaked barley
• Rice hulls

Online retailers such as Beer Maverick, MoreBeer, Midwest Supplies, ARL Brew, and Beer Grains offer a wide variety of grains, malts, and adjuncts for homebrewers.

Hops: Pellet hops and whole leaf hops

Hops are an essential ingredient in brewing beer, adding bitterness, flavour, and aroma to the final product. There are two main types of hops used in brewing: pellet hops and whole leaf hops, each with its own unique characteristics and benefits.

Whole leaf hops, also known as leaf hops or raw hops, are the whole dried cone flowers of the female hop plant. They are the most natural and unprocessed form of hops, offering a traditional charm to the brewing process. Leaf hops contribute to a more rounded and subtle hop character in the beer, with many brewers preferring their natural state. The oils and resins that impart aroma and flavour are preserved in their most natural state, resulting in a more complex and delicate hop character. Leaf hops are typically used in dry hopping, as they are easier to remove from the beer and provide a slightly fresher aroma. However, they take up more space in the fermenter and require careful handling and storage to maintain their quality.

Pellet hops, on the other hand, are produced by grinding up the whole hop cones and pressing them into pellets. They have a higher extraction efficiency by weight than whole hops, providing the brewer with more bitterness. The grinding and compression process makes pellet hops more stable and less susceptible to oxidation. This is why they are often used in commercial brewing and are more readily available for homebrewers. Pellet hops are also easier to work with, measure, and store, taking up less space than whole leaf hops. However, the pelletization process may result in some loss of the flower's essential oils, which can affect the final aroma of the beer.

Both types of hops have their advantages and can be used to create fantastic beer. The choice between pellet hops and whole leaf hops depends on the brewer's setup, personal preference, and the desired characteristics of the final beer.

Yeast: Dry and liquid yeast strains

Yeast plays a major role in the flavour of your beer, so it's important to select the right one for the style of beer you're brewing. There are two types of yeast commonly used in the brewing process: dry yeast and liquid yeast. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, and the right choice depends on your specific brewing needs.

Dry yeast is often the go-to option for new brewers as it is commonly included in beginner beer or wine kits. It is usually sold in small individual packets but can also be purchased in bulk. One of the benefits of dry yeast is its long shelf life – it can last up to three years and is more tolerant of warm storage and shipping conditions. It is also packaged with nutrient reserves and is ready to pitch without a yeast starter. Additionally, dry yeast generally has a higher cell count and is more cost-effective than liquid yeast. However, there are fewer strain options available as not all yeast strains can be dried.

Liquid yeast, on the other hand, offers a wider range of strains to choose from. It is a popular choice for home brewers as it is considered fresh and healthy, with live active yeast ready for fermentation. Liquid yeast also allows access to seasonal and specific strains used by professional brewers, making it ideal for replicating regional styles. However, liquid yeast is more expensive and perishable, with a shorter shelf life of around three months. It is also more sensitive to extreme temperatures, which can impact the viability and health of the yeast.

When selecting yeast, consider factors such as your brewing experience, budget, desired beer style, and availability of strains. Both dry and liquid yeast options can produce exceptional beer, and the right choice will depend on your specific requirements and preferences.

Online stores: Midwest Supplies, MoreBeer, and Homebrewing.org

If you're looking to buy grains, hops, and yeast for beer online, there are several stores that can provide you with the necessary ingredients and equipment. Here's a detailed look at three popular options: Midwest Supplies, MoreBeer, and Homebrewing.org.

Midwest Supplies

Midwest Supplies offers a wide range of beer-brewing grains, including base malts and specialty malts. They boast competitive prices, claiming that customers no longer have to pay premium prices for premium-quality grains. Their selection includes various types of malt, such as Pilsen Malt, Distilling Malt, English Pale Ale Malt, and Wheat Malt, with prices starting as low as $2.49. Midwest Supplies also offers sales and discounts during certain periods, making it an affordable option for home brewers.

MoreBeer

MoreBeer is another online store that provides ingredients and equipment for brewing beer. While they don't list the products they offer as extensively as Midwest Supplies, they do provide valuable information and advice on storing grains, hops, and yeast. They recommend bulk-buying these ingredients to save money and offer tips on how to store them properly to maximise their shelf life. MoreBeer suggests using airtight containers and specific temperature ranges to maintain the freshness of grains, malt extracts, hops, and yeast.

Homebrewing.org

Homebrewing.org is dedicated to providing home brewers with fresh ingredients, including hops and grains, and quality brewing supplies. They source their hops and store them refrigerated and frozen to ensure freshness. Homebrewing.org also offers special orders for items not currently listed in their online store. They provide detailed information on the shelf life of different ingredients, such as pellet hops, whole hops, milled malts, and yeast, helping customers make informed decisions about their purchases. Additionally, they offer a 10% discount for first-time customers who sign up for their newsletter.

Yeast nutrients: Yeast nutrient products to keep yeast healthy

To make beer, you'll need to source grains, hops, and yeast. There are many online retailers that stock these items, such as Beer Grains, Midwest Supplies, and The Brew Shop.

Yeast nutrients are an additive used to increase the health of yeast, which improves fermentation and repitching performance. They are particularly important for extract brewers, as all-grain builds some yeast nutrients as part of the process. Cider, mead, and wine makers may also find yeast nutrients useful, as these are often nutrient-deficient.

Yeast nutrient blends are available from most homebrew shops and are relatively inexpensive. Some popular brands include Wyeast, Servomyces, and WLN1000 by White Labs.

Yeast nutrient products typically contain a mixture of diammonium phosphate and food-grade urea, as well as essential vitamins and co-factors, nitrogen, amino acids, proteins, peptides, and minerals.

When adding yeast nutrients to your brew, it is recommended to add one teaspoon per gallon for wine, mead, seltzer, and cider. For beer, it is recommended to add 5mg/1tsp per 5 gallons/19L batch about 10 minutes before turning off the burner.

Frequently asked questions