Craft beer making is simple with a canned beer ingredient kit. The kit provides the malt extract and brewing yeast needed to make approximately 23 litres, or 5 US gallons, of beer.
Beer-making equipment, corn sugar, bottles, caps, cleaner, and sanitizer are sold separately.
What You Need
Your beer ingredient kit includes:
- Canned brewing extract
- Brewing yeast
- Instructions
You will also need:
- 1 kg corn sugar or dextrose
- Brewing bucket with lid
- 23 L carboy
- Bung and airlock
- Siphon and tubing
- Hydrometer
- Long stirring spoon
- Beer bottles
- Bottle caps or PET screw caps
- Bottle capper, if using glass bottles
- Cleaner and sanitizer
Use only food-grade brewing equipment and bottles made for carbonated drinks.
Before You Start
Clean and sanitize everything that will touch the beer.
This includes:
- Brewing bucket
- Carboy
- Spoon
- Siphon
- Tubing
- Can opener
- Bottles
- Caps
Poor cleaning can spoil the beer.
Keep the brewing temperature between 20°C and 25°C, or 70°F and 77°F.
Step 1: Add the Beer Extract
Place the unopened beer can in hot water for a few minutes. This makes the extract easier to pour.
Pour the following into the sanitized brewing bucket:
- Contents of the beer kit can
- 1 kg of corn sugar or dextrose
Step 2: Add Hot Water
Boil 4.5 litres, or 1 gallon, of water.
Pour the hot water into the brewing bucket. Use some of the water to rinse the remaining extract from the can.
Stir until the extract and sugar are fully dissolved.
Step 3: Add Cold Water
Add approximately 18.5 litres of cold water until the total volume reaches 23 litres.
Stir well.
The beer mixture should be between 20°C and 25°C before adding the yeast.
The starting specific gravity should normally be between 1.030 and 1.040.
Step 4: Add the Brewing Yeast
Sprinkle the brewing yeast over the surface.
Cover the brewing bucket with the lid and airlock.
Leave the beer in a warm place for approximately 5 days.
Step 5: Transfer the Beer
After 5 days, siphon the beer into a clean, sanitized 23 L carboy.
Leave the sediment behind.
Attach the bung and airlock.
Fermentation normally finishes within 7 to 10 days.
A hydrometer reading should remain stable for at least 2 days before bottling. The final specific gravity is usually between 1.004 and 1.012.
Do not bottle before fermentation is complete.
How to Bottle Craft Beer
Clean and sanitize all beer bottles.
Siphon the finished beer back into the sanitized brewing bucket, leaving the sediment in the carboy.
Add priming sugar for carbonation:
- Glass beer bottles: ½ to 1 cup of corn sugar
- PET beer bottles: up to 1¼ cups of corn sugar
Stir until the sugar is fully dissolved.
Do not add more sugar than recommended. Too much priming sugar can create dangerous bottle pressure.
Fill and Seal the Bottles
Siphon the beer into each bottle.
Leave approximately 3 cm, or 1 to 1½ inches, of space at the top.
Seal glass bottles with crown caps or PET bottles with screw caps.
Use only strong bottles designed for carbonated beverages.
Carbonation and Conditioning
Store the bottles upright in a warm, dark place for 7 days.
Then move them to a cool place for another 12 to 14 days.
The beer is now ready to drink, but it may continue improving for up to 3 months.
Serving Your Craft Beer
A small amount of sediment in the bottle is normal because the beer is naturally carbonated.
For the best pour:
- Chill the beer.
- Keep the bottle upright.
- Open it carefully.
- Pour slowly into a glass.
- Stop pouring before the sediment reaches the bottle opening.
Common Beer-Making Problems
Beer Is Not Fermenting
Possible causes:
- Temperature is too cold
- Yeast was added when the mixture was too hot
- Equipment was not properly sanitized
Check the temperature and hydrometer reading.
Beer Is Too Sweet
Fermentation may not be complete.
Wait longer and check that the specific gravity remains stable for 2 days.
Beer Is Flat
Possible causes:
- Not enough priming sugar
- Bottles are too cold
- Bottles have not conditioned long enough
- Caps are not sealed properly
Keep the bottles warm for the first 7 days.
Beer Is Over-Carbonated
Possible causes:
- Too much priming sugar
- Beer was bottled before fermentation finished
- Bottles were overfilled
Handle pressurized bottles carefully and keep them cool.
Beer Has an Unpleasant Taste
Possible causes:
- Poor sanitation
- Damaged plastic equipment
- Fermentation temperature was too high
- Beer needs more conditioning time
Clean and sanitize carefully and allow the beer more time to mature.
Beginner Beer-Making Tips
- Read all instructions before starting.
- Clean and sanitize everything.
- Use a clean can opener.
- Keep the temperature between 20°C and 25°C.
- Use a hydrometer.
- Do not bottle too early.
- Use proper beer bottles.
- Do not overfill bottles.
- Do not add extra priming sugar.
- Store bottled beer upright.
- Give the beer time to condition.
Craft beer making is easy when you use clean equipment, control the temperature, follow the instructions, and allow enough time for fermentation and carbonation.