Malted barley is the ingredient commonly used to fill the sugar quota in a home brew recipe. Some brewers will substitute a percentage of corn, rice, wheat or other grains to add a lighter flavor to the beer than barley would. Using a malt extract will guarantee that the fermented sugar is prepared in just the right manner and will act as it needs to throughout the beer brewing process. Hops are cone-like flowers found on a hop vine. They lend the bitter flavor to beer that balances out sweetness.
Beer yeast is cultivated especially for use in brewing.
Ale yeasts are top-fermenting, which means they tend to hang out at the top of the carboy while fermenting and rest at the bottom after the majority of fermenting has occurred. As their names suggest, the type of yeast used plays an important part in influencing the type of beer that will be made. Do not rely on the yeast to define the beer, however, as all of the ingredients play a part in the taste and type of beer you will create. Beer Brewing Equipment Learn about what equipment you'll need to brew beer. We've opted to use a simple ale recipe to guide you through the process.