A perfect beer brewing batch doesn't happen by accident. It takes the right beer ingredients as well as a specific process for beer to come out precisely right. Getting into the brew market is a good move, especially as a restaurateur with the possibilites of marketing your own brand.

For beer ingredients, information about malt, hops and yeast is essential to producing your own unique beer. Understanding each ingredient's role and how all beer ingredients interact is also important.

Whether you purchase equipment and ingredients separately or together as a kit, consider the following beer brewing information:

1. Special brewing supply stores provide beer ingredients for sale and equipment that allows people to try their hand at brewing their own at home. You can find many choices online, too.

2. Instructions on how to make beer, including how to produce wort, the fermentation process and bottling and storing your freshly-brewed lot, are readily available online.

3. The ingredients in beer include malt extract, hops, yeast, water and sugar. Make sure you have enough of each ingredient on hand to make a decent-sized batch.

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Find hop rhizomes for sale

Hops are not only important for their contribution to beer's bitterness, flavor and aroma. They also contain enzymes that reduce bacteria. There are several different varieties of hops to choose from. How long you boil the hops will also determine much of your brew's bitterness.

I recommend: Browse the ordering options and whole hops price list from Freshops, based in Philomath, OR. Buy pellet hops from Puterbaugh Farms in Mabton, WA.

Obtain the necessary beer making supplies

Whether it's beer-brewing equipment or more ingredients, it's relatively easy to find the supplies you'll need for a test batch. Consider buying your beer ingredients in bulk so you can make several test batches while coming up with your ideal brew recipe.

I recommend: Download the professional beer catalog from White Labs and gain other information on yeast for brewers. Larry's Brewing Supply, based in Kent, WA, provides bulk malt extract, base and specialty malt along with hops.

Perfect your beer recipe

With several different brewing variations and styles of beer, you'll have no problem coming up with something unique to market. However, it may take some experimentation to find that right mix. That's why it may be helpful to check out some recipes that are already popular.

I recommend: Create your own recipe using The Beer Recipator. All you have to do is select the ingredients you want to use and how many units you want to make. Log on to BeerRecipes.org to search posted recipes.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Make sure sanitizers and cleaners are part of your beer making supply plans so you can ensure you have a clean kitchen before starting. Thoroughly sanitize every piece of equipment you'll use, including your sink and any utensils. Nothing ruins a batch of brew faster than contaminants.