1-GALLON BREWING INSTRUCTIONS
1. Sanitize Your Equipment
This is the most important step in the brewing process. It kills any bacteria, wild yeast and mold that can cause off-flavors in your beer. It’s important to sanitize everything that comes in contact with your beer. This step should take about 15 minutes.
- 1. In a container, dissolve half (1 tbsp) of the One Step No-Rinse Cleanser into a gallon of warm water. Shake until the cleanser has completely dissolved. Note: Save the remaining One Step for bottling.
- 2. Pour solution into the fermenter, place on lid and insert your venting plug. While holding down the lid, cover the vent plug with your hand and swirl solution around making sure it contacts the entire inside surface including the lid. Do this step over the sink
- 3. Open and close the tap several times to sanitize its inner surface.
- 4. Place your mixing spoon(s), measuring cup, can opener inside the fermenter. Careful not to scratch the inside surface. Allow it to soak a minimum of 10 minutes.
- 5. Remove utensils and place them on a clean paper towel or a sanitized plate or bowl. Drain fermenter (no rinsing required). Note: Solution is reusable, you can use it again to sanitize a blender or any other utensil used during the brewing process.
*If needed. Can opener must be sanitized before using.
2. Making This Beer
The included recipe is ready for fermentation, just add water and yeast (under the black lid of the extract). Since beer is mostly water, the better the water the better your beer. This step should take about 30 minutes.
- 1. Remove yeast packet from under the lid and stand can in a tub of hot tap water. This will help it pour more easily.
- 2. Add cold water to the start level on the side of the fermenter. For best results, use bottled spring water or charcoal-filtered tap water.
- 3. Place 2 cups of water into a clean 3-quart pot and bring to a boil.
- 4. Remove from heat. Then slowly stir in the contents from can until it has fully dissolved. This mixture is called the wort.
- 5. Pour this wort into the fermenter. Bring the volume of the fermenter up to the fill level by adding more water. Mix thoroughly. Make sure the wort is between 64°- 82° F before going to the next step.
- 6. Add yeast, then place on your lid with vent plug.
- 7. Place the fermenter out of direct sunlight and maintain a temperature between 64°- 82° F for approximately 7 days.
And Now You Wait
After 7 days the beer in your fermenter should have stopped fermenting and begun to clear. It’s now time to bottle! If you’re not sure, draw a small amount from the tap; if it tastes like flat beer, it’s ready to bottle. If it tastes sweet, give it a few more days.
3. Carbonating Your Beer
Since nobody likes flat beer we need to add carbonation. It is normal for this process to create a small amount of yeast sediment at the bottom of each bottle. This step should take about 25 minutes.
- 1. Dissolve the remaining One Step into a gallon of warm water.
- 2. Fill each bottle with this solution and shake a few times making sure the solution contacts the entire inside surface. Now wait 10 minutes (minimum).
- 3. Place the caps in a bowl filled with sanitizing solution. Now wait 10 minutes (minimum).
- 4. Empty bottles (no rinsing required) and place caps on a paper towel.
- 5. Add white granulated sugar to each bottle. Note: Using the chart above choose the correct priming sugar amount for your bottles.
- 6. Using the tap, fill each bottle halfway up the base of the neck. Make sure all bottles contain approximately the same amount of beer.
- 7. Cap each bottle and invert them several times until the sugar has been completely dissolved. Do not shake bottles.
- 8. Place the bottles upright and out of direct sunlight. Maintain a temperature between 64°- 82° F for approximately 7 days.
EVERY COUPLE OF DAYS GIVE EACH BOTTLE A SQUEEZE. WHEN THEY BECOME FIRM TO THE TOUCH (LIKE A NEW 2-LITER BOTTLE OF SODA) AND THE BEER HAS CLEARED, THEY’RE READY FOR THE FRIDGE.
4. Enjoying Your Beer!
After your beer has carbonated, it’s ready to drink! However, you can improve the flavor by bottle conditioning your beer. This can be done a couple ways:
- Warm conditioning: Keep your bottles in a dark, dry location away from sunlight and maintain a temperature between 50°- 70° F for several weeks to a month.
- Cold conditioning: Place your bottles in the refrigerator for several weeks to a month.
WHETHER OR NOT YOU CHOOSE TO BOTTLE CONDITION YOUR BEER, IT WILL ALWAYS TASTE BETTER AFTER CHILLING IN THE REFRIGERATOR FOR AT LEAST 24 HOURS. THEN IT’S TIME TO CALL YOUR FRIENDS!
This Hard Apple Cider Kit has all the ingredients and equipment required to brew two gallons of an amazing and delicious beverage that you’ll be proud to share with your friends.
