There are only a few things I enjoy more than cracking open a cold, crisp, and refreshing beer after a hard day’s work. For me, something as simple and delicious as a beer helps to melt away the troubles of the day and relax for a few minutes. The beer tastes even better when it’s a homemade beer that you’ve created and crafted yourself, throughout the course of several long weeks.

In the last decade or so, there has been an influx of micro-breweries that have sprung up all over the country. Many of these breweries utilize locally grown ingredients to produce their beer, which in turn, provides for some delicious and authentic homegrown beer. As part of this movement, there has also been a significant rise in people making their own beers at home. Although the size and scale of the home brewing operations are quite smaller than a commercial setup, there are still some inherent risks to consider and mitigate when making your beer at home. Below are some easy steps you can take to avoid causing damages to your home, or injury to yourself or others while making beer.

1. Wear proper protective equipment. In an effort to prevent burns and scalding, (especially when moving kettles of hot liquid), and to reduce the chance of hair or other contaminants from getting into your beer, proper gloves, hair nets, foot protection, and eyewear should be worn.
2. Proper sanitation is also crucial when making homemade beer to avoid contaminating the beer or affecting the flavor. Any containers or instruments that are used throughout the beer making process should be properly sanitized before being used.
3. When using propane heaters for beer production, if possible, heat the liquid in an outdoor area away from buildings. If cooking must be done indoors, ensure that the area is well ventilated to prevent a buildup of carbon monoxide. Liquid that is being heated up or boiling should never be left unattended.
4. Extra care should also be taken to avoid electrical shock when working with liquids. As noted on beerandbrewing.com, it’s recommended that any electrical devices, control panels, heating elements, or pumps utilized in the brewing process, be plugged into a ground fault circuit interrupter outlet to reduce the risk of electrocution.

In addition to these safety tips, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention to always enjoy alcohol responsibly, no matter where you are at (another added benefit of home brewing, is home tasting, which means not having to find a sober driver!).

Making beer at home is a fun, delicious, and rewarding experience that should always be done with safety in mind.

Resources:

Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine. “Homebrew Safety”. 2014

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