Frequently Asked Questions

The Answers You Need, or at Least Some of Them

Where do you recommend people get bottles?

We recommend you buy a beer that you like that comes in medium-thickness glass (at minimum) and is not twist-off. These bottles have good durability and geometry for our cappers. Short, stubby bottles don't have great geometry for our cappers, they tend to get broken at the neck. Again, twist-off cap bottles will not work during the bottling process so it's essential to ensure you are starting with bottles that were not previously twist-off.

What size pot, or pot in general, is recommended?

For the one-gallon kits, we recommend a 3-gallon stainless steel kettle. Aluminum and copper cookware are more chemically active and can cause unintended flavor changes to your beer.

What do you recommend for cleaning the pot/kettle?

Dish soap is fine, just make sure to rinse very well after.

How do you sanitize the brewing space? What do we need?

We will provide you with a sanitizer powder that makes a sanitizer solution when mixed with warm water. With this sanitizer, objects must be left in solution for 2 minutes. Do not rinse after removing the objects, simply try to shake as much solution off as possible. We recommend using a 5-gallon bucket as your sanitizing vessel as you can easily fit multiple beer bottles at once. Everything that comes in contact with the sanitizer, including your vessel, must be clean and well-rinsed prior.

How will we cap bottles?

You will receive bottle caps and a bottle capper as part of your brewing kit. In addition to the materials, you will be provided a link to a video tutorial on the bottling process. If other questions arise we can always work specifically on them as well.

Does bottle color matter?

Brown is the best as it absorbs the most light. Light can cause the beer to be lightstruck, which makes it skunky. The green and blue glass will also work, but they will not absorb as much light as brown. If you do use clear glass, make sure to keep them completely out of light. Whatever color you use, we recommend that they are stored in a closed cardboard box in a dark space, ideally between 68F and 72F.

12oz, 16oz, or 22oz bottles?

It is up to you, but we usually bottle in 12-ounce bottles. They are easier to share and are the easiest to source. Sometimes we use larger bottles for specialty beers, or beers we plan to age longer.
- If you are using 12oz bottles you will need about 12
- If you are using 16oz bottles you will need about 8
- If you are using 22oz bottles you will need about 6
It’s always a good idea to have an extra bottle or two in case you have extra beer to bottle.

What tools for temperature and fluid quality, like test strips or any process tools, are needed during brewing?

A thermometer is essential, you will need it to monitor the mash temperatures. If this step is not done correctly, you run the risk of producing little or no alcohol.
Gravity measurement readings can be taken using a hydrometer. This is optional though. If you follow the steps laid out in our process, you should get results consistent with our test batches. Expected alcohol, IBUs, Original Gravity, Final Gravity, carbonation level, and color should all be included in your recipe information.
Please let us know if you feel like our kits are missing anything. We are trying to keep costs low for the consumers, but we also want you/them to have the best experience possible.

Are wood spoons okay for mixing everything?

You can use wood spoons, but they do have the potential to harbor bacteria. If you do use wood it may be a good idea to just leave the spoon in the kettle during the boil to pasteurize any potential microorganisms. Using a wooden spoon on bottling day can be risky though. For that stage, it is more important to use metal; but plastic can also work.

Can it be done over any heat source? Is one preferred?

Any safe and consistent heat source will do. We use propane burners, induction burners, gas stoves, and even electric burners. They all work, but be prepared to clean them if you get a boil-over! In our experience electric heating coils are particularly difficult to clean. So if you are using one, watch the boil closely and be ready to reduce heat or remove the kettle from the heat source altogether.