Green Homebrewing

This is the section where I will briefly mention the use of organic ingredients. But, for the most part, this section will be focused on the ingredients, the packaging the ingredients come in and tips for utilizing the ingredients the best way you can.

Organic Ingredients
If you know what the word 'organic' means, then this is pretty much self explanatory. The lack of chemicals and pesticides in the growing process mean no chemicals entering the environment.

It's good all around! Not only is it good for the environment, it's also good for your body. Why would you want to take chemicals and pesticides into your body?

Some 'purists' may even think that non-organic ingredients would contaminate your beer. Not necessarily contamination by bacteria, but by impure ingredients.

The Brew Store Visit
This is the trip we look forward to, getting our supplies for the upcoming brews. Maybe talking brewing with other local homebrewers, or sampling someones homebrew.

If you're an extract brewer, it's in your best interest to take back your pails for bulk LME. My brew store charges for the pail and the lid -separately!

If you're an all grain brewer, you should be reusing the bags your grain was packaged in. For example, if you're buying full sacks of grain, use the empty sacks for smaller quantities like 20 pounds.

When you buy hops, typically they come in a vacuum sealed bag, and really the only thing you can do is add the used bags to the recycle bin. They typically can't be used for anything else, except recycled.

If you use dry yeast or some liquid yeast, the same applies. The packaging is a 'one time use' kind of deal. However, White Labs yeast comes in small vials. People can find a use for these handy containers, but I wouldn't advise trying to store yeast that you harvest in them.

Any other containers, like sanitizer or cleaner bottles should be added to the recycle bin as well. It would be nice if you could go to your brew shop and refill sanitizer and cleaner bottles. Maybe some do, or will in the future, either way it would reduce packaging and best of all, the price.

Brewing All Grain
If you're an all grain brewer, you probably harvest your own yeast. If you don't, you should really think about it. Not only does it cut down on purchasing packaged materials, it saves you money as well.

The spent grain from the mash tun can be used for the compost, or even cooking. The remaining wort, once the desired quantity has been collected, can be saved for yeast starters. Or even added to your next boil. Sure the gravity will be low, around 1.010 or so, but its still good yeast food. Add some DME ,candy sugar or brown sugar to kick the gravity up some.

I typically collect a 1 gallon cider jug of remaining wort, and seal it when it is still hot. This will set the seal on the lid, keeping it air tight. I've keep wort this was for up to 4 months, and it was just fine. I'm sure some would advise against this, but it's good to know that it's an option. Store this in the keg fridge and you'll be fine.

Yeast Harvesting
I'll briefly touch on this subject, but not go into great detail. When you harvest yeast the key thing to keep in mind is sanitation. I use rubbing alcohol to sanitize the opening of the carboy before transferring to a holding container, typically a pickle jar or salsa jar that has a good sealing lid. Simply sanitize the holding container as you would any brewing equipment, transfer the yeast and store in the fridge.

It's always good to leave a little beer in the carboy to help suspend the yeast for transfer. Once the yeast has dropped out of the solution, you will see the yeast layer. It's best to collect from the secondary fermenter, as there are usually no hops, only the yeast.

Another way to utilize your existing yeast is to plan your brewing schedule so that you can rack your just boiled wort onto the yeast cake from the previous batch. If you're brewing the same style beer... ale or lager. Or simply want to use the same yeast.

Visit the Brew Blog for more information about brewing beer at home.