If you guys have been following this blog, you would know that I am attempting to create a homebrew beer for myself and my friends. I hoped to create something light and clear and thirst quenching. However, now I have to inform you guys that it ended in disaster. Yes, it’s been destroyed by my own stupidity! No doubt about it. My stupidity is the main reason why I wasted 23 litres of good brew. Basically I had to throw the brew down the drain, nothing can be salvaged at all.

And I am sure you would like to know why. Well, you see, for homebrewing, everything that comes into contact with the “beer” needs to be sanitized. Which means that it means to be cleaned and free of dirt and any particles, then you need to remove any bacteria or spores on the surface. This ensures that there is nothing else grows with your beer. That’s the main reason why a lot of beer goes sour or gives off-flavours. Thus, I did what most homebrewers would do, I sanitize my beer bottles right. So happily I go about sanitizing my beer bottles and then I did the actual bottling of my beer. I added the carbonation drops, poured in the brew and then screwed on the cap. Nothing wrong there right? Well, what I failed to do is to rinse the bottles first! Would you believe that I forgot to rinse the bottles? Those bottles still had the sanitizing solution in them. And I poured perfectly good beer into them? Thus all is ruined!

Anyway, this is a lesson learned. And from my first attempt in homebrewing, I learned a lot. I learned that being cleaned is everything. I also learned that sometimes using my common sense and not to rush things is also important as well. I don’t believe that in the final step I cocked up big time. Very disappointing, but I guess what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger right?

And to make myself feel better, I will tell you that the brew itself isn’t exactly perfect. Sure, it is drinkable, but it is too bitter and the colour of the brew doesn’t look too attractive either. Sort of too brownish instead of being pale in colour and slightly golden. The reason is because I had boiled the beer kit for too long. There, I said it. I feel much better now.