This year I'm taking a course in Brewing Science and Operations through Saint Louis University, and my first term has focused on actually learning to brew. This was a completely new experience for me, as I have no prior brewing experience. Still, it comes down to a mix of planning, sanitation, and following a recipe, which is a set of skills I'd already developed pretty well. My very first home brew is a blonde ale. See below some photos and a couple of photos from my journey.
Brew Day
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgT7uErqtDPY3MjsdQ8_V0x7oQBg8yPLQ73RPTcuo9coUrazu3BMyxLCFvXAtEGcEvMnSO7svGr_9cQIwyi7ZyriEElj2jktyF7nzUPotlB6CaCZoU8Y5aLxq12ZcOp602B97w91pH7QzUPWXVsOYUBZC11-yViPSegxLZ9bJjSbWWiskuD9fR0KWR9=w640-h570) |
The Beer Kit and Supplies |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgTBJZo4APHcTswCJmkbOZX5CBUdQgnSZjpJN15f9wRxhphQ4kJFWgP-CnMK6j4pTNXmMRlrmq2XcDsH6hrNVvbDaG4wtPwVfSi_VvF-dI9ePC59WbvB_ijfcW-avNCB1d_y-aZer6XNKRgZLfbv7KYBRy_lpG2jllvXcG8LW1FA8j1PIOsi3VLKTSA=w480-h640) |
Steeping the Grain |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg2nWbN2V03uDfqGaIT-a_8bWYAnmrqgAoGt44cibbNn4uSi_Keon31tFhOW2a6jeVxdtjFYOsyIL3qJ263XGf-fgOxsM4rGKH1zs2B0yz_ORXz06CZWnt_BKBeDxShS23d_7rds47xGI3ymoz-6P7LzUh_8XTegJOmn4hpEYAPRK64E_DsjAZDN4Cd=w480-h640) |
Chilling the Wort After Boiling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhTAtqZLgRPHrVtUAL-rtcFTEAk6jgodnSSTE5bwwhifGEkOL06zwM8VZitMSm35wmD9Crprl3lAu-NB1jWnX4CdfNTME781WcEN8JW74wIjBJKiCZMY48hvilz6N6We-UGmGD10YTVnRRU1-vkaaIcVwIgXDzgN7nVg3N4OTkEdltvd2LWaVUbn4sj=w480-h640) |
Pitching the Yeast |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh2ZEITciw2sWsXCuYsIHXkFRuoInbV6ZvLu09Gm52jP3chsoJsez1Oh-0WHXPgwznPN1l9FO7xr5JHmIHmhJ8R4Pv4WjQbpBTK3_jFVSJRoPfQGldNEegE_qEq1dSMhylADmIhRWiPcaQe9wOdiJkGJxJKaSosCozo8Q6bquQNm86uuhnLVQdzIVv1=w480-h640) |
All Set to Ferment |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjbkUmCeVK4Uio6uJASZ1qMQuXPiq-J9UtIGlPOghkqRUpwjiZnSWB9Y8xbBh7vxyEMePHhyxD1zdQfihEhga7zdhDh1xkqQ3yn4hSSMQJ3aYuaGkoAmniu47cXOQqyCWcrse1DK3PsaShSttq4vtw3mEaki2SBzwB_mWMA_z_A3t-UoEBHQM-CQ2Sx=w480-h640) |
The Look of the Wort |
Transfer to Carboy
Bottling Day
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhA_mC19zzaeo18807JxUYme9M74ftO1oKnOO9WX9I9a7DcH_zKBjybRDnVKFJpNIDzsovzMeoVtv8pJ9FE7sJTJdxec3wxe3-qhri6s2FNF3iPJJBm8tObopXshL6C6ESS3fi1_MpX33XNflr0mbFPEf6l4BSSCCv6sKl__cXBenKKYqJ3yO9-eDH1=w480-h640) |
Fresh, Clean, Sanitized Bottles |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8Fb4ZYRMabFp6u_5hcEh_3Dwj8teZydR-V57lJ5vu-Y_nsSRqtL1D_8CvAKVD-KVKbPW0Bot8TBcOXqfJ8m-HcZhD2jOvzxxpSDGSnozLuNkUG7R0Ge2kxW9So3Kki5q7N_yo7qa8peNVchu6NkNjKIzSGmELkWU8DKskN15ULM7I_H1kLqwzvTeS=w480-h640) |
The carboy spent one week in the closet, then one in the fridge. |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEivMJ_YtgDtzRNxGsskk5f4w5NIMAKDGKJVeVbuNifb2T6noS7Dsq8RQWA59udU0mGG8-hJkiJJ9Jkf9RV4OwRyr8BuX-ytAw6qst1ZMh6yh1wsvbu4OQQkkLJm-TGgsrmIezaxCK74GgYe0H0jfNSDftXQdFtHbW5mW0CLnxLEhNzJqaWYHOS-amBV=w480-h640) |
Bottling |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgeYP2StrFH-Nii4nn9dZ8iZVo2KYEL85pSOxZt494c5UuEfhRMnpfle9d2Prbn_rlnIcDI6J_BwgMBu6F9PMgAPBUPPpVXg5Y7i9TxFt2vT3A6TMXJmMsf0h567OMyDsPpQ5S5LHev8udLdCRQHBwJHr6v0yQjqkogPwMsKcSS5pl3cK_jNWKGtj3k=w480-h640) |
All Bottled Up
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Now I'm just waiting a few days while the beer bottle conditions. In the meantime, I've already started work on my next batch, which will be a dry Irish stout.