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Not only is it a fun and rewarding activity, but homemade drinks can also be the perfect gift for friends and family or the centrepiece of your Christmas table.
The best part is that you don’t need to be a seasoned brewer to create delicious drinks—ready-made brewing kits make the process simple, accessible, and enjoyable.
If you’re keen to give it a go, here’s a guide to brewing your own wine, beer, or cider for Christmas using ready-made kits.
1. Why Brew Your Own for Christmas?
Brewing your own drinks for Christmas offers several benefits:
Personal Touch: There’s something special about serving homemade beverages at your Christmas gathering. Whether it’s a mulled wine you’ve brewed yourself or a crisp apple cider, it adds a touch of personal pride to the festivities.
Cost-Effective: Buying bottles of wine, beer, or cider for Christmas parties and family meals can be expensive. Brewing your own allows you to create large quantities at a fraction of the cost, perfect for those hosting big gatherings or wanting to give homemade drinks as gifts.
Creative Control: With a ready-made brewing kit, you have control over the flavours and style of your drink. You can experiment with different types of fruit, spices, and other ingredients to create a unique brew that suits your tastes or adds a festive twist.
2. Choosing Your Brewing Kit
There are several types of brewing kits available depending on what you want to make. Here’s a breakdown of the most popular options:
Wine Kits: Ready-made wine kits provide everything you need to produce your own wine, usually in around four to six weeks. These kits typically come with grape juice concentrate, yeast, and instructions. You can find kits that make reds, whites, or rosés, and even speciality wines like sparkling or mulled varieties. Some Christmas-themed kits might include ingredients for spiced wine, perfect for the season.
Beer Kits: Beer brewing kits are ideal for anyone who loves craft beer. These kits usually come with malt extract, yeast, and hops, and they guide you through the process of fermenting and bottling your brew. Many kits allow you to choose between different styles such as pale ales, stouts, or lagers. For Christmas, you might consider a kit that offers festive flavours, like a spiced ale or winter warmer.
Cider Kits: If you prefer something a little lighter, cider brewing kits are a great choice. They often come with apple concentrate, yeast, and all the equipment you’ll need to produce a delicious cider. Cider kits are relatively easy to use and can be flavoured with spices like cinnamon and cloves to create a festive drink.
When choosing a kit, make sure to select one that matches your experience level. Most kits are designed for beginners, but some might offer more advanced options for those with brewing experience.
3. The Brewing Process: Step by Step
While each type of brewing kit will have its own specific instructions, the basic process for making wine, beer, or cider at home is generally the same. Here’s an overview of what to expect:
Step 1: Preparation
Before you start brewing, make sure you’ve read through all the instructions included with your kit. Clean and sterilise all of your equipment thoroughly—this is one of the most important steps to avoid contamination and ensure your brew turns out just right.
Step 2: Mixing Ingredients
Once your equipment is prepared, it’s time to mix the ingredients. For wine, this typically involves mixing the grape concentrate with water, adding yeast, and perhaps some additional sugars or flavourings. Beer kits will have you mix the malt extract with water and add hops for flavour, while cider kits involve mixing apple concentrate with water and yeast.
Step 3: Fermentation
After mixing your ingredients, the fermentation process begins. This is where the magic happens, as the yeast converts sugars into alcohol. For wine, fermentation can take anywhere from two to six weeks depending on the type of wine you’re making. Beer typically ferments for one to two weeks, while cider might take about one to three weeks.
During this time, you’ll want to keep the brew in a cool, dark place, away from any disturbances. Many kits come with airlocks to let gases escape while keeping air out, so it’s important to monitor this part of the process closely.
Step 4: Bottling
Once fermentation is complete, it’s time to bottle your brew. You’ll need to transfer the liquid into bottles, being careful to avoid any sediment at the bottom of your fermenter. Some kits include bottling equipment, while others may require you to purchase it separately.
For beer and cider, you’ll usually add a small amount of sugar to the bottles before sealing them. This creates a secondary fermentation in the bottle, adding fizz to your drink. Wine, on the other hand, is usually bottled and stored to mature, though you can drink it soon after bottling if you’re eager to sample your creation.
Step 5: Ageing and Enjoying
The final step is ageing your brew. Wine typically benefits from being aged for a few weeks to several months to develop its full flavour. Beer and cider can also be aged for a few weeks to improve taste and carbonation. However, if you’re on a tight timeline, you can enjoy your drinks as soon as they’re ready.
Once aged, your homemade wine, beer, or cider will be ready to serve at Christmas parties, family dinners, or to give as thoughtful, handcrafted gifts.
4. Festive Twists on Your Brews
To make your homemade drinks even more festive, consider adding some Christmas-themed flavours to your brew:
Spiced Wine: Add cloves, cinnamon sticks, nutmeg, and a touch of orange peel to your wine during fermentation to create a warming mulled wine that’s perfect for Christmas.
Christmas Ale: Brew a beer with winter spices like cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg for a festive twist. You could also add some dried fruit or a splash of honey for a sweet, warming ale.
Mulled Cider: Spice up your cider by adding mulling spices like allspice, cinnamon, and cloves. For an extra festive touch, you could also add a dash of vanilla or caramel essence.
5. Brewing Kits: A Perfect Gift Idea
Ready-made brewing kits also make fantastic gifts for the beer, wine, or cider enthusiast in your life. They offer a fun, hands-on experience, and the recipient gets to enjoy the fruits of their labour—literally! Whether it’s a beer brewing kit for a budding homebrewer or a cider kit for someone who loves trying new flavours, it’s a unique and thoughtful gift that’s sure to be appreciated.
Brewing your own wine, beer, or cider for Christmas is a wonderful way to personalise your festive celebrations and create something truly special. With ready-made brewing kits, the process is simple and enjoyable, allowing even beginners to produce delicious drinks to share with family and friends.
Whether you’re brewing to serve at your Christmas feast or to give as homemade gifts, the experience of crafting your own festive drinks will add an extra layer of joy to the season.
So, why not try your hand at brewing this Christmas? Raise a glass of your homemade creation and toast to a festive season full of creativity and cheer!
Brew Genie offers a wide range of brew kits and equipment by mail or from their retail premises: https://www.brewgenie.co.uk