As technology has advanced so the techniques for beer brewing have become more refined over the centuries. There are several processes that need to be carried out some relatively simple to complete in order for someone to brew beer. The most important part of the whole brewing operation is the fermentation process.

Today you can if you want have a go at making your own beer at home. A quick search online and there are numerous sites that offer advice and sell the equipment that allows you to set up your own beer brewing facility. Below we take a look at what the main pieces of equipment are so that you can produce your own beer at home.

Item 1 - A large boiling pot that is made either from stainless steel or the steel has been coated with ceramic. You need a pot that is big enough to hold at least 3 gallons of fluid and still have some space available.

Item 2 - Next you need to get yourself a five gallon carboy (a large glass bottle) and will look similar to bottles in which large amounts of water are sold. However, you cannot use the plastic ones it must be made from glass as the hot liquid from the pot will be placed in it to allow the mixture to ferment.

Item 3 - A large funnel (plastic is preferable) and this is what you use to transfer the wort (brewing mixture) from the pot into the carboy. Also at the same time you need to get yourself some plastic tubing which can be used to transfer the beer from the carboy into the bucket mentioned below.

Item 4 - You will need a six gallon food grade plastic bucket with lid as this is what the beer will be put into before bottling after it has been removed from the carboy. Also the same tubing used for moving the mixture from the carboy to the bucket is then used to put the beer into bottles.

Other items that one will need for brewing beer at home are a raking cane, this connects to the siphon tube and will be used to prevent sediment being transferred from one container to the next. Also you need a specialist valve that prevents the beer from being contaminated by outside elements but which also allows carbon dioxide to escape as it is fermenting. This should be one that fits comfortably into the top of the Carboy. Generally what you find when you buy your Carboy this valve will be supplied with it.

The other items that are essential to any home beer brewing kit are a large wooden spoon, a thermometer that has temperature ranges of between 40 degrees and 150 degrees Fahrenheit on it. The types of thermometers used most often by home brewers are either the stainless steel dial ones or the floating dairy ones. One more final item you need is a good brewer's iodine solution which you will use to sterilize all the equipment before and after it has been used.