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Herb beers have an advantage of being ready in only a few weeks and most beginners have great success with these beers. They are simple and require very little equipment and ingredients.

Herbal beer is a term usually applied to beers made with herbs other than hops. The hop is, however, a wild herb that is associated with beer making, as well as being widely cultivated for beer making.

You Will Need:

Large pan (large enough to hold the herbs)

1 gallon plastic fermenting pan with a lid (a large bucket with a sealing lid will do)

Sieve o large cheesecloth

Wooden spoons

Bucket or other large container

Beer bottles and stoppers (cleaned and sterilized)

The equipment should always be clean and sterile before using.

Ingredients:

Nettles

2 pounds malt extract

1 pound sugar

1 handful dry hops

4 ounces crystal malt (available from hobby stores that sell beer kits)

Juice of 1 lemon

1 teaspoon salt

Ale yeast (available from hobby stores that sell beer kits)

Simmer the washed nettles and the crystal malt in a large pan for about 40 minutes.

Put the malt extract, sugar, lemon juice and salt into the fermenting vessel fitted with a good lid and sieve contents on to the washed nettles and crystal malt. The nettle shoots should be squeezed with gloved hands to extract the full flavor.

Stir the mixture thoroughly. Make the quantity up to 1 gallon with tap water. When cool, about a temperature of 70 degrees, stir in the yeast according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Maintain this temperature, and keep the vessel covered. Allow to ferment for at least 7 days. Remove the yeast from the top at intervals if necessary. When fermentation has finished the liquid looks clear and bubbles cease to rise.

Siphon into clean beer bottles and seal. Store this beer in a warm room for two days. Then transfer the beer to a cool place and store for at least two weeks before drinking, though the beer will improve in flavor during the following month.

You can also substitute dandelions for the nettles for a different flavor and make dandelion beer instead. Add just a little ginger for a wonderful flavor in the beer.

At Cooking With Beer, you can find some easy and delicious recipes for using beer.