Home Brew Safety

While home brewing can be a fun and rewarding hobby, it is important to remember to operate safely. After all, every second spent in the hospital would be time spent away from your home brewing!

It is a necessary part of the fermentation process for gases to build up inside your containers or bottles. Overusing priming sugar or bottling before the fermentation process is entirely complete may cause an explosion. Likewise, storing your brews in any sort of exceedingly hot temperatures will cause gas to release and possibly explode. Home brewers are recommended to use plastic bottles, as glass tends to be very harmful to your health in the case of an explosion.

Other glass items you will be using may break and cause a painful cut. Be sure to keep thermometers and hydrometers, as well as drinking glasses, well away from the edge of the table. Remember that if you happen to drop something, you may not have a painful sore to show for it but you likely will have to buy a new piece of equipment.

You will deal with some very hot liquids while making your home brew, and should be careful not to scald or burn yourself. Wear appropriate clothing and don’t leave any hot liquids in a place where they may accidentally be tipped over. Gloves and safety goggles will also prevent any dangerous corrosive materials from coming into contact with bare skin.

Keep safety in mind, and nothing can stop you from being the best home brewer you want to be!