Beer is undoubtedly the most popular alcoholic beverage in the country. In fact, studies suggest that Americans still prefer a cold brew over a glass of whiskey or wine. With so much love for beer, some even like brewing beer of their own at home.

With the availability of pre-assembled beer brewing kits and the simplicity of brewing ingredients, it seems like you can’t go wrong. The truth is that there are a lot of things that can steer your beer from its intended course.

In the hopes of helping new brewers improve their beer, we gathered some helpful tips from brewing experts. Here are some tips for brewing better beer.

Use fresh ingredients

Creating drinkable beer is just as simple as making soup out of a can, but if you want outstanding beer, then you need to find the freshest ingredients available. Remember, the quality of the beer you produce is dependent on the quality of ingredients that goes into the brew kettle.

Cleanliness is next to godliness

Sanitation is the key to making good beer.  Sterilize all the equipment that comes into contact with your wort after the boil.

Update your equipment

You may have started with an off-the-shelf brewing kit, but if you are planning to turn this into a long-term hobby, then you may want to update your equipment. Upgrading to better equipment is a must if you want better beer brewing results.

For really passionate brewers, we recommend upgrading your boiling kettle to a glass kettle. This will make a big difference in the mash. Later on, you may also want to purchase an auto siphon, better cleaning supplies, an extra burner and a grain crusher.

Use clean water

Clean water is essential in brewing great beer. If you can afford it, use bottled water. If not, be sure to boil the water first. Never use the city’s tap water when brewing as there might be a whole lot of mess floating around in the water that you can’t see. For best results, use the freshest, purest water available.