Electricity is like a slot machine... we can all describe what it does, but very few people understand how it works. Most electricians will scare you to death when it comes to working with electricity... part of this is self-serving (if there were more electrical DIYers, there would be fewer electricians), but most of it is truth - electricity kills.
That being said, you don't have to be a genius to understand electric theory and code, but it does take time to learn. IMO, jumping right into wiring a 240 receptacle would be tantamount to building a basement brewery without having even brewed your first batch... it can be done, but the best (and safest, in this case) knowledge is gained through experience & consultation.
I'm not an electrician, but I do feel comfortable performing limited tasks with electricity... however, I've probably spent no less than 40-60 hours reading how-to's, beginner's guides, intermediate theory, NEC, NFPA, (not to mention consulting with a friend who's an electrician by trade) for the most remedial projects (replacing basement & kitchen receptacles with GFCIs, putting my sump and ejector pumps on dedicated circuits, testing continuity of ground and replacing conduit where necessary, rewiring circuits where polarity was reversed, etc.) and honestly, I would only feel comfortable wiring a 240v receptacle to code if I could run a dedicated circuit through EMT to the main panel -- I would never try to run it via existing 110/120 lines even if I knew and could verify they were out of phase... there's more to consider than just the phasing of the lines - circuit capacity/load & condition of the wiring as two examples - when it comes to DIY electrical work. Trust your instincts, but more importantly, know your limitations. The perfect batch of beer isn't worth the prospect of never brewing again.