Craft, Home Brews

Craft, Home Brews Bouncing Back

By Matt Fernandez

Signal Staff Writer

Doña Uhrig

Sunday Signal Editor

The rise of craft breweries and niche wineries has probably caught the attention of those who like beer or wine. The American Brewers Association says two breweries open per day in America and three-quarters of Americans of legal drinking age live within 10 miles of at least one brewery.

The association has also reported that more than 9,000 breweries operated during 2021 with an increase of 6% from the year before. And despite the pandemic in 2020, “small and independent American craft brewers contributed $62.1 billion to the U.S. economy,” the group reported.

“The home brewery movement started back in the 1970s and as cheesy as it sounds I got into home brewing because my wife bought me a kit,” said Ben Law, co-owner and brewmaster at Brewery Draconum. “Even though my first batch was garbage, it inspired me to learn how to brew beer.”

That experience is echoed across the country and is how many got into home brewing. Today, anyone looking to jump into home brewing will find there are many resources at their disposal.

Brew shops are now in many towns, and they can provide space, equipment and resources to help novice brewers get on track. Law said that he personally gained a lot of knowledge from Youtube and by reaching out to other local breweries like Wolf Creek and Pocock Brewing Co.

“It’s just like any other hobby. There’s a good community that’s really open to share ideas and recipes,” he said. “It’s not so close-to-the-chest, cutthroat competition. It’s very communal and inviting.”

There are also groups, such as the American Homebrewers Association, which represents more than 1.1 million homebrewers. The not-for-profit group has been supporting homebrewers since 1978.

A division of the Brewers Association, the AHA offers its members instructions on making beer, homebrew recipes, seminars and an amateur and Pro-Am competitions.

“I’ve tasted some really great home brews and I’ve made some really good and really horrible brews, but the fun is really in learning and tasting that great brew that you made,” Law said.

There are so many different flavors, but in terms of “what makes beer taste great it all comes down to personal preference.

“Just strive for balance and for something that fits the basic profile of the style of beer that you’re making, whether it’s an IPA or another style.”

Quality of Ingredients, Processes

Beer is fermented using yeast. There are many different varieties of yeast that perform well in the brewing process. However, choosing the right yeast for your brew is important if you are making a ale, wheat beer or lager, according to Brew Your Own, a magazine for homebrewers.

Temperature and sanitation are also very important to the brewing process. To ensure quality beverages, all items need to be thoroughly sanitized to prevent natural yeasts and contaminants from impacting taste. Ambient temperature can influence how fast the product will ferment and the final flavor.

“Beer is just so fascinating to me, and it’s been around since before people even kept records,” Law said. “Ben Franklin said, ‘Beer proves that God loves us and wants us to be happy.’ That’s one of the Founding Fathers right there, how can you argue with that?”

Getting Started

The following are the basic essentials that novice homebrewers will need to get started, according to the brewers association. Fermenter Fermenters hold the wort as it ferments into beer. Airlock and bung The airlock inserts into the top of the fermenter, allowing carbon dioxide to escape without letting contaminants in. Some fermenters will require a bung to secure the airlock. Brew pot Sometimes called the “kettle,” the brew pot is where the boiling process takes place. The size of the batch will dictate the size of the brew pot, but the larger the batch, the larger brew pot brewers will need. Heat source The pre-boil volume needs to be heated up, and a kitchen stove might suffice as a heat source for small batches. But the AHA notes

Who is the American Homebrewer

There are an estimated 1.1 million homebrewers in the United States. The average homebrewer is 42 years old with more than half between the ages of 30 and 49. 85% are married or in a domestic partnership. 68% have a a college degree or some form of higher education Nearly 68% have household incomes of $75,000 or more. Courtesy the American Homebrewers Association

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Raising a glass to National Beer Day

that, as batch size grows, a more powerful heat source might be necessary to ensure timeliness of the heating process. Siphon/tubing Siphon/tubing makes it easy and less messy to move hot wort and the finished product around. It’s possible to lift and pour the hot wort and finished product, but that increases the risk of spillage. The AHA notes that auto-siphons are an option some home brewers might want to consider. Cleaner Homebrewing materials need to be cleaned thoroughly after each batch. The AHA recommends avoiding scented products, as scents can linger, potentially affecting the flavor and aroma of the finished product. Sanitizers Sanitizers prevent microorganisms from adversely affected brewing equipment. Brewers can create their own sanitizer by adding one ounce of bleach per gallon of water; or they can purchase sanitizers at homebrew shops. Hydrometer The AHA notes that hydrometers, which measure the gravity and sugar density in water, are not technically necessary to brew beer at home. However, hydrometers allow for close monitoring of fermentation and let home brewers calculate specifications like alcohol content.

These are the essentials necessary to begin a homebrewing operation. More information about products necessary for homebrewing, including mashing equipment and the bottling process, is available at www.homebrewersassociation.org. 