Tulare County home brewing group is a hobby with hops – Visalia Times

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Parker had the same realization when it came to the brewing process, there’s a lot more to it than expected. He traveled to Springville to watch the brewing process with a TC HOPS member.

Nearly every weekend a member of the organization is brewing at home, providing plenty of opportunities for beginners to learn the craft from fellow members.

“You have to read if you want to learn. And if you really want to learn it’s good to have someone show you,” Parker said. “You need to start studying and reading.”

Parker introduced his brother-in-law Jerry Hallberg to TC HOPS and he joined a year ago. Two weeks ago they met to bottle their latest brew.

Like the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company, Parker and Hallberg bottle-conditioned their beer, meaning it was partially fermented in the bottle using a small amount of corn sugar mixture. The process is done in order to add carbonation.

Beers in kegs are carbonated using a high pressure gas injection.

“In a week to ten days we’ll take a bottle, chill it and taste it to see if it’s carbonated,” Parker said.

The beer came in at 6.4 percent alcohol.

Beer goals

McWilliams is happy with his current setup but said the next step is going to be a big one.

The goal is to eventually provide beer for a local restaurant using 150 gallon tanks he purchased or selling directly to the public in a small pub.

The two tanks were previously used to make food grade soap but McWilliams plans on converting them to be used for brewing. A small location would have to be found for the brewing to be done.

A side business isn’t Emery’s only goal with homebrewing. Entering beer making competitions is also near the top of his list.

“I just want to create quality, unique beers,” he said. “The competitiveness is there but once I get better and more confident I’ll start to enter.”

Contest like the Homebrew competition and HomeVintner competitions at the Tulare County Fair, which Parker has placed in.

Parker’s American Pale Ale and Chardonnay placed second and third respectively.

Someday opening a restaurant or pub offering his creations has come across his mind but he doesn’t see it happening.

“It’s possible but highly doubtful,” Parker said. “I wouldn’t enjoy doing that. I enjoy it because I do it when I want to.”

Family reaction

Two of Emery’s biggest fans aren’t beer drinkers, his wife and mother-in-law, who once tried his beer out of sympathy.

Those most excited about Emery’s quest into home brewing are his friends.

“They’re excited and want to know about it and want samples,” he said. “I’m already getting better and more positive reaction from them, probably because they want to be on my list of beer tasters.”