Home beer-brewing and winemaking on the rise, survey shows – Florida Times
More people are making their own beer and wine.
The American Homebrewers Association said yesterday that its annual survey of retail beer- and wine-making supply stores showed gross revenue at those businesses grew by an average of 26 percent in 2012.
Some of the stores surveyed also sell other retail goods such as gardening supplies. For those that specialize in homebrew ingredients and equipment, gross revenues increased on average by 29 percent, the AHA said. That’s 2 percent higher than the 2011 survey results, and 10 percent higher than the results from the first AHA supply shop survey in 2009.
The AHA said 275 homebrew shops in 47 states participated in the survey.
“As homebrewing continues to grow, retail shops are responding accordingly, satisfying the needs of their increasing customer base,” said Gary Glass, AHA director.
About 80 percent of the shops reported increased sales of beginner homebrew equipment kits, indicating more people are getting into the hobby for the first time. Most of those fermentation newbies were in the 30 to 39 age range.
Sales of beer ingredients continued to outpace wine ingredients, with shops reporting an average of 35 percent of retail revenue coming from beer ingredients vs. 21 percent from wine ingredients.
In Jacksonville, Just Brew It operates two beer- and wine-making supply stores: Its main store in Riverside and a branch it opened in Jacksonville Beach in 2011. And Jacksonville’s Cowford Ale Sharing Klub (CASK) homebrew club has grown from about 150 to more than 300 active members in just a few years.
See the complete AHA report here.
Discovering the art of beer
Beer
Cyndi bottles a batch of Belgian Stout following fermentation. It is interesting to note that dark beer tends to have fewer calories than paler colored beer since the grain is roasted longer.
Posted: Tuesday, April 2, 2013 10:53 am
|
Updated: 5:07 pm, Tue Apr 2, 2013.
Gladwin County Record and Beaverton Clarion
The art of beer making has been around since the age of the Egyptians. Pharoahs consumed beer in their daily diet over 5000 years ago. Along with wine, cheese and pickled vegetables, beer making was simply a way to let food rot in a controlled manner so it could be consumed later. Preservation of food supplies was a constant concern back in those days, and fermentation and coagulation were two techniques used. Historically, most beer was made for the purpose of grain preservation and as a safe alternative to drinking contaminated water. Now we brew and consume beer for an enjoyable taste experience. A cold glass of lagered beer accompanying a grilled bratwurst, or a pale ale sipped while “picking” crabs at a picnic table piled high with Chesapeake Bay blue crabs, steamed in Old Bay seasoning are two such occasions. Prior to Prohibition there were thousands of breweries in the United States. Pre-Prohibition beer was brewed heavier and with higher alcohol content than modern day beers. Boot-leggers watered down beer to make the modern beer we are most familiar with. Watering down beer greatly increased boot-leggers’ profits and that trend continues today. In 1979 President Jimmy Carter signed into law a bill allowing home beer brewing. Prior to 1979 time home brewing was not permitted without paying the excise taxes, held over from the Prohibition Era. Home brewers are allowed to brew 100 gallons per adult per year (200 gallons per household per year). Alabama is currently the only state where it is illegal to brew beer at home. Why would anyone want to make their own beer? Home-brewed beer can be cheaper than purchasing premium beers, but many brands can be bought for much less than it costs to brew your own. Home-brewing allows beer connoisseurs to taste styles of beer that cannot be readily purchased, and to experiment with addition of fermentable sugars like honey and maple syrup. Home beer brewing is something like working in the chemistry laboratory. Brewers begin with malted grains. Malted grain is partially germinated grain, usually barley, roasted to various degrees of doneness. The malted grains are steeped, soaking the grains in hot water, and draining the liquid into a pot to make wort. The wort is boiled with flavoring hops. Hops are the female flowers of the Humulus lupulus plant that both flavor and stabilize beer. At the end of the boil bittering hops are added, along with additional fermentable sugars. After cooling the wort, yeast is added and the beer is placed under appropriate conditions to ferment. These conditions, such as temperature and length of time, depend on the type of yeast being added and kind of beer desired as your end product. Following fermentation home brewers add priming sugar to their beer and bottle it. Priming sugar stimulates the yeast living in the liquid to “carbonate” the beer. Some home brewers skip this step and add carbon dioxide for carbonation via mechanical means. Michigan certainly has a booming beer industry. Michigan has over 100 craft and microbreweries scattered throughout the state. Malting houses and hops farms have sprung up in Michigan to support the growing beer brewing industry. A craft beer brewery is defined as a brewer that produces less than 6 million barrels of beer and a microbrewery produces less than 30 million barrels annually. A barrel of beer contains 31 gallons. In comparison to these smaller breweries, Anheuser-Busch produces around 161 million barrels of beer annually. The Pure Michigan website features beer tours, beer festivals, and maps of Michigan microbreweries. The tremendous agricultural diversity in Michigan lends itself to a great diversity in beers. Like most of our projects we enjoy learning the process and experimenting with different fermentable sugars, hops and yeasts to make unique home brewed beer.
More about Brewing
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Updated: 5:07 pm.
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The Art of Home Beer Brewing (with Video)
February 21, 2013
Updated Feb 22, 2013 at 8:53 AM EST
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (www.incnow.tv) – It may not be common knowledge, but the city of Fort Wayne has a long, rich history of beer brewing which dates back as far as 1853. And that popularity is still relevant today with the latest trend in beer making – home brews.
The first commercial brewery in town was opened by Herman Hartman, a fire fighter by trade, back in 1853. Then a few years later in 1862 the French Brewery was opened by brothers Charles and Frank Centlivre, but would later change its name to the Centlivre Brewing Company.
That brewery was built on the banks of the St. Joseph River near the State Street Bridge across from North Side High School. In 1961 they would again rename the company to Old Crown, but operations would ultimately cease by December 1973.
A local presence of that brewery can still be seen however, as a statue of C.L. Centlivre still stands atop Don Hall’s Guesthouse on East Superior Street.
To learn more about the history of beer making across Indiana, visit IndianaBeer.com
But what good is it to talk about beer making in Fort Wayne without talking about the Mad Anthony Brewing Company. Since 1998 they have been offering delicious food and beer across Northeastern Indiana.
The brewery and restaurant carries more than 50 varieties of beer throughout the year, brewing more than 2,000 gallons of its finest brews annually. Their success and popularity in the area has allowed them to expand to four locations. One in Fort Wayne at Taylor and Broadway, more in Warsaw and Auburn, as well as an alehouse in Angola.
Like any business, Mad Anthony had to get its start somewhere, and as far as the beer goes, that was up to Co-Founder Todd Grantham. Like hundreds of brewers in the Fort Wayne area, Grantham got his start as a home brewer.
When it comes to home brewing, one local brewer thinks of it as a great hobby.
“In the long run (it is) definitely cost effective,” home brewer Josh Peebles says, “I’m not spending a bunch of money on beer all the time, and it lasts me a lot longer than a regular case of beer would.”
Joe Martin, the manager at Brewers Art Supply describes his love for beer making as fun, adding “I get to be artistic and I get to be creative, and that’s kind of the beauty of the whole hobby is it gives you the freedom to really do and create whatever you want. And when you’re done you get beer to drink!”
So just how easy is brewing your own beer? According to Martin, there are only four ingredients to make beer – a good quality water source, malted barley, hops, and yeast.
For a crash course on brewing up your own beer, click on the video link.
Not only is it tasty, home brewing can be cost-efficient as well.
“Generally the kits I make, make about 50 beers per pack, so if I’ve got one in the fridge already I can start making another one and it’ll be done by the time the next one is gone.”
With initial costs running between $90 and $120, home brewing kits are easy to get your hands on. Most places that sell the home brew kits have everything already packaged together in a box.
“Your possibilities are limitless with home brewing,” Martin says. “Once you get the equipment and the necessary supplies, and the knowledge, I mean it pretty much opens you up to about any beer style that you could possibly ever want to make or brew.”
The Art of Home Beer Brewing (video)
February 21, 2013
Updated Feb 21, 2013 at 6:47 PM EST
FORT WAYNE, Ind. (www.incnow.tv) – It may not be common knowledge, but the city of Fort Wayne has a long, rich history of beer brewing which dates back as far as 1853. And that popularity is still relevant today with the latest trend in beer making – home brews.
The first commercial brewery in town was opened by Herman Hartman, a fire fighter by trade, back in 1853. Then a few years later in 1862 the French Brewery was opened by brothers Charles and Frank Centlivre, but would later change its name to the Centlivre Brewing Company.
That brewery was built on the banks of the St. Joseph River near the State Street Bridge across from North Side High School. In 1961 they would again rename the company to Old Crown, but operations would ultimately cease by December 1973.
A local presence of that brewery can still be seen however, as a statue of C.L. Centlivre still stands atop Don Hall’s Guesthouse on East Superior Street.
To learn more about the history of beer making across Indiana, visit IndianaBeer.com
But what good is it to talk about beer making in Fort Wayne without talking about the Mad Anthony Brewing Company. Since 1998 they have been offering delicious food and beer across Northeastern Indiana.
The brewery and restaurant carries more than 50 varieties of beer throughout the year, brewing more than 2,000 gallons of its finest brews annually. Their success and popularity in the area has allowed them to expand to four locations. One in Fort Wayne at Taylor and Broadway, more in Warsaw and Auburn, as well as an alehouse in Angola.
Like any business, Mad Anthony had to get its start somewhere, and as far as the beer goes, that was up to Co-Founder Todd Grantham. Like hundreds of brewers in the Fort Wayne area, Grantham got his start as a home brewer.
When it comes to home brewing, one local brewer thinks of it as a great hobby.
“In the long run (it is) definitely cost effective,” home brewer Josh Peebles says, “I’m not spending a bunch of money on beer all the time, and it lasts me a lot longer than a regular case of beer would.”
Joe Martin, the manager at Brewers Art Supply describes his love for beer making as fun, adding “I get to be artistic and I get to be creative, and that’s kind of the beauty of the whole hobby is it gives you the freedom to really do and create whatever you want. And when you’re done you get beer to drink!”
So just how easy is brewing your own beer? According to Martin, there are only four ingredients to make beer – a good quality water source, malted barley, hops, and yeast.
For a crash course on brewing up your own beer, click on the video link.
Not only is it tasty, home brewing can be cost-efficient as well.
“Generally the kits I make, make about 50 beers per pack, so if I’ve got one in the fridge already I can start making another one and it’ll be done by the time the next one is gone.”
With initial costs running between $90 and $120, home brewing kits are easy to get your hands on. Most places that sell the home brew kits have everything already packaged together in a box.
“Your possibilities are limitless with home brewing,” Martin says. “Once you get the equipment and the necessary supplies, and the knowledge, I mean it pretty much opens you up to about any beer style that you could possibly ever want to make or brew.”
Milwaukee-Based Beer Brewing Company, Spike Brewing, Launches Website to … – Virtual
The Milwaukee-based company, Spike Brewing, has recently launched a brand new website that aims to bring affordable home beer brewing options to a niche, yet highly priced market.
Milwaukee, WI. (PRWEB) January 22, 2013
With the increasing cost of goods and services in today’s economy, it is no surprise that the cost of alcohol has also seen significant price increases. In order to remain a competitive player in today’s marketplace, a business must adapt to these ever-changing trends. Spike Brewing, an American-based brewing equipment and supply company, brings quality yet affordable home brewing options to the masses. With handcrafted quality, Spike Brewing offers brewing equipment such as brew kettles, brew pots, and other brewing essentials to Americans who wish to try their hand at home brewing at a reasonable and affordable price.
All of Spike’s stainless steel brew kettles and supplies are welded and assembled in the USA. Their unique welding method for all of their pots, kettles, and fittings provide not only a sturdy and durable product thick enough to withstand the impact of a bullet (it’s true!), but also one that is aesthetically appealing.
“We are currently the only company that offers sanitarily TIG welded couplers on our kettles. Most companies use weld-less fittings, which we believe is an inferior way to attach ball valves, thermometers and sight glasses.”
Another advantage to utilizing brew equipment that has been welded (vs. weld-less) is the sanitary factor. Due to the robust build of a welded pot or kettle, the chance of leakage or contamination is greatly reduced. Additionally, welded brewing equipment generally means that there are fewer parts to clean; making it less likely for the beer you’re brewing to become contaminated with old, unwanted substances and chemicals that could potentially ruin your entire batch.
Located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (which is ironically the beer capital of the US), Spike Brewing was started by Ben Caya – a Milwaukee resident and a graduate from a Mechanical Engineering degree program at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Initially, Mr. Caya began the company as more of a pastime to earn some extra money while going to school. However, he soon noticed that his once part time “hobby” quickly evolved into a full time occupation, providing quality yet affordable home brewing solutions for individuals nationwide.
“I started the company three years ago, in 2009, to make a few extra bucks for my weekend beer fund. It was a semi-full time job throughout college, and now I’m supplying equipment for the brewing community full time.”
“I started the company three years ago, in 2009, to make a few extra bucks for my weekend beer fund. It was a semi-full time job throughout college, and now I’m supplying equipment for the brewing community full time.”
Despite being in the home brewing business for quite some time, Spike Brewing was only recently incorporated in the summer of 2011. Mr. Caya and his team started off brewing small batches of “keggles” (a keg that is converted into a fully functional kettle or mashing vessel essentially) from 15.5 gallon beer kegs. However, the demand rapidly outgrew their keg supply, forcing them to convert to using stock pots for their brews and eventually leading to the manufacturing of their very own brew kettles.
Spike Brewing offers a wide variety of all-stainless steel brew kettles that are available in a range of sizes, depending upon the needs of the brewer. Dedicated to producing high quality brew pots and home brewing supplies, Spike Brewing provides affordable brewing options without compromising quality along the way. With kettles that are built to last a lifetime it’s not surprising that this startup has evolved into a full fledge online brew equipment company and is now serving thousands of customers Nationwide.
Check out the recently launched website and products at http://www.spikebrewing.com/
Contact Information:
Ben Caya
Owner – Spike Brewing LLC
ben(at)spikebrewing(dot)com
Order Toll Free 1.888.282.2566
For the original version on PRWeb visit: http://www.prweb.com/releases/prweb2013/1/prweb10257600.htm
Things Are Brewing at Altria
Submitted by Randall Radic as part of our
contributors program
.
Altria (
MO
) reported third-quarter earnings of 58 cents per share, surpassing
the previous year’s same quarter results by 3.6%. According to
Altria, the improvement was driven by two primary factors: higher
sales from the company’s investment in SAB Miller and the buyback
of outstanding shares. Some analysts expected micro-brews and the
increasing popularity of home
beer brewing supplies
to impact SAB Miller’s market share. If there was any impact, it
was negligible.
Briefly, the important data is as follows: Altria beat
expectations on revenues and met expectations on earnings per
share. Gross margins decreased, operating margins expanded, and net
margins fell. For the third-quarter, the gross margin was 55.6%, 90
basis points less than the same quarter of the previous year.
Operating margins went the other way, increasing by 44.3%, 90 basis
points more than the previous year’s quarter. And net margins,
compared to the previous year’s quarter, suffered by 14.7%, a drop
of 1,240 basis points.
Revenues at Altria rose 2.2% to $4.47 billion because of strong
growth in smoke-able products. Also on the positive side, Altria is
engaged in an active program of cost reductions across the board.
Nevertheless, there are external negative factors that might affect
the company: adverse excise taxes could result in price increases,
especially in Altria’s premium brands. And then there is the
ever-looming cloud of litigation expenses. The negative factors are
causing some investors to adopt wait-and-see attitudes.
Jeffries Group set their price target on Altria at $33, giving
the stock a hold rating. Goldman Sachs set a price target of $35,
and stated their position as neutral on the stock. In contrast,
Citigroup bumped Altria’s stock from neutral to a buy rating,
giving a target price of $39.
Altria’s shares dropped just over 1% last week, to $29.55. The
company’s 52-week high was $36.29, and its 52-week low was $26.96.
Altria’s market cap is $65.207 billion, with a P/E ration of 16.75,
which would appear to contradict the wait-and-see perspective.
Analysts estimate next quarter’s revenue at $4.36 billion, which
puts the average earnings per share at 54 cents. The estimate for
next year’s revenue is $17.37 billion, with the earnings per share
estimate of $2.20.
Most investors like the outlook for Altria. Over 90% of the
Motley Fool’s members rate the stock as outperform. And the
highest-ranked CAPS members give Altria a buy rating. Most Wall
Street analysts concur, with the above noted exceptions of Jeffries
Group and Goldman Sachs, taking the position that the company will
outperform expectations.
Central Texans Are Brewing It Right – KCEN
(KCEN) — It’s a drink that dates back to the Ancient Civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.
And now hundreds of Central Texans are brewing it right in their own homes.
The home beer brewing movement has taken off and these beer lovers spend weeks even months to get that perfect batch.
For Patrick Mason there’s nothing quite like drinking a beer, especially when you made it from scratch.
Mason, a home brewer, says, “It feels great. First of all its beer. And second of all its something that I made that tastes like a professional made it.”
It’s his love for beer that sent him into what he calls an obsession with home brewing.
He’s got the whole set up, and even engineered some of his own devices.
Patrick makes a 10 gallon batch at a time that way he can share.
And maybe even save some money.
“The beer is cheaper. The actual ingredients is about half the price that you pay at the store . But I always tell people, don’t get into the hobby cause you want to save money cause you wont.”
The Black Hawk Brewing Supply is where it all starts.
Owner Mark Laak gets everything from new to experienced brewers through his doors, and explains from start to finish what you need to do start brewing.
At first glance it all looks pretty complicated. There are thermometers and flasks and it pretty much looks like a laboratory, but anyone will a little extra time can brew some beer.
“It’s not very complicated at all, actually if you can follow a recipe you can make beer,” Laak says.
“They buy their basic kit, they buy an ingredient kit, they get their bottles and pots and they’re out the door ready to go.”
The brewing process takes anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, then comes fermentation that’s about 3 to 4 days.
And once you bottle it you only have to wait 2 to 3 weeks until you can drink your own beer.
Laak says, “We sell all the ingredients to make your own beer.”
The trend spreads through word of mouth and the military has a lot to do with it.
“When they’re on deployments they all sit around and talk and then eventually you’ll have like 15 or 20 because everyone is like ohh that sounds like a fun hobby.”
Even though it’s a hobby Patrick enjoys.
“This is how you can tell you love beer. Haha thank you.”
He hopes to make it something more than that.
“I look at it as an opportunity, my wife and I will hopefully one day plan to open a brewery here in Texas.”
A hobby turned into a passion.
You can get into home brewing for as little as $150.
And some brews like ales don’t require refrigeration during the fermentation making it easier.
Reporter: Tania Ortega
W.Va. home brewers turn curiosity into craft
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) — Many different circumstances can draw someone toward home beer brewing.
It could be a lack of quality beer in their area, or it could be that they just like to drink the stuff they make themselves, said local beer aficionado Rob Absten.
Absten, 43, of Cross Lanes, has been brewing beer on his own for about five years.
The attorney actually made his first stab at brewing when he was in college, but that attempt at making a palatable brew failed, and the hobby fell to the wayside.
But when Absten moved back here from Pittsburgh, he was frustrated by the lack of quality craft beers.
“Finding a good beer in this area at the time was really hard,” he said.
He moved back before the state Legislature passed a law making it legal to sell beer with alcohol content higher than 6 percent. That law was passed in 2009.
Many craft beers have higher alcohol content and could not be sold in the state until the law was changed.
So Absten purchased a home-brew kit, read up on the basics and jumped back into the hobby.
Now he is seeing many others try it out and it doesn’t surprise him. More people are growing their own food, and making beer falls along those lines, he said.
The increased availability of craft beer actually encourages people to try brewing, he added.
“Having good beer available will mean people want even more good beer,” he said while sipping an American pale ale he made himself. “It just feeds on itself.”
Home-brewing isn’t difficult, he added. Kits are available online at a variety of different websites starting at $50.
Of course, the kits can be much more expensive depending on the complexity of the system.
“You can spend as much money as you want to on them,” he said.
One website where brewing kits can be obtained is the Mr. Beer site at www.mrbeer.com. They also can be obtained at stores in cities in surrounding states such as Cincinnati; Athens, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, he said.
Absten and another local beer enthusiast, Rich Ireland, 50, of Charleston, say the hobby attracts people from all walks of life. Ireland is a salesman in the instrumentation business.
“It’s mainly the curious types that get into home brewing,” Ireland said. “Then you have your hippies and farmer types that like it because they made it.”
Ireland also has seen people take up brewing because they enjoy the scientific process of turning barley, hops and yeast into something they can drink in front of the television set.
Ireland, the author of a local beer blog, has been making his own beer for about 20 years.
“I was always curious about it,” he said.
About two decades ago, Ireland went to a professional meeting for his job and met a home brewer. He tasted the man’s homemade beer and the rest is history, he said.
“I wanted to make that beer,” Ireland said.
Ireland continues because he enjoys the challenge.
“I used to do it so I could have a good, drinkable beer,” he said.
There is something very satisfying about drinking beer that you have made yourself, Ireland said. Absten agreed, saying there were few things he found more satisfying.
Ireland is most commonly asked how long it takes to brew beer.
“On average, it takes anywhere from three weeks to six weeks,” he said.
Both men say they have to convince people that a home-brewer can turn out a high-quality product.
Ireland said starter kits work well for beginners, who sometimes advance to more complex systems. But he believes the people who stick with the hobby the longest have basic kits and make basic beers.
“It’s not about the equipment,” he said. “The equipment is nice, but it’s not what keeps you doing it (brewing). Some of the best home brewers keep it very simple.”
Absten and Ireland have helped start an organization dedicated to the beverage, the Kanawha Regional Association of Zymurgy Enthusiasts or K.R.A.Z.E.
Zymurgy is the applied science related to fermentation. The group, which is made up of beer enthusiasts and home brewers, meets monthly to discuss craft beer and the art of brewing, Absten said.
Novices are encouraged to join.
“This isn’t just for home brewers,” Absten said. “It’s for people that want to talk about good beer.”
The group has a Facebook page and gives enthusiasts a chance to gather monthly at various locations in Charleston, Absten said. The easiest way to join is to come to a meeting, he added.
The next meeting will be at Bruno’s on Leon Sullivan Way at 7 p.m. Nov. 8. There is no fee to join, but the group accepts donations from members.
“We’re always accepting new members,” he said.
A Vote For Beer
Submitted by Randall Radic as part of our contributors program.
Not too long ago, I wrote a short piece about beer brewing supplies and the home brewing fad that seems to be taking off like a rocket. The whole thing is fueled by the fact that President Obama is into home brewing. Once the rest of the country heard the President was brewing his own beer, everybody decided to jump on the band wagon.
The White House brews three different beers: Honey Porter, Honey Ale, and Honey Blonde, all of which revolve around honey from the First Lady’s beehives on the South Lawn. And due to overwhelming demand and a lot of whining from home beer brewing fanatics, the recipes or formulas or techniques or processes (whatever beer recipes are called) were released at the beginning of September. Well, two out of three were, which, as Meatloaf sang, “ain’t bad.” Supposedly, the secret ingredients for Honey Blonde went missing.
President Obama has been hauling a stash of his White House beer around with him on his campaign bus, in effect using it as a campaign prop, which probably isn’t a bad idea seeing as how the Republican candidate is a Mormon teetotaler.
Some guy named Ray Daniels, who is an expert beer sommelier, got to look at the recipe. After looking it over, he tweeted “That should be a peacemaker!” When asked to explain what the tweet meant, he explained he was referring to the White House beer’s potential potency – more than seven percent alcohol. About twice as potent as most American beers.
What he was saying was that President Obama’s beer packs a punch. He also went on to say that the White House beers reflect our country’s heritage: by putting honey in them, they added something to the standard European recipe that makes it totally different and unique.
Reportedly, President Obama purchased his beermaking kit in 2011, and began making beer. Each batch produces fifty-two bottles of beer. According to Daniels, there’s nothing fancy about the White House recipes. They are straight-forward and simple, utilizing malt extracts, which makes the whole process easier.
Daniels said that the President’s choices – a porter and an ale – showed a great deal of insight, because they are both malty and sit on the sweeter side of the taste scale. This makes them appealing to most beer drinkers in America. Beers made with darker grains go well with any type of food that’s roasted or grilled, especially beef and pork. And Honey Ale goes well with such foods as pizza and sandwiches.
Now, if we could just get the recipe for the Honey Blonde, we could all relax and stop fretting. Maybe he’ll just happen to find it if he’s re-elected.
You can just call these beer enthusiasts the Brews Brothers – Daily Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Many different circumstances can draw someone toward home beer brewing.
It could be a lack of quality beer in their area, or it could be that they just like to drink the stuff they make themselves, said local beer aficionado Rob Absten.
Absten, 43, of Cross Lanes, has been brewing beer on his own for about five years.
The attorney actually made his first stab at brewing when he was in college, but that attempt at making a palatable brew failed, and the hobby fell to the wayside.
But when Absten moved back here from Pittsburgh, he was frustrated by the lack of quality craft beers.
“Finding a good beer in this area at the time was really hard,” he said.
He moved back before the state Legislature passed a law making it legal to sell beer with alcohol content higher than 6 percent. That law was passed in 2009.
Many craft beers have higher alcohol content and could not be sold in the state until the law was changed.
So Absten purchased a home-brew kit, read up on the basics and jumped back into the hobby.
Now he is seeing many others try it out and it doesn’t surprise him. More people are growing their own food, and making beer falls along those lines, he said.
The increased availability of craft beer actually encourages people to try brewing, he added.
“Having good beer available will mean people want even more good beer,” he said while sipping an American pale ale he made himself. “It just feeds on itself.”
Home-brewing isn’t difficult, he added. Kits are available online at a variety of different websites starting at $50.
Of course, the kits can be much more expensive depending on the complexity of the system.
“You can spend as much money as you want to on them,” he said.
One website where brewing kits can be obtained is the Mr. Beer site at www.mrbeer.com. They also can be obtained at stores in cities in surrounding states such as Cincinnati; Athens, Ohio; and Pittsburgh, he said.
Absten and another local beer enthusiast, Rich Ireland, 50, of Charleston, say the hobby attracts people from all walks of life. Ireland is a salesman in the instrumentation business.
“It’s mainly the curious types that get into home brewing,” Ireland said. “Then you have your hippies and farmer types that like it because they made it.”
Ireland also has seen people take up brewing because they enjoy the scientific process of turning barley, hops and yeast into something they can drink in front of the television set.
Ireland, the author of a local beer blog, has been making his own beer for about 20 years.
“I was always curious about it,” he said.
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