Relax. Don’t worry. Have a homebrew.
This is the mantra of the homebrewer, the words made famous by the founding father of the art, Charlie Papazian. Around the country — and the world — more and more people are discovering that they can make beer at home, and it’s not only a lot of fun, it tastes good, too.
The history of modern homebrewing in America has been a rocky one. When the United States enacted Prohibition in 1919 (18th Amendment), it made the production of beer and wine at home illegal. In 1933, Prohibition was ended (the 21st Amendment), but a clerical error resulted in the leaving out of “and beer” from the statute that legalized home winemaking. It was not until 1978 that the oversight was corrected when then-President Jimmy Carter legalized brewing at home for “personal or family use.”
Fast-forward to 2012. According to the American Homebrewers Association, there are an estimated 1 million homebrewers in the United States. There were over 1,900 attendees at the 2011 AHA National Homebrewers Conference in San Diego, CA. Alabama and Mississippi remain the only states where homebrewing is not yet legal.
At its most complex, homebrewing can be like a Ph.D. level experiment in biology, chemistry and engineering mixed with a healthy dose of mad science. But at its simplest, it demands only that you can boil water and keep your equipment clean. Getting started is easy and relatively inexpensive. Basic homebrew kits can be picked up for around $100, and a simple batch can cost as little as $30 in ingredients for 5 gallons. Of course, as with any hobby, you could easily spend more. New and fancy equipment, specialty ingredients, tap systems … the list of possibilities is endless. But for the new brewer, all one really needs is a big pot, a couple of buckets and a few small pieces of equipment.
The first question most people ask is: “But is the beer any good?” The answer is simple: It can be. In fact, it can be amazing. Many homebrewers have elevated their hobby to an art. That’s probably why so many professional brewers trace their origins back to homebrewing. Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head Brewing, Greg Koch of Stone Brewing, and Tampa’s own Joey Redner of Cigar City Brewing all got their start at home. Attend any local beer event and there will very likely be a homebrew club or two offering samples of their creations. Try them for yourself.
In Tampa Bay alone we have four homebrew supply shops: The Beer and Winemaker’s Pantry in Pinellas Park, Southern Brewing and Winemaking in Seminole Heights, and Booth’s Brewing and Bootleggers Beer & Winemaking Supply, both in Brandon. In addition to these shops, numerous clubs have cropped up over the years including Tampa Bay B.E.E.R.S., Dunedin Brewers Guild, Pinellas Urban Brewers Guild, Special Hoperations, and the Bootleggers Brandon Homebrew Club. Most gather at least monthly, sharing recipes, hosting speakers and holding “brew days.” New members are always welcome, and it can be a good way to get a feel for what the hobby is like.
The best part, though, is the camaraderie between homebrewers. Brewing alone can be fun, but brewing with a friend or a group is that much more enjoyable. It’s a social hobby, for sure, and one that brings people together from all walks of life. There are no barriers to being a homebrewer. Man or woman, old or young, the only criteria is that you like good beer. And the more creative you are, the more fun you can have.
For online information on homebrewing, check out the American Homebrewers Association (homebrewersassociation.org), Beer & Winemakers Pantry of Pinellas Park (beerandwinemaking.com), Southern Brewing & Winemaking of Tampa (southernbrewingwinemaking.com), Booth’s Brewing in Brandon (boothsbrewing.com) and Bootleggers Beer & Winemaking Supply in Brandon (abootleggingcompany.com).
This article appears in Feb 9-15, 2012.