Craft beer is a hot topic these days. Walk into almost any restaurant, bar or grocery store and you will see at least a handful of domestic and imported micro brews along side the usual suspects. As a craft beer enthusiast this is a welcome invasion and I bask in the seemingly never-ending parade of IPAs, lagers and stouts being created by talented and creative new-generation brewers.

One of most satisfying, fun and educational projects you can do, as a beer lover, is to brew your own beer at home. There is no denying that cracking open a bottle of beer that you made yourself is a remarkable, if not spiritual experience. From the grinding of the grains to the addition of the finishing hops, then fermenting, bottling, capping, and patiently waiting until just the right moment, your appreciation for a good brew will be acutely increased.

To get started on this journey the proper equipment is necessary. This is where Southern Brewing and Winemaking Supply comes in. Located in the Busch Industrial Center, this warehouse/retail space has everything you could possibly want or need for making home brews.

After making a small investment in a brewing start-up kit, which includes all the basic equipment, you're ready to gather your ingredients. Southern Brewing Supply has a binder full of beer recipes and kindly share them with their patrons. These recipes are easy to follow and the grains are all neatly arranged by bin numbers, making it simple to find what you're looking for. Select your hops, malts and yeast and you're ready to start brewing. Sounds easy, huh? Well, the process in itself is fairly simple but can be a little intimidating to a novice. But fear not – owners Kelly and Brian Fenstermacher and their staff are full of beer brewing knowledge and are quick to offer their support, guidance and advice. They also sell a multitude of books on the topic of home brewing.

Southern Brewing Supply conducts brewing classes about once a month that cover everything from the basics of home brewing to making the extract to all-grain transition. These fun and informational tutorials fill up quickly, so get on their mailing list and follow them on Facebook to find out when upcoming classes are being held.

Need some inspiration? SBS also has their own tasting room. While they do not have a license to sell beer, they have 8 rotating taps in a small lounge where patrons can sample the beers made there, and often have "guest brews", beers created by fellow beer lovers. If you select a beer recipe and are not sure about committing the time and effort it takes to create it, there's a good chance that it (or a version of it) is on draught for you to taste.

If you're more of an oenophile, in addition to their extensive beer brewing inventory they also offer a full range of winemaking supplies. Starter kits for red and white wines, bottles, corks and other equipment are all available. As if this weren't enough to make a do-it-yourselfer smile, store manager Jason introduced me to SBS's latest addition – cheesemaking supplies! Kits, books, rennet, molds and cheese wax now have a small but dedicated space on the store's shelves.

If you've been looking for a new hobby and enjoy a hands-on approach home beer brewing is the way to go.You will swell with pride as the fruits of your labor slip coolly past your lips.

Southern Brewing and Winemaking Supply is located at 1717 E. Busch Blvd #806 in Tampa. (813) 374-2174.

This article appears in Sep 16-22, 2010.