Drink: Homebrewing has become a crazy-popular hobby. Here’s how to get started.
Homebrewing expert Gary Glass shares tips for newbies
“With homebrewing, you’re able to create something that’s uniquely yours.”
— Gary Glass, homebrewing expert
Homebrewing has grown from a niche hobby to a passion pursued by some 1.1 million beer lovers nationwide. It’s so popular, the national Brewers Association even has an amateur division, the American Homebrewers Association (www.homebrewersassociation. org), which hosts events such as Big Brew Day on May 4 and Learn to Homebrew Day on Nov. 2 with hundreds of workshops across the country.
Gary Glass joined the homebrewing association in 2000 — and became its director in 2006 — but his days as a homebrewer began in 1993, when he was a student at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. One day, a friend of his roommate brought over a homebrewed strawberry wheat, Glass recalls, and his jaw dropped to the floor. He was already a fan of craft beer, but it had never occurred to him that you could make it yourself. He ordered his first homebrew kit that week.
Glass’ first batch, a hopped extract beer, didn’t turn out that well — and it didn’t help that his too-small pot kept boiling over. But his friends encouraged him to keep trying. So Glass started reading up on the topic and, more importantly, borrowed his mother’s lobster pot. An IPA from Charlie Papazian’s “The Joy of Homebrewing” was an early success, followed by a prizewinning Pilsner and his favorite, a saison that he still brews regularly.
I sat down with Glass to talk about homebrewing, which he describes as “the only hobby where when you’re done, you get to have a beer that you made. You could be knitting and end up with socks, or you could be homebrewing and end up with beer.”
QWhy do you think homebrewing is still popular?
AWhen we talk to homebrewers about why they do it, there are two main reasons. (They enjoy) the scientific aspects of brewing, but more commonly, it’s the artistic expression. With homebrewing, you’re able to create something that’s uniquely yours. Beer is a social beverage, which makes it really easy to share your art form, take (it) to a party and watch other people enjoy it. When somebody really likes something you’ve created, that’s a great feeling.
QHow do you suggest a newbie start?
AOne of the issues is an intimidation factor. So many people are brewing all-grain and have elaborate (homebrewing) set-ups. So I think it’s important to keep things as simple as possible when getting started — with a kit and even an extract, at least for your first batch. Brewing with extracts eliminates the whole mashing process, (which) takes up time and can be fairly complicated. Get comfortable with the brewing process. Then you can add further layers of complexity.
QWhat books would you recommend to get started?
AFirst, there’s “The Complete Joy of Homebrewing” by
Charlie Papazian (William Morrow, $18) and “How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time” by John J. Palmer (Brewers Publications, $25). Then after a few batches, “Brewing Classic Styles” by (Heretic Brewing owner) Jamil Zainasheff and Palmer (Brewers Publications, $20). It’s a really outstanding recipe book.
QWhat other resources do you suggest?
AThe AHA website has lots of resources for beginning homebrewers that will give you the basics. We also have recordings of seminars with expert advice on very specific topics, and over a thousand recipes on the website. Go to a local homebrew supply shop, because they can really steer you into the right equipment for your particular situation.
QAny other advice?
A(Homebrewing is) really fun. It can be really easy and you’re creating something that’s unique to you. You’re able to make a beer that nobody else has ever made, and drink it yourself or share it with your friends.