Anniversary of Homebrew Legalization | October 14

Raise a glass and be thankful, for October 14 is the anniversary of homebrew legalization! In what arguably launched the craft beer movement, President Jimmy Carter signed HR1337 on October 14, 1978, allowing adults to annually brew up to 100 gallons of beer. Read More

Ultimate 6er | Beers Homebrewers Replicate

What prompts a beer drinker into becoming a homebrewer is each owns journey. Maybe they think it will be cheaper, but who are they kidding. Maybe it’s to test their abilities. Regardless of why they started, it’s almost guaranteed that the specific beer propelled them deeper into the world of homebrewing. Read More

Stuck at Home? Perhaps it’s Time to Try Homebrewing

Favorite bars and taprooms closed? Local brewery not offering a drive-through for cans and crowlers? Way, way too much time on your hands these days?

Perhaps it’s time to consider, or rediscover, the joy of homebrewing. Homebrewing combines the creativity of crafting your own brew with the satisfaction that you made it all by yourself. Plus there’s a certain magic in watching yeast turn a murky sludge of water, grain and hops into a clear, tasty beverage that you can get buzzed off of. Read More

Learn to Homebrew Day is November 2

In 1999, Learn To Homebrew Day was established by the American Homebrewers Association to promote the most rewarding, and delicious activity of all time — homebrewing. This is what is written on the AHA’s website about this event. It is a day that many homebrewers the world around have come to their local homebrew stores or friends or even the internet to learn the hobby that you can literally drink to! 

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Homebrewing Recipe | The Homebrewer’s Spice Rack (Inspired by Scratch Brewing)

The adventurous spirit of the brewer gives life to the craft beer industry. From humble beginnings creating experimental homebrews to large scale operations, the way styles and ingredients revolutionize our palates is nothing short of incredible. That’s what gave me a real appreciation for Scratch Brewing Company whose philosophy of forage-to-keg brewing really tests what beer is capable of. I had to own their book “The Homebrewer’s Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to Making Your Own Beer From Scratch” after our fellow PorchDrinking writer David Nilsen covered it in loving detail.

(Read: Book Review & Interview | The Homebrewer’s Almanac)

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Homebrewing Recipe | Top of the Morning Cream Ale

Homebrewers are driven by the desire to make new recipes. Usually when we recreate an old recipe, we try to improve on past mistakes or change ingredients to make a better product. This is the one beer recipe I’ve made more than once thanks to it’s quality. I present to you my award-winning Top of the Morning Cream Ale!
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New Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest will Award “Brewership” and Scholarship

Is brewing beer your dream job? The new Samuel Adams LongShot American Homebrew Contest is helping homebrewers go pro. This contest will award “brewership” and a scholarship to a renowned brewing institute to help homebrewers pursue brewing professionally.

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The Unknown Brewing Co. Releases Garage Ninja Homebrew Collaboration

The Unknown Brewing Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina announces the release of their 2nd Homebrewers collaboration: Garage Ninja.

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Starr Hill Brewery | Vernal Equinox English IPA

ABV: 6.1 | IBU: 40

For any serious homebrewer, the ultimate dream is for one of their recipes to ultimately reach out to audiences beyond their immediate reach. Starr Hill Brewing, located in Crozet, Virginia, has made that dream a reality when recreating the Vernal Equinox English IPA.

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Homebrewing | Death to Pumpkin Beers Recipe

I know right now you’ve read the title and instantly assumed I am counter to everything that is right in the world. You are all chanting your fall mantras, “the spice expands consciousness, the spice is life and who controls the spice controls fall.” But I for one cannot take any more overly sweet, acrid, or overly spiced pumpkin beers. I think the problem is the gourd itself. Pumpkin, at least to the brewing process, primarily bring nothing but starches and very minor sweetness to the party. This inherently pushes the spices to the front and leaves nothing but the harsh wash of cinnamon on the palette. Enter the contender! Apple brings much more than pumpkin in the way of sweetness aroma, fall character, and a lasting drinkability that fits not just for early fall but all the way through Thanksgiving and into early December. A balanced apple pie presence to amplify an amber caramel and malt forward beer style is a match made in heaven. Read More

Fizzics Brings Draft Beer to the Home

When friends get together at a bar and begin drinking beer there’s no telling where the conversation might go. From rehashing old stories, to a lively debate, to pondering even the toughest of life’s questions — anything goes when you’re drinking with friends.

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National Homebrew Day Celebrates Reinheitsgebot

Raise a glass, drink a beer, and kiss, it’s National Homebrew Day! I know that sounds odd, so let me explain.

In 1988, Congress declared May 7 as National Homebrew Day. So … Read More

My First Beer: How I Started Homebrewing

I remember my first beer. I dumped it down the drain.

I brewed my first beer as a way to deal with something extremely personal. Growing up in Aurora and becoming … Read More

Event Preview | Cherry Blossom Homebrew Competition: A Budding Event

Washington D.C. may be buried in frigid temperatures, but the cherry blossoms are still on tap to bloom in early April. This means that homebrewers are also on tap to compete in the DC Homebrewers Club‘s 3rd annual competition featuring the best in inspired brewing, for beer lovers of all experience levels. Read More

Brewery Showcase | Factotum Brewhouse

Address: 3845 Lipan St. Denver, CO 80211 Hours of Operation Mon: Closed Tue-Thu: 4-10pm Fri: 3-10pm Sat: 12-10pm Sun: 12-8pm

I first met Laura Bruns in a classroom. It was the … Read More

Home Brewing Kits As Mail-Order Subscriptions

It seems nowadays you can sign up for just about anything with a mail-order subscription. From razor blades to cosmetics, the convenience of having a product consistently come to your door is one that is catching on fast. Home brewers will soon have the opportunity to join the trend and have their brewing supplies delivered right to their door.

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Event Preview | Ohio Brew Week

Every summer, Ohio Brew Week takes over my tiny hometown of Athens, Ohio. Unfortunately, I tend to be on vacation for most of it. However, this year, I’m skipping the beach and staying here. The 10th Anniversary of Ohio Brew Week takes place July 10-18, and is bound to be the best one yet!

The brainchild of Dan Gates, former director of Ohio Brew Week, and the late Jon Sparhawk, a local business owner, this week-long “celebration of craft brewing” started as an idea “to attract visitors to Athens in the summertime when Ohio University is not in full session as a way to help restaurants and hotels survive those slower months.” Since then, it has expanded, and now includes more than 76 events, over 276 craft beers and awesome keynote speakers, like Steve Hindy, Chairman and Co-Founder of The Brooklyn Brewery and former Athens paperboy. Read More

Living the Dream | Making a Beer Store a Reality

Beer lovers daydream of quitting their day jobs, changing their careers and getting started in the brewing world. Become a brewer or a bar owner or a distributor — anything where you taste, sip and enjoy beer all day long.

Beth Helle and Julie Drews are doing it.

Yes, be jealous. Well, sort of (no surprise, it’s a lot of work).

Beth chatted with PorchDrinking.com about the new beer, wine and homebrew store she and Julie are opening in Alrington, Va. After hours of consideration, months of saving and piles of research, The Brew Shop will open this fall with a heavy focus on all things locally sourced. Read More

Homebrewing | Storage Tips and Tricks

Photo courtesy of www.southernminn.com 

If you’ve given home brewing a shot, you’re not alone.

Recent research by the American Homebrewers Association shows that there are 1.2 million homebrewers in the … Read More

Event Preview | AHA Big Brew

Photo Courtesy of American Homebrewers Association

If you’re one of the 1.2 million homebrewers in the United States, get ready to raise your glasses and open your bottles.

The American … Read More