Five Reasons Why Homebrewing is Insanely Fun

I’ll admit, I haven’t always been a beer drinker. Yet, my husband is an enthusiastic hobbyist and, in his effort to figure out what sorts of interests he liked and which weren’t for him, he has dabbled frequently in the art of homebrewing. An avid craft beer lover himself, the notion of making it from the comfort of his own home, where he could control the ingredients, play with the mixture and add in flavors he loves has always been intriguing to him. As such, over the years we have enjoyed creating and bottling many different types of beer for our friends and family, our favorite being a pale ale that we lovingly named “Pablale” after our Bichon Frise, Pablo.

Still unsure whether or not homebrewing is worth the work? While it can be a little time-consuming to get started, the rewards far outweigh the setbacks. Here are five reasons why.

1. It’s inexpensive.

Think about it. You could spend your hard-earned money on a case of beer that’s quickly consumed, or you could invest that cash into a few pieces of homebrewing equipment and ingredients and have the tools to create tons more brew for your bang.

True, once you factor in the initial cost of the equipment (which will vary, depending on what you want to create and how much you want to spend) plus the ingredients to brew your batch, each individual beer will likely end up costing more than it would if you bought a cheap, light beer at home. Rather, it will be comparable to what a high-end craft beer would be. The difference? The more time you spend in the kitchen with your tools, the more adept you’ll become at the craft, and you’ll soon be able to create precisely the kind of beer that you love.

What’s more, after you’ve bought your equipment and are simply restocking your ingredients, the average cost per beer you brew will be less than even the most inexpensive beer you can find at the store. The quality, though, will still be superior.

2. It’s not as difficult as you might think.

Can you boil water? Great, you’re well on your way to making beer at home. While you’ll have to spend time and do a little research to make sure you’re sanitizing your bottles and other tools correctly, that’s usually the most labor-intensive part. The rest is pure fun.

Sure, there are fancy ingredients you can add and intricate bottling practices you can try, but for the most part, this is a simple pastime meant to amplify your confidence in the kitchen. Once you create a brew that you’re insanely proud of, you’ll understand the enthusiasm that avid homebrewers share and you won’t want to go back to supermarket specials ever again.

3. It’s a great way to bond with others.

Do you and your buddies love to get together and share a few cold ones? Why not do so while you’re making a batch for yourselves to enjoy? Better yet, why not plug into your local community’s homebrewing scene? From the best places to grab supplies to the best ingredients and methods, there is plenty to chat about and this is a great way to meet nearby beer enthusiasts as well.

One of the reasons it’s so enjoyable to home brew with others? You’ll spend quite a bit of time during the process waiting, so why not do so in the company of people who share the same interests as you do?

4. You can learn a ton along the way.

When you’re drinking a craft beer, you can’t truly appreciate the time and effort that goes into creating it until you’ve been involved in the process yourself. Sure, you know what flavors and types of beer you like, but do you really know what you’re tasting? Being an active part of transforming raw ingredients into a drinkable, delicious beer is like taking a science lesson, chemistry experiment, and crash course in nutrition all at once.

As you become more proficient in the art, you can also learn about new and innovative practices and trends that are cropping up within the homebrewing industry. For instance, this article discusses how cryogenic hops are transforming the industry, allowing brewers to use less hops than traditionally required while simultaneously amplifying their hop taste and character without any astringent flavors. This is knowledge you might not have gleaned if you weren’t actively involved in the craft yourself.

You know that beer-lover community we discussed in Step 3 above? This is a great place to ask questions and learn even more. Chances are, for every inquiry you have, there is someone with more experience who is willing to share his or her tips and tricks for producing that perfect ale or lager.

5. It’s perfectly legal.

We can homebrew freely now, but did you know there was a period of time when the art form was actually outlawed? Once prohibition was outlawed in 1933, winemakers were free to resume their craft. Yet, due to a clerical error, homebrewing was not included in that allowance. It took more than 40 years to correct the issue, but homebrewing was finally legalized in 1979. Now? If you’re over 21, you can legally create up to 100 gallons of beer, with 200 gallons allowed per household annually. That means you and your significant other can both get into the fun!

With all of that said, what’s holding you back? Homebrewing is a fun, safe and educational way to recreate the taste of the craft beer you love at home for less money, better taste and improved control over ingredients and processing. So, do your research, find the equipment you’ll need and set up shop today. After one sip, you’ll wonder why you waited so long. Who knows? You could be creating your own recipes from scratch before it’s all said and done. After all, if you believe it, you can brew it.