Reviving the home-brewed beer
A slice of American history has come back to life in every place that home-made beer is brewed. Home brewing beer has steadily been on the rise, and interest in it can be seen in all across the country—even in Lawrence.
With the advent of large breweries like Coors and increasingly effective systems of transportation in the 1940s, home brewing fell to the back burner in America. Americans drank mass-produced beer, and home brewing became looked upon as a good-old-country-boy thing to do. National interest in home brewing was rekindled, however, in 1978 with the passing of federal legislation that made home brewing legal in most states.
By Cameron Heeg
Home-brewed beer was an everyday presence in the lives of colonists—even the Puritans. Beer consumption was regulated by law, limiting the Puritans to two quarts for breakfast. Also, young Puritan women who wanted to be wives needed to know how to brew beer as part of their housekeeping responsibilities.
Interest in home brewing has skyrocketed since then. According to the American Home Brewers Association, the business of supplying home brewers with equipment and supplies has grown 25 to 35 percent each year for the past five years. The association estimates that 1.5 million Americans brew their own beer, and in celebration of craft it has instituted National Homebrew Day on May 4.
It seems only natural for home brewing to have a day of national recognition people from all walks of life have taken up the craft. Many brew with friends as a hobby. And as hobbies go,brewing is fairly inexpensive. The equivalent of about two cases of beer can be made for about $15.
Home-brewing hobbyists get more from their craft than economy, though. Some brewers say that they also get a product that they can take pride in.
"There is nothing like taking the first drink of a beer that you made with your own hands," said Brian Burton, Kansas City resident. "I have been brewing my own beer for about two years now, and each brew is different."
That is one of the appeals of home brewing. The brewer decides what type of beer he or she will make: lager, ale, stout, dark wheat or any of a number of other kinds, each with its own unique taste. Beer can be brewed with berries, bananas, pumpkins or other flavoring ingredients.
With so many people brewing, home brewer supply stores are popping up everywhere. Lawrence Brewers Supply, 11 E.Eighth St., is one of Kansas' seven such stores. Bob Oswald, who opened the store about a year ago, is among the increasing number of home brewers turned store owners.
"I decided that it was time for people in Lawrence to learn more about home brew-
photo by Brian Flink
ing and also have a place to buy supplies," Oswald said. "Business is steady and we get a lot of regular customers coming in."
Oswald may be responsible for some of the growth in home brewing in Lawrence. He is holding free classes in his store one Saturday a month, and hosts the meetings of the Lawrence Brewers Guild every week. The guild is among the many brew clubs that have formed because of the growth of the home-brewing industry. Clubs like the Greater Topeka Hall of Foamers, the Kansas City Beer Meisters and the Musty Worthogs give home-brewers a place to talk shop about brewing beer.
For students sick of the store-bought domestic or imported beers available to them, homebrewing is just the ticket. It can transport them to the times of famous home brewers like Samuel
"We talk about different brews. We also trade recipes and share the beer we made over the previous week," Oswald said.
Rex Russel, Lawrence resident, grinds one of many beer grains sold at the Lawrence Brewery Supply Store.
Adams and Thomas Jefferson. Students can be just like our nation's most famous home brewer, George Washington or at least drink the same beer he did by using the same recipe.