New York
Homebrew Culture invades New York City
Johnny Sanford :: Thursday, January 28th, 2010 1:00 pm
Homebrewin’ ain’t easy, but it sure is fun. Some people might scoff at the idea of getting their hands dirty in hops and grain, but homebrewing is fast becoming the hip trend in places like Brooklyn, as well as all over the world. The passion for homebrew is reaching a feverish pitch in this city, with the newly-renovated opening of “Brooklyn Homebrew” on 163 8th Street on 3rd Ave last week. With a line of brewers out the door upon it’s opening, it’s been a long time coming.
Their last store, which closed January 10th, seemed more like a sketchy spot where you might buy your pot. The new store has doubled their hops selection, (Humulus Lupulus is a distant cousin of Cannabis, fyi) lowered prices and added more spices and equipment to sell.
It’s time to get down and dirty.
For someone that’s new to the homebrewing scene, you might think that it’s expensive.
Nope. Brewing your own can bring down the cost of a beer to pennies on the dollar!
For about $40 (plus about $30 in ingredients), you can get started with “The Bare Bones” equipment package, which will set you up for brewing five whole gallons of the good stuff.
With a little sweat and blood, it’s only a matter of time before you become the most popular hipster in the neighborhood. The more you brew, the more you become obsessed like a child with a chemistry set. There are innumerable combinations once you master the basic brews.
IPAs, Hefeweizens, Stouts, English Brown Ales, Lagers, Witbeirs; the possibilities in your future are endless.
Once you’ve come this far, the fun begins. Naming your brews becomes a sacred act-the brew becomes personally intertwined with the part of your life with which it is associated. When watching the Yankees on my kitchen television while brewing a batch of English Brown Ale, it was christened the “Yankee Pennant Ale.” After feverishly slaving away at a Stout which I added Brooklyn’s own Gorilla Coffee and a heaping pile of dark belgian chocolate, I named the beast “Silverback Stout.” And upon brewing a massive 10.7% alc/vol Cranberry Maibock, I christened it “Cape Cod Cranberry Maibock.” Fuck breakup sex, get drunk on breakup brew.
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i don’t understand why brooklyn homebrew is mentioned in the begining of this article and at the end when the middle is about brewing it yourself. has this guy even been to the place or is this just name dropping? cause this seems more like homeblow me, dude then anyhting about new york city. but whatever, i’ll be your friend, bro for some of your free beer!!!!
Posted by: mike January 29th, 2010 at 12:17 am