Love craft beer? Why not brew your own? The American Homebrewers Association (AHA) just helped our beer-mad country celebrate National Homebrew Day (May 7), which was established by Congress in 1988, and probably should be a federal holiday. They also promoted the AHA Big Brew, in which drinkers around the world simultaneously clinked glasses to celebrate their passion for home brewing. An estimated 1,000,000 Americans do it, and there are more than 37,000 dedicated members in the American Homebrewers Association. Countless world-famous craft breweries in the U.S. were launched by home brewers, from Sierra Nevada to Dogfish Head and scores in between.

It all started with the first thirsty English settlers in the New World. Later, many founding fathers were active home brewers, and it’s now even practiced in the White House today (Jefferson brewed his porters at Monticello; Obama’s the first to commission brewing inside the White House itself). Jimmy Carter legalized it in 1978, but it wasn’t until last week that all fifty states passed the law (cheers, Alabama!).

Do you homebrew? What’s in going in your fermenters next? Tell us here.

And read on for a few key items you’ll need to get started. It’s fun, economical, and if you love beer, your kitchen will never smell better than it does on a brew day.

Books
The Complete Joy of Home Brewing
Great American Beer Festival and Brewers Association grand poobah Charlie Papazian authored this home brewers’ bible way back in 1984. It’s been updated and revised substantially, and is now sailing beyond 25 reprintings, 3 editions, and 1.2 million copies—still the gold standard.

Beer Craft
Noted beer writer Will Bostwick and talented designer Jessi Rymill authored this user-friendly beginner’s guide to brewing packed with useful information, recipes, and fresh design. It’s especially suited to city dwellers with small kitchens: the authors’ recommended batch size is one gallon rather than five.

Gear
The Brewing Kit ($40)
Brewing at home requires equipment. This kit from Brooklyn Brew Shop comes with everything needed to homebrew beers from wheat to stout and IPA, one smart gallon at a time, as described in Beer Craft. If you want to start with bigger batches, consult the high quality kits and info at MoreBeer.com.



 

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