the American Homebrewers Association guide | Gary Glass | Amber Ale | Director

Make Your Own

In four to six weeks, and with enough patience, you could have some fine beer to show off to your friends. "[These days] people who are home brewing can expect to make beer that's just as good as anything they can buy in the store," says Gary Glass, director of the American Homebrewers Association. "You actually have a much wider range of possibilities than somebody who has a commercial brewery and has to sell their beer." First, do a little learning about brewing by checking out the American Homebrewers Association guide, Zymurgy for Beginners (303-447-0816, www.beertown.org/homebrewing/beginning.html). Then, for a quick start, Glass recommends buying an all-in-one kit: "It doesn't give you much room to experiment, but it's a good way to get your fi rst batch in." After that, it's brewer's choice. Chilepepper beer? Cinnamon beer? Paprika? If you can dream it, you can brew it. The website Beertown.org lists home-brewing supply shops throughout the United States. Beginner beer kits - with your choice of extract, which will produce beers such as American cream ale, Irish red ale, American Amber Ale, and many more - hover around $120.

Leeners Northfield, Ohio (800) 543-3697, www.leeners.com
Keystone Homebrew Supply Bethlehem, Pennsylvania (610) 997-0911, www.keystonehomebrew.com