Dec 31, 2008 6:07 pm US/Central
Taste, Economy Driving Surge In Home Brewing
ST. PAUL, Minn. (CBS) ―
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Glasses of Geoff Hess' home-brewed beer.
CBS
In Geoff Haas' St. Paul basement, a few more batches of home brew bubble away. As he looks over the glass carboys sitting on the table, Haas said, "I've been pretty busy over the holidays, making some beer."
Haas is typical of a growing list of home brewers who are being bitten by the bug. For many of them, it begins with the notion of saving some money -- brewing your own beer and fermenting your own wine can be cheaper than buying it. But for the most avid hobbyists, it becomes an obsession over taste.
"I think now it's just more about the love of the process and the love of beer," Haas said.
He keeps the five-gallon glass carboys covered like a baby. Blankets or jackets around the containers help assure they are kept at just the right temperatures for the fermentation process. Live yeast is very temperature sensitive.
"I got three beers in primary, here, got 'em all covered. This is a American Brown Ale and that's full of hops, and over here is a Flanders Red," Haas said.
"These kits are virtually foolproof," said Kevin Keuler at the Brew and Grow supply store in Blaine, Minn.
He's been in the business of supplying home beer and wine makers for 22 years. Keuler said business is booming as people discover the joys of making their own wine and beer.
Store shelves are stocked with all the supplies. After an initial investment in the fermentation tanks and tubing, bottle cappers and wine corkers, the $100-$200 investment in equipment pays off quickly.
From the malted grains and bags of hops to the complete wine and beer making kits, hobbyists can find every flavor or variety imaginable on Keuler's store shelves.
"For instance this kit is 60 bucks. It makes about 30 bottles of wine. That's 2 bucks a bottle and that's definitely cost effective," said Keuler.
Steve Jankowski is picking up one of those wine kits at Brew and Grow to make Cabernet Sauvignon. He'll toast the New Year with his neighbors, by pouring a glass of the latest batch.
"It's very good. My wine is as good as commercial wine," Jankowski said.
Back in Haas' basement, it's time for the true test of his beer-making skills. As he opens up a refrigerator door, Haas said, "This is kind of, you know, the ultimate, when you get to the point where you can keg your own beer."
Pouring out two glasses, rich with a foamy caramel head, Haas admits to his love of the hobby.
When asked if he's having a good time, Haas doesn't hesitate to respond. "Oh, of course! I've got 30, 40 gallons of beer in the house, what's not to like?"
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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