“I can talk about beer and brewing all day,” says Scot Yarnell with a true believer’s earnest conviction. “I started with a simple Czech pilsner kit 20 years ago and I have been brewing ever since.”
Yarnell, an early member and current president of the Glass City Mashers, a local club with more than 60 members, has a long history in the home-brew hobby. “From simple kit beers, I went on to to stouts and IPAs. I have expanded from kits to modifying recipes.”
According to the American Homebrewers Association, over 1.2 million Americans brew at home, with two-thirds starting within the last decade.
In the company of friends
“The most important thing is asking questions,” says Troy Ames, of Titgemeier’s, a South Toledo retailer with an extensive offering of home brew supplies. “I am just getting started myself, and it is amazing how much good, solid advice I get from our customers. The entire hobby is so low pressure. We have gallon kits for those who just want to test the waters without the commitment of five-gallon batches.”
First things first
While the expansive selection of products could be daunting, there is no reason to feel intimidated. “Start-up beer making kits have instructions and checklists,” says Ames. “With some reading, research on the internet, and leaning on the experience of others, you’ll be up and running in no time.”
Yarnell agrees. “Buying a start-up kit is definitely the way to go. It has everything you need. You won’t get into the process then become frustrated when you don’t have a vital item or tool.”
Besides purchasing a basic brewing kit, novices need to master some brewing basics. “There are only two things essential for good beer,” says Yarnell. “A solid recipe and cleanliness. If you start with a premix or clone kit beer, the recipe is taken care of. Once you learn the basics of how to keep the process clean, you’ll be happy with your very first batch. And trust me, it gets better from there.”
Why brew at all?
“I have always been serious about beers,” claims Yarnell. “And there are certainly more small-batch and craft beers available today than there were when I started. However,” he says seriously, “beer is a natural product. It is fresh. There is nothing like brewing your own. It just tastes better.”
Yet it isn’t just the product that binds the people together. “Once you make a batch and start to talk to other brewers, it just gets more interesting,” says Yarnell. “The fellowship is a big part of the brewing process.”
The Glass City Mashers provide that fellowship while supporting carefully crafted brews with monthly meetings at various taverns around the Glass City. The group always welcomes new members, from novices to master brewers.
The Glass City Mashers meeting schedule can be found on Facebook.
