Homebrewers celebrate with international toast in Washington
Local beer enthusiasts joined A&M Wine and Beer Supplies owners Angela, fourth from left, and John Burgess, far right, in a toast to Big Brew Day Saturday, celebration of homebrewing.
Wes Wright of Houston, who has been homebrewing for more than 20 years, creates his own beer Saturday during A&M Wine and Beer Supplies toast to Big Brew Day.
A self-described “foodie,” South Strabane resident Ken Weiss enjoys a good beer or wine to compliment his meal.
Washington resident Greg Shriver also enjoys wine but prefers beer because, as he said, “You get a faster return on beer.”
Fueled by discounted takeout from nearby Mr. Gyros, Chicco Baccello and The Upper Crust, Weiss, Shriver and about 25 homebrewing enthusiasts raised their glasses in celebration of National Homebrew Day Saturday in the A&M Wine & Beer Supplies parking lot in Washington.
According to the American Homebrewers Association, about 8,000 enthusiasts across the globe took part in last year’s simultaneous toast on Big Brew Day in honor of all things homebrewed.
As beer supply owners, Angela and John Burgess have developed relationships with local beer enthusiasts, including members of Washington Rebel Association of Serious Homebrewers, some of whom brought their own equipment to brew craft beers Saturday.
Shriver, a member who started homebrewing about four years ago, explained that creating wines can take more than two years, but a good beer can be crafted in as little as four weeks.
He took advantage of the sunny day to work on his Oktoberfest concoction, which he’ll drink and share in September.
“It can be as complicated or as easy as you want it to be,” said John Burgess of the quickly-growing pastime.
“It’s a great hobby,” agreed Angela Burgess. “In the past 10 years, it has really grown.”
While beer enthusiasts enjoy creating their own flavors, changing the amount and types of barley, hops and wheat they use, there are also historical and geographical elements to brewing beer.
Weiss and John Burgess discussed beer’s origin while enjoying their own brews. Weiss explained beer brewers used to be limited in their resources. Therefore, beer got its unique flavor from the type of water and ingredients, as well as the climate, of the region in which it was produced.
Now, with supply stores, crafters can get ingredients from all over the world.
“It’s not necessarily cheaper,” Weiss said. “But it’s more flavorful and more fun.”
To learn more about homebrewing, visit www.amwinesupplies.com or www.homebrewersassociation.org.