My First Solo Batch of Home Brew - Part 1

To even the most casual observer, my love for beer should be pretty apparent.  I love the way it tastes.  I savor how its carbonation dances across your palate and tickles your tongue.  I admire the craft and artistry used to produce a "good beer."  I even admire the odor that pours from every brewery in America, even though most would probably describe it as funky at best and downright disgusting at worst. 

I really like beer. 

In the past, I've assisted with the production of homemade beer but only as part of a large group.  The experience was fun and the end result was decent, but the beer was watery and could only muster a somewhat mild, underdeveloped flavor. 

The "first brewing experience" (note my 'hipster beard' on the left)

A few weeks ago I was watching a marathon of Alton Brown's mangnum opus, "Good Eats," while walking on the treadmill.  Now being a regular foody and frequent view of both the FoodNetwork and the Cooking Channel, I've seen almost every episode of "Good Eats."  But this particular evening, I was fortunate enough to catch a rerun of Alton's beer episode. 

Alton Brown, the host of "Good Eats"

It was in that moment that I had a culinary epiphany.  In the past, I brewed beer simply because that's what my friends were doing.  I didn't appreciate the sheer artistry of its creation, or the majesty of its perfection.  I was doing what the masses were doing without realizing why...  I had become a douchey hipster.

Fast forward a couple of years.  My growing appreciation for food and its cultural heritage, has also seeped over into my increasing admiration for beer and its history. 

I was ready to make my triumphant return to home brewing.  So after a quick trip to www.northernbrewer.com and dropping a few hundred dollars, I was ready to brew again.  A few days later, I arrived home to the contents of a small UPS truck piled in front of my apartment door.

My own personal UPS truck delivery

End, Part 1.

Eat good food.  Drink good beer.  And above all, stay classy!