A Good Time for a Beer

April 7^th is National Beer Day. In 1933, the Cullen-Harrison Act went into effect, allowing the purchase, sale, and consumption of beer and [i]wine after years of Prohibition. After signing the law, President Roosevelt is reported to have said “I think this would be a good time for a beer.” In 2017, the holiday was made official by being read into the Congressional Record.¹ Largely promoted via hashtags and social media, it’s a day to celebrate craft brewing and a good time to check out your local brewery, or perhaps become your local brewery.

Home brewing is a long-practiced art. My spouse and I have been brewing at home for, well, quite a long time. We’ve brewed some real winners, including a stout and a sour cherry ale that we still talk about years later. And there have been some disasters, too—like the time a full 5-gallon glass carboy broke, spilling wort (sugary, unfermented beer) all over the floor of our second-floor apartment’s kitchen. Nowadays, those are good stories to share over a beer!

While Mercer County has quite a few good local breweries, you might enjoy brewing your own. It takes some specialized equipment and perhaps a trip to a homebrew store or online retailer for supplies, but the finished product is worth the trouble.

Our library has some great books on beer and homebrewing:

How to Brew: Everything You Need to Know to Brew Great Beer Every Time by John J. Palmer Comprehensive, detailed explanations that go from basic to exceptionally technical. A great reference work while you’re brewing, whether it’s your first batch or one-hundredth.

Home Brew Beer: Master the Art of Brewing Your Own Beer by Greg Hughes is beautifully illustrated, with helpful photos of ingredients and great-looking brews, and lots of recipes.

If you’re looking for unusual ideas, The Homebrewer’s Almanac: A Seasonal Guide to Making Your Own Beer from Scratch by Marika Josephson, Aaron Kleidon, & Ryan Tockstein is the book for you. It takes a seasonal approach to all sorts of flavors used in brewing. Elderflower Witbier? Horseradish Stout? You might find a new favorite!

Ready to branch out? True Brews: How to Craft Fermented Cider, Beer, Wine, Sake, Soda, Mead, Kefir, and Kombucha at Home by Emma Christensen gives basic master recipes and variations for all types of fermented beverages. A fun way to try your hand at yeasty skills.

Happy brewing!

- by Sharon GR, Hickory Corner Branch

¹Brat, T. H. (2017, April 6). Congressional Record. Retrieved from Congress.gov: https://www.congress.gov/congressional-record/volume-163/issue-60/extensions-of-remarks-section/article/E475-5