homebrewing

homebrewing, the process of brewing beer, and sometimes other alcoholic beverages, in one’s home for personal use and consumption and occasionally for sale. Typically regarded as a hobby, homebrewing is often contrasted with commercial brewing, which is the production and sale of beer by an established business.

History

Beer is one of the oldest known beverages. Ancient Egyptian, Chinese, and Mesopotamian records mention it; the earliest known recipe is contained in a Sumerian poem from almost 4,000 years ago. For thousands of years brewing took place mainly in domestic situations. Evidence suggests that on every continent, brewing was primarily a female activity, performed as a household task.

The Industrial Revolution brought major changes to this long tradition. The use of steam power made it possible to brew beer on a large scale. Other technological innovations, such as the thermometer and the hydrometer, made brewing more accurate and precise. Brewing was transformed from a domestic pastime into a big business. Labor was provided by workers moving into cities from rural areas, thus separating brewing from its agrarian roots.

Large-scale commercial brewing became dominant. Although people continued to brew beer at home, the practice became subject to many legal restrictions in various countries. To this day, European and Asian countries have a wide range of regulations pertaining to the domestic brewing of beer. Some countries, such as Iran and Malaysia, outright ban it, although Iranian law makes an exception for non-Muslim religious minorities.

A revolutionary hobby

In the United States the passage of the Volstead Act in 1919 and the subsequent period of Prohibition (1920–33) effectively criminalized homebrewing, which nevertheless boomed as an unintended consequence. Although the process was banned, the necessary ingredients remained legally available, and demand for alcoholic beverages was high.

Even after Prohibition was repealed in 1933, homebrewing remained illegal. It eventually became legal on the federal level in 1978, when Pres. Jimmy Carter signed legislation into law allowing home production of beer and wine without federal taxation. Homebrewing subsequently experienced another boom and proved to be one of the factors contributing to the American craft beer revolution, a trend that had been gathering steam since the mid-1960s. Legal homebrewing allowed adventurous amateurs to become artisans and experimenters, creating styles and flavors that were new to the contemporary American beer scene. Specialist literature, as exemplified by Charlie Papazian’s book The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, and the foundation in 1978 of a professional society (the American Homebrewers Association; AHA) contributed greatly to the movement. Supply shops and clubs sprang up to provide homebrewers with equipment and support. Many founders of craft breweries got their start as homebrewers.

The contemporary scene

As of the mid-2020s an estimated 1.1 million homebrewers were active in the United States. In recent years, however, the hobby has declined in popularity. The number of dues-paying members of the AHA has declined precipitously. Arguably homebrewing has receded in importance because the massive growth of craft breweries has made it less necessary.

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Nevertheless, homebrewing remains sufficiently vigorous, both in the United States and internationally, and homebrewers continue to adopt new styles and techniques. Recent trends include an interest in environmental sustainability, involving greater use of organic and eco-friendly ingredients, as well as global influences, such as the use of tropical fruits and characteristic local spices.