There’s nothing more satisfying than crafting your own beer! The world of homebrewing is an amazing gateway into the art and science of beer making. My journey into homebrewing began with a deep-rooted passion for fermentation, which I developed from my background in microbiology.
I started in Italy as a winemaker, which was an amazing experience. I then moved on to Scotland, where I learned about brewing science. Finally, I ended up in Switzerland, fermenting vitamins for a biotech company!
One Saturday afternoon, a good friend of mine came to me with his brand new homebrewing kit. He was a little disappointed to say that his wife had banned him from using it in their kitchen. I was really excited by the idea and keen to get started, so I offered up my kitchen as the new brewing station. This was the start of our amazing weekend “fermenting adventures” together, made even more special by the involvement of my wonderful daughter Sara. During these extended brewing sessions filled with lively chatter about beer and life, we enjoyed Pata Negra ham and a selection of cheeses from Italy, Spain, and Switzerland.
We made a fantastic discovery: our beer pairs wonderfully with fine meats and cheeses! Our journey was fuelled by passion, patience, knowledge, friendship, and a love for fine food, laying the foundation for what would become Fermento Brewery.
What started as an exciting hobby has now evolved into Fermento Brewery, a testament to our dedication to homemade brews and creativity!
The Growing Popularity of Homebrewing
Homebrew has exploded in popularity over the years, making a notable mark, particularly in the United States, which is often credited with mainstreaming the trend. Some beer lovers got tired of the bland taste of mass-produced beers and were excited to make their own at home. A few of them even turned it into a business!
The homebrew movement didn’t take long to cross borders, sparking interest and enthusiasm in many other countries worldwide. The United States, in particular, has seen a tremendous surge in homebrewing, with countless hobbyists turning their garages and basements into mini breweries.
An interesting observation I’ve made is that many “professional” home brewers are either biologists or engineers. The former focus on the microbiology of making beer while the latter excel in perfecting the brewing machinery.
I once knew a biologist in the US who loved brewing with her husband so much that she was planning to remodel their kitchen just for the joy of homebrewing.
When she mentioned her plans to us in a bar, a few guys around her looked on with a mix of joy and admiration, fully appreciating the passion she and her husband shared for crafting unique, flavorful beers at home.
While I’m a biologist at heart, I embraced the engineering challenge. I believe passion and motivation can help anyone acquire the necessary skills to master the other aspects of brewing science.
Understanding the Homebrewing Process
The process of homebrewing is an absolutely fascinating blend of science and art! It involves several key steps, starting with mashing, where malted grains are soaked in hot water to convert starches into fermentable sugars. And then comes the boil! This is where the magic really starts to happen. The wort is boiled with hops to impart that all-important bitterness, flavour and aroma. Once the wort has cooled, it is transferred to a fermenter and yeast is added, launching the exciting fermentation process where sugars are converted into alcohol. Once the beer has finished fermenting, it is conditioned and carbonated. This is often followed by the bottling phase, which is a real highlight for craft brewers. Instead of using artificial carbon dioxide gas, they add a little sugar to the bottles and fresh yeast to ferment and produce natural gas.
Each step in the homebrew process is an opportunity to get creative! You can be precise and careful, or you can let your imagination run wild. Either way, you’ll get to enjoy the amazing results!
I started out by reproducing some of my favourite beer recipes, and then I began to experiment with making my own. I had so much fun trying out different malts, yeast (believe it or not, yeast can impart some pretty amazing flavours!), and hops using a number of techniques and hop varieties. Brewing became more fun than winemaking, which was my first job.
The Community and Joy of Homebrewing
Homebrewing is more than just a hobby; it’s a community-driven activity that brings people together. Across the globe, there are numerous clubs, online communities, and festivals dedicated to homebrewers. These platforms provide ample opportunity to share experiences, exchange tips, and of course, taste each other’s creations. There’s an undeniable sense of camaraderie among homebrewers, bonded by a shared passion for crafting unique beers.
Within this vibrant community, two distinct categories of homebrewers often emerge. There are those who strive to perfect traditional beer styles, focusing on achieving the highest quality and consistency.
On the other hand, some brewers thrive on creativity, crafting unconventional beers using a variety of sophisticated and sometimes surprising ingredients.
Here at Fermento, from the first steps, we proudly developed from the first category of brewers. Our mission is to craft each beer to perfection, embodying the precision and quality synonymous with our Swiss roots, while infusing each batch with the full passion and fervor of our Italian side.
There’s nothing quite like the joy of homebrewing! It’s not just about the brewing process – it’s also about the incredible moments you share with friends and fellow enthusiasts when you crack open a special brew. It’s so rewarding to see the smiles and hear the praise for each beer batch, and it’s all down to the effort we’ve put in! At the same time, it was really helpful to hear where we could make improvements.
The Challenge of Precision in Homebrewing
One of the most exciting challenges in homebrewing is making high-quality beer at home using non-professional equipment. This is the challenge I had coming from fermentation, and after a PhD in brewing science, where I had access to all kinds of professional equipment.
It is quite difficult to tightly control all the important parameters for brewing, such as temperature, sanitation, and fermentation conditions. Despite these challenges, many enthusiasts manage to produce outstanding brews through dedication and ingenuity.
I know this guy who’s in a group of engineers and he works as a mechanic specialist in an airline company. He had the brilliant idea of repurposing the thermostat from an aquarium and installing it in a fridge to achieve precise temperature control during fermentation. This kind of resourcefulness and technical expertise is exactly what homebrewers need to get over the hurdles they face with their tools. It leads to some truly amazing results in their brewing endeavours!
In Conclusion
Homebrewing is an extraordinary journey that invites you to explore and push the boundaries of beer crafting. From brewing with basic ingredients to savoring your perfected bottle, every step is an adventure.
My experience illustrates how a passion for beer led me from being a microbiologist and fermentation specialist to a homebrewer, and eventually inspired me to start a professional brewery. This path might not be everyone’s dream, but it shows how a deep love for something can one day turn into a fulfilling profession.
Cheers to embracing the craft and sharing the joy of homebrewing!
