The Leader • Saturday, October 20, 2018 • Page 1B
Craft beer rooted in community By Zarah Parker zarah@theleadernews.com Beer has always had a way of bringing people together. Now, local breweries have become the hub of community gatherings and information. From events to engage the public to giving back through fundraising, breweries are helping the neighborhood one beer at a time. Having a beer with buddies after a long day of work is what many people look forward to. There’s a camaraderie that’s created, especially when it’s over fresh, locally brewed beer. “I think beer and community go together, that’s sort of a lot about what beer is,” said Casey Motes of Eureka Heights Brew Co, 941 W. 18th St. With one of the first buildings in the U.S. was public house, Motes joked that the founding families built a church then realized they needed a pub. “I think there’s always been some of that [community] around beer especially. When you get together a lot of Texas brewery traditions, [you see] big open houses on Saturdays where everyone floods in and you’re all crammed next to each other trying some local beer,” said Motes. Some of the excitement behind breweries and local beer is that the beer lover can see where and how the beer is made. Eureka is at home in a large, open warehouse, giving any customer the opportunity to see the machines they use while sipping on a beer that was made from them. Supporting local business is another big part of why local breweries are becoming so popular. Aside from great quality beer, the money being put in is going toward the local economy. And in general, beer has a lower alcohol level compared to other alcohols, making it more approachable to the consumer. “We really wanted to focus on lower alcohol, accessible beers because that’s what we like to drink. We like to sit and have a couple pints after work and you can still be productive after,”
Contributed photo Eureka Heights Brew Co. linked up with the Roller Derby for the Art Car Parade. That’s just one of the ways that breweries are partnerinng up in the community.
said Motes, “So, we really wanted to bring that part of the community of getting together, and just kind of hanging out over a pint and talking.” “The social aspect of beer is what makes it fun, and so keeping that in mind and making these lower alcohol, but still really flavorful, really in-
teresting beers,” said Motes, “We try to keep in mind what the community around us really wants and what are they going to drink. It usually lines up with what we are because most of our staff live in this area.” They reach out into the community to get involved as well by hosting
events with other local organizations, creating a dynamic space of locals supporting locals. Just last week the Arboretum joined Eureka for a trivia night and part of the proceeds went to the Arboretum, and they also were able to set up and talk about what they were doing.
A favorite for Motes to partner up with is the roller derby. “They’re all about this big community as well and it’s just this unique, fun thing for people to go watch,” said Motes, “So, they wanted to partSee Local Brew P. 7B
Adventures in home brewing Betsy Denson betsy@theleadernews.com So you like beer and you’re thinking about brewing some yourself. Basically, beer brewing follows a four step process – preparation, brewing, fermenting and bottling – before you can partake of your labors. If you’re on the fence about embarking on this hobby, the best thing to do – according to Paul Smith, who is the ‘Grand Wazoo’ of the Foam Rangers Homebrew Club based in southwest Houston – is to find your tribe. “Find a good homebrew supply shop,” he said. “A lot of them have affiliated homebrew clubs. Each one has its own personality. Get involved in competitions too where you judge and evaluate beers.” Luckily for people in Northwest Houston, there’s a nearby resource in the Farm Boy Brew Shop, located at 3814 N Shepherd Dr. Owner Landon Weiershausen just
Typical beer making is a multi-step process. Home brew kits make it easier for hobbyists, but dedication to process is still essential to the outcome.
Contributed photo Farm Boy Brew Shop offers both extract kits and individual ingredients.
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opened a second location in Katy. Surprisingly, Weiershausen says there’s a bit of a dip in the homebrew market because they economy is doing so well. “People don’t have as much time for hobbies,” he said. But for those who do have the time and the inclination, Farm Boy’s deluxe kit can be a good start. They also sell a simple recipe kit and ingredients separately. A pot is not part of the package because this is the south and “most people have a gumbo or crab pot.” Weiershausen actually got his start in homebrewing with a kit he got on the sale rack at Bed, Bath & Beyond. “I made beer, but I knew there was a better way,” said Weiershausen. He notes that ten years ago when he got started You Tube was not the teacher that it is now, and that his biggest mistake was that he bought stuff he didn’t need. “Make sure you like it as a hobby,” he counsels. “Start slow.” He also says that it’s important to choose the right recipe and a beer that you
like to drink – perhaps one that is grain light and not as dependent on temperature. Beers with a higher alcohol content have more ingredients and are therefore more expensive. Weiershausen calls the extract kits he sells, which are preassembled, his Betty Crocker kits because they are easy and require less steps. Even so, not sanitizing properly can even mess that up. “Ninety percent of beer making is cleanliness and sanitation,” he said. “Any kind of infection will ruin a batch of beer.” Once a brewer graduates to all grain brewing, Weiershausen says the safety net gets pulled out from under you. Grand Wazoo Smith notes that failure to control the temperature during fermentation is one of the biggest mistakes for newer brewers. “If the temperature is too high or too low, it will throw off the flavors,” said Smith. See Homebrew P. 7B
Contributed photo Homebrewers have a variety of stories about what works and what doesn’t.
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