My Life in OZ: BrewsBrothers and Beer Snobs

Before last July, I was under the assumption that beer was beer. Stocking my refrigerator with Coors Light or Corona was normal. In fact, that's what I grew up on.... a frig full of Coors Light for Dad. However, after being introduced to the world of "real" beer last summer, I've quickly become what some would call "a beer snob". Long gone are the days when I would actually enjoy a beer made in the Rocky Mountains. Instead, I have moved on to more flavorful, full-bodied beers. Beers you won't find in a silver can, rather beers that have been brewed and bottled for longer than the United States has been a country. My favorite being Belgian beers.

Last summer, when I arrived at Ryan's apartment in Australia, he offered me a beer. I had been awake and traveling for about 24 hours and a beer sounded fabulous. Inside his refrigerator was no fewer than 50 homebrewed beers. He and his boss, Howard, had gone to a local brew on premise facility and had brewed a Begian Triple. That was the beginning of my cheap beer demise!

Ryan's refrigerator the day I arrived last July

Since then, Ryan and Howard have returned to BrewsBrothers every few months. They spend a couple of hours brewing the beer and then eagerly wait four weeks for the yeast to do its thing. At which time, they return to bottle it and bring home the gold. During the four week fermentation, it is kept in a refrigerated environment inside of a keg.

BrewsBrothers

Where the brewing takes place!

This past week, I accompanied them to BrewsBrothers to watch the process. This time, they made an IPA ~ India Pale Ale. In four weeks, we will return and I'll see how they bottle it. Except this time, Ryan will put his share in two 2.5 gallon kegs that he bought while in the States this past January.

Ryan measuring the liquid malt extract