Homebrewing continues to grow as a hobby.
The fifth annual Homebrew Supply Shop Survey, conducted by the American Homebrewers Association, found that gross revenue at shops across the country increased by an average of 10 percent last year.
The association estimates that there are 1.2 million homebrewers in the nation.
It seems counter-intuitive that the hobby would be on the rise. The craft beer industry is exploding and there seems to be a brewery — or two — in every community. You also can walk into any bar, restaurant and grocery store and find a wide-ranging selection of craft beers.
Who needs to homebrew?
“I started homebrewing 20 years ago, and back then the main motivation was indeed brewing beer styles that simply were not available commercially,” association Director Gary Glass said. “Today, when the majority of Americans live within 10 miles of a brewery and enjoy the greatest selection of beer styles available anywhere in the world, the motivation to homebrew has completely changed.”
Now, people are “drawn to the hobby as an outlet for artistic expression. Homebrewers can create totally unique beers that suit their own personal tastes. Plus homebrew can easily be shared with friends and family, which can help elevate one’s social status as the bringer of beer.”
The survey looked at 408 shops in 48 states. Other survey highlights include:
• There was a 24 percent increase in sales of beginner homebrew equipment kits. Beginner kits were most commonly purchased by 30- to 39-year-olds.
• Nearly 11 percent of beer-buying customers are women.
• Median gross revenue for shops rose to $260,000 last year, up from $225,000 the previous year.
• New shops are opening. Thirty-seven percent of respondents had been open for three years or less.
• Sales of beer ingredients outpaced wine ingredients, with an average of 35 percent of retail revenue coming from beer versus 21 percent from wine.
To read the full report, go to tinyurl.com/moab7eq.
Fat Head’s Trail Head
Fat Head’s Trail Head Pale Ale — a silver medal winner at the Great American Beer Festival last year — is now available in 12-ounce cans.
With the help of Buckeye Canning, Fat Head’s Brewery in Middleburg Heights pumped out about 300 cases of the beer last week.
Trail Head, made to help support the Cleveland Metroparks trail system and sold in six-packs, is the first Fat Head’s beer to end up in a can for large-scale commercial release.
Brewer Chris Altmont said he doesn’t expect the beer to last long.
“Three hundred cases doesn’t go far in our supply chain,” he said, adding that the brewery will likely make another 300 cases in the near future.
Stone dinner
The Office Bistro, 1846 Front St., Cuyahoga Falls, will host a five-course beer pairing dinner with Stone Brewing Co. at 6 p.m. June 24.
The dinner will feature Tiger Cub Saison aged in white wine barrels paired with tropical fruit timbale; Cali-Begique aged in red wine barrels with sauteed chicken liver; Enjoy By 7.4.14 with smoked Miyagi oysters; Sprocketbier with pork belly; and Smoked Porter with Chipotle Peppers with German chocolate ice cream.
Tickets are $50, or $90 for a pair. They can be purchased online at www.theofficebistro.com/#!specials/c66t.
‘Canned!’
The new book Canned! Artwork of the Modern American Beer Can is a treat for any fan of canned beer.
The hardcover book ($34.99, Schiffer Publishing) recounts the history of canned beer and then offers up more than 200 pages of photos and short “biographies” on the individual brands. Often, there are multiple photos of the same can to show the front and back.
Unfortunately, there are no Ohio brands featured.
Special tasting
The ninth annual Ohio Brew Week in Athens will feature a new event this year showcasing Ohio’s newest breweries.
“New Crafts on the Block” will feature at least 14 breweries, including Catawba Island from Port Clinton, Platform from Cleveland and Hairless Hare from Vandalia. It’s scheduled for 7 to 10 p.m. July 18. Tickets are $25 for general admission or $35 for VIP, which gets you in an hour early.
The Ohio Craft Brewers Association also will release its new magazine Ohio on Tap during the event. The publication is dedicated to the state’s craft beer scene. (Full disclosure: I wrote an article for the magazine.)
World Beer Festival
All About Beer magazine has released the lineup for the World of Beer Festival — Cleveland, to be held June 14.
“With 22 Ohio breweries in the mix, the World Beer Festival is a great place to come try all your local favorites in one place,” Daniel Bradford, producer of the festival, said in a prepared statement. “With sessions and demos by local beer experts, it promises to be both educational and delicious.”
To see the full lineup, go to tinyurl.com/ksb5aau.
Beer and soccer
The Agence France-Presse reported that beer consumption is expected to jump 37 percent during the upcoming World Cup in Brazil.
Rick Armon can be reached at 330-996-3569 or rarmon@thebeaconjournal.com. Read his beer blog at www.ohio.com/beer. Follow him on Twitter at @armonrickABJ.