Home Wine & Beer Making

March 14, 2007

Making your own wine and beer at home grew in popularity during the Prohibition days. After Prohibition the practice continued by hobbyist and those looking to avoid paying alcohol taxes. Confusion existed as to the legality of brewing beer or making wine at home, so in 1978 Congress passed a provision that was signed by President Carter that allowed for brewing up to 100 gallons of beer annually or 200 gallons annually, for households with two adults, for personal consumption and not to be sold.

The Law States
Early interpretation of the law by some led many 18 year olds to believe that adults were those 18 years or older. While some have interpruted the law as those under 21 yet older than 18 have the right to brew beer, another law prohibits anyone under the age of 21 from possessing alcohol. To further cloud the issue some states have laws prohibiting home brewing and home wine making. Michigan follows the federal statue, and if you are under 21 and think it is cool to brew your own beer or make your own wine, you have been warned you are breaking Michigan law once it becomes alcohol, so stick to making homemade root beer until you’re 21.
The emergence of the local wine region (25 wineries are now in northern Michigan with reports of 20 additional wineries in the works) has sparked a lot of interest in winemaking. This weekend members of the Parallel 45 GrapeGrowers will be hosting a Home Wine Makers Seminar on the Old Mission Peninsula.
Northern Michigan also has its share of micro/brewpubs that has created interest in homebrewing. Recently the Northern Michigan Homebrew Club formed at Shorts Brewery, and another club focused on Mead making (wine or beer with honey) started at the Traverse Brewing Company.

brewing revolution
During the 1970’s and early 80’s home beer making became popular and helped to start the craftbrew (micro and brewpubs) revolution in the country.
Phil Anderson, owner of Diversions in Traverse City, has been at the heart of both the home wine and beer-making scene in the region since 1979 when he bought Ken’s Wine Making Supply Shop.
“In the early days it was 60% beer makers and 40% wine makers coming in, and when Ken first started out it was the other way around,” said Anderson.
“When the brewpubs came into the mix, there was a drop in beer making, but now it is coming back, and so it is about 50/50 mix.”
Anderson notes that several area winemakers got their start as home winemakers and were regular customers of his. It is what Ray Isaacson, president of the Parallel 45 Grape Growers (a group of Northern Michigan grape growers), hopes to accomplish with the home winemaking seminar he is hosting this weekend with winemaker and grape grower Werner Kuehnis.
“With this region growing in vineyards and wineries, we want to create an interest in winemaking,” said Isaacson. “We hope that people will start by making wine at home and then maybe take the next step and plant a vineyard. We need more grapes up here to meet the need.”
Anderson says that currently there are no home winemaking clubs in the area, but he hopes this might be the start.
“There are a lot of home winemakers in the area, so the foundation is there for a club,” said Anderson. “So maybe this will be an inspiration for that.”

Local connection
There is a homebrew club that recently started. The Northern Michigan Homebrew Club started last December and has been meeting monthly at Shorts Brewery in Bellaire.
“I saw a need for it as did some of my customers,” said brewmaster Joe Short. “We have just finished our first batch as a club. We welcome new members and each month we will discuss different topics. There is no charge - you just have to come with a willingness to contribute and have a passion for beer.”
Phil Anderson has seen many changes in the home brew and winemaking industry.
“Probably the most notable is the quality of equipment and ingredients out there,” said Anderson. “Homebrewers used to get into this because finding quality beers in the marketplace was a challenge. Now with all of the craftbeers, that has changed. Price seems to be a driving factor. F or example a home winemaker is able to produce a tasty bottle of wine for less than 3 bucks.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is the challenge of cleanliness.
“The only thing from keeping someone from making a good batch of beer or wine is not having clean equipment,” said Anderson. “The process is pretty easy, but too often someone ruins a batch because they didn’t take the time to sterilize their equipment and bottles.”
So has the ability to order products online hurt Anderson’s business?
“Actually no, because after shipping and handling fees, my prices remain competitive,” said Anderson. “Plus it is hard to get your questions answered online; people usually have questions and want immediate answers.”
Anderson has start up kits available for both home wine and beer making. Prices range from $65 to $300 to get started, depending on how serious one
wants to get.
To learn more about the Northern Michigan Homebrew Club visit
www.shortsbrewing.com or call Joe short at 231-533-6622. The group will meet again on March 21 at 6 pm at Shorts and will attempt to make the first mushroom beer.
“We have been inspired and challenged by Mushroom Man Joe Breidenstein of Walloon Lake,” said Short. “He promotes Morel mushroom hunts in the spring and wild mushroom hunts in the fall, and he has provided us with a collection of wild Michigan mushrooms, so we will see what we can come up with.”
To participate in this Saturday’s Home Wine Making Seminar, please RSVP to Ray Isaacson, (231) 941-2297. For additional information on either home wine or beer making, stop in and see Phil Anderson at Diversions, 104 East Front Street (corner of Front and Union) in Traverse City or call him at (231)946-6500.