Club of the Month: SJ Home Brew Club practices 'Excellence in all we brew'

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Aaron J. Jenne
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Double, double toil and trouble; fire burn and caldron bubble. The beer-making process sounds like the description of an old witches brew taken with care: steeping grains, boiling wort, adding hops, pitching yeast, fermenting and bottling.

The allure of brewing their own quality craft beers is what first brought a handful of base members together more than a year ago to create the Seymour Johnson Home Brew Club.

"We first got together as part of the 'Make it Better' initiative," said Capt. Devan Thompson, 4th Communications Squadron plans flight commander. "What started as a couple people brewing together grew into one of the base's largest clubs."

Currently 80 members strong, the group aims to showcase the art of crafting beer by demonstrating the nuances of technique and style that make every beer a masterpiece in its own right.

"Brewing your own beer is a craft, not a science, because you can make whatever kind you want," said 1st Lt. Ryan DeLine, 4th Equipment Maintenance Squadron maintenance flight commander. "You aren't simply limited to buying what's on the shelves. You don't have to follow a recipe; you can modify it to meet your tastes. You can even make what I like to call a 'Frankenstein beer' by just throwing a bunch of things together. Sometimes it turns out, sometimes, not so much, but for me, it's the process that's fun."

Every month, the club meets to tour a local brewery and also host a brew day, where members share their experiences and discuss some of their successes and failures while brewing. Thompson said these meetings are a great venue for those interested to sate curiosity and ignite interest in the hobby.

"Anyone that's even remotely interested in brewing beer should attend one of our events," Thompson said. "It gives the idea of taking it on as a hobby. Some people are a little intimidated by the technical aspects of the process, but we love watching their reaction when they see just how easy it can be."

As with most hobbies, Thompson said, there is an initial cost. Advanced brewers use specialized equipment, which can expedite the process, but isn't essential to making beer. This cost can be a deterrent to a novice brewer. With this in mind, group members invite interested participants to use their equipment to see if it's something they enjoy doing before purchasing their own equipment up-front.

"We have equipment for 1-, 3-, 5- and 10-gallon brews," DeLine said. "If someone gets the ingredients, they're more than welcome to borrow our equipment, and we'll even help them out if they have any questions. We really want to see some sparks ignite."

In addition to their normal club activities, DeLine and Thompson were recently asked to assist with a brewing workshop held at Wayne Community College in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

DeLine said the instructor, who primarily brews using extracts, invited them to demonstrate an alternative method known as all-grain brewing.

"Extract brewing is like baking a cake from a box," Thompson said. "You get a good cake, but you don't get the creativity you would baking it from scratch. That's what all-grain brewing is. You choose the recipe and get creative from there. People get scared about all-grain brews because it is considered 'advanced brewing,' so we like showing people how easy it really is."

To further highlight the club, members are hosting an inaugural beer-tasting event, Oktobrewfest, Oct. 24, at the Eagle's Nest courtyard. This occurrence will feature samplings from a selection of 40 local beers, including six brewed by the club. Attendees can watch the brewing process while also enjoying food, music and cornhole. Proceeds from food sales will be donated to the Combined Federal Campaign.

"Oktobrewfest is huge for the base," Thompson said. "Very few bases have hosted a festival like this, and for a small base like ours, it's unheard of. It's a great opportunity for us to show how beer is made, and we're hoping to meet more like-minded members to join our ranks."

Tickets for the event are limited and can be purchased in advance for $15 at Outdoor Recreation or the Eagles Nest through Oct. 23, or $20 at the door. Ticket holders must be 21 years or older and will receive 10 4-ounce samplings and a commemorative mug. Designated drivers above the age of 18 will be admitted for free.

For more information about the event, the SJ Home Brew Club or to get involved, visit https://www.facebook.com/groups/SJHomeBrewers.