PORT HADLOCK — Just in time for the dark days of winter, Blackbird Homebrew opened its doors for the do-it-yourself brewmeister.
“It’s a great time for beer,” said Jesse Frederickson, co-owner of Blackbird Homebrew.
Long nights and cold weather make for a perfect opportunity to pass time brewing up your own batch of booze, he said.
Frederickson, and his partner and wife, Maya Moon, opened the brew supply store at Ness’ Corner last fall.
“We love beer,” Frederickson said. “We love making beer and wine and all that DIY stuff.”
Frederickson caught the brewing bug while administrating ale at the late Water Street Brewing Co. in Port Townsend.
Fredrickson often left the bar to pick up beer-making tips from brewers Skip Madsen and Rich Amacher.
“I just always liked hanging out with the brewers and talking them up about beer more than anything else,” Fredrickson said.
The couple hopes to tap into a similar self-made ethos they see springing up in the area.
“I think there’s a lot of interest in that sort of thing around here,” Frederickson said.
They also stock equipment for home-making wine and cheese.
For those looking to get started, Blackbird Homebrew offers up a five-gallon starter kit that comes with a fermenting bucket, siphon equipment, bottling fixtures and all the ingredients that sells for $100.
The average batch takes six to eight weeks to properly ferment.
“But if you can wait that long, it’s just the best beer you’re ever gonna drink,” Frederickson said. “You did it yourself and there’s nothing that tastes better than that”
Blackbird offers free brewing classes on the first Sunday of each month, though next month’s class is likely to be bumped by Superbowl XLVII.
Blackbird Homebrew is located at 10644 Rhody Drive in Port Hadlock and is open from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley Editor Joe Smillie can be reached at 360-681-2390, ext. 5052, or at jsmillie@peninsuladailynews.com.
