Since Hoppin’ Grape store closing in May 2022, homebrewers have struggled with delay on their online orders and a limited ingredient availability for basic brewing needs. I’ve seen that play out firsthand in our community multiple times and I can’t help but wonder what more I could have done to help.” John Black – Mission Commander for The Bay Area Mastronauts If we lose sight of that, those small businesses will not survive. “Small business owners often put their heart and soul into their business, and too often consumers forget that to save a buck ordering online. I asked John Black, leader of The Bay Area Mashtronauts, for his feedback on the subject. Community matters! Yes, homebrewing competitions and brewing for gold medals continues to gain popularity as craft beer grows but for most, the activity of homebrewing (or going as far as owning a shop) requires time, money and brewing education. As consumers, we need to acknowledge, accept, and understand that these businesses, like all small businesses, fundamentally rely on the community that surrounds them for survival. Birdwell has valuable advice for anyone interested in exploring this career path – give it a listen. Take a moment to listen to Kelly Meyer’s interview with DeFalco’s Homebrew Shop late owner Scott Birdwell.
After a few heartbreaking closures of local homebrew shops in the South Houston area including B&S Brewers Guild, DeFalco’s Clear Lake, and more recently Hoppin’ Grape Homebrew Supply, you start questioning yourself on why anyone would want to get involved in a business that seems challenging to maintain. I can’t think of a better community involved in the craft beer industry than the pillar that holds it all together – the homebrew community.
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