This content was originally published by the Longmont Observer and is licensed under a Creative Commons license.
Personal interest in homebrewing was just a part of what drove Bill Campbell and business partner Vlad Aleksiev to start Brewmented. They wanted to change and expand the appeal of homebrewing and craft beer. Homebrewers can tell you how daunting the craft was in the beginning as they just started to learn, and how overwhelming the first trip to a homebrew supply store was. More than just a homebrew store, Brewmented is a highly experimental brewery where Bill wants to lower the barriers for everyone, including women, to make it easier to get into this hobby.
Homebrewing was essentially illegal until 1978, when President Carter signed a bill exempting homebrew beer from taxation for personal and family consumption. This spark ignited the expansion of the craft beer industry into what we have today. Homebrew pioneers such as Charlie Papazian, who wrote “The Joy of Homebrewing,” made the craft accessible, and established a foundation of homebrewers who would start thousands of breweries across the country. Seeing the shrinking interest in homebrewing in recent years, Bill thought, “Why has this industry kind of plateaued out? Well, because they’re not trying to get those people who are under-represented in the industry.” The Brewmented founders set out to create a homebrew supply shop that was accessible, helpful, and hands on. “We want to change who the homebrewers are.”
Brewmented hosts a variety of events, going beyond the standard intro to homebrewing type classes. They have hosted Bee Squared Apiaries to discuss bees and honey, Root Shoot Malting to discuss grains, and host women only brewing classes. Beginning in September, they will be hosting their first “Meet the Brewer Night,” featuring Denver brewery, TRVE Brewing. All their events are available through their website and Facebook page. In addition to beer, they also have classes on mead, kombucha and cider.
Brewmented is a place where you can grab a beer and peruse the shelves for supplies or speak with employees who are happy to discuss the craft. Operating as a brewery gives them the advantage of highlighting the products they sell and to have the maneuverability to put out beers using the latest and greatest ingredients. They have extensive guest taps where they feature great beers from the surrounding area. Not wanting to focus only on Longmont beer, Brewmented hosts beers from breweries that locals may not be familiar with. Their taps change from week to week along with their own beers, so there’s no getting bored with their selection. They currently have four of their own beers, “Not So Serious” rye pale ale, “Mr Dodgy’s Tripel,” “None More Black” Belgian imperial stout, and “Sunday Morning” oatmeal stout. From light to dark, crushable to savoring, their brews alone offer plenty of variety, but be sure to ask for the recipes for the ones you love, because something new is always around the corner.
With helpful staff, engaging classes, and a variety of beer, Brewmented is much more than a brewery or a homebrewing supply store, it is a destination. They sell a variety of grain from producers such as Loveland based maltster, Root Shoot, allowing homebrewers to locally source their ingredients and have a large variety of other essentials from yeast and hops to kettles and carboys. Even if one doesn’t homebrew, they can add a whole new dimension to the enjoyment of beer.
Cheers,
Tim Porter
