Monday nights at the homebrew club

First Monday of every month, there's a small group of people in the back of the taproom passing around plastic cups of homebrew and arguing politely about hop schedules. That's the club.

Here's what to know.

Who it's for

If you've ever:

• Brewed a batch in your garage and wanted someone else to taste it
• Been curious about brewing but felt like you needed to know more before showing up anywhere
• Made a batch you were really proud of, or one that went sideways and you want to know why

— you fit. We don't have skill tiers, dues, or any of that. It's a casual thing.

What actually happens

We meet at the brewery once a month, on a Monday evening when the taproom is otherwise closed. The format is loose:

• People bring whatever they've brewed recently — finished or half-finished, doesn't matter.
• We pour small samples for everyone, talk about what went right and what went wrong, and answer questions.
• Jake will usually walk through whatever's interesting on our own production side that month — a recipe he's tweaking, equipment that just got installed, something that didn't turn out the way he wanted.
• We don't run it like a workshop. There's no agenda. The conversations go where the conversations go.

If you came as an experienced brewer, you'll get real feedback from people who care. If you came as a total beginner, you'll learn more in two hours than you would in a week of reading forums.

What to bring (or not)

• A growler / bottle / can of your homebrew, if you've got one. Doesn't matter how small the batch was or how it turned out.
• Yourself, if you don't. Showing up empty-handed is fine — most people do their first time. Taste, ask, learn.
• Notes on your process, if you want feedback. Recipe, timings, fermentation temps — whatever you have. Tighter notes = better feedback.

You don't need to RSVP. Just walk in around 7pm on the first Monday of the month.

Why we do it

Honestly: because we like talking about beer with people who like talking about beer.

The bigger reason: small-batch craft brewing exists because homebrewers kept the tradition alive when the industry consolidated in the '70s and '80s. Every brewer working today learned from someone who learned from a homebrewer. Hosting the club is a small way to keep that going — and we genuinely learn things from it. Some of our favorite ideas on our own taps started as "what if I tried..." in a club conversation.

Showing up cold

A few common questions:

• "I've never brewed. Is that OK?" Yes. The club is for curious people; brewing experience isn't a prerequisite.
• "Do I need to bring something to drink?" No. You can buy from the regular Keg Stand bar if you'd like, and other members usually share.
• "How long does it run?" Usually about two hours. Show up whenever, leave whenever.
• "Is there a fee?" No.
• "Where do I park?" Same as any night at the brewery — street parking on Railroad Ave and the surrounding blocks.

If you want a reminder before the next one, drop your number in Release Radar — we'll text you the week of.

See you on the first Monday.