Artisan Homebrew set to Open Tomorrow

Press Release October 14, 2009

(Downingtown, PA)---Artisan Homebrew will open its doors for the first time on Thursday, October 15 in Downingtown, Pennsylvania. The homebrew store is located at 128 East Lincoln Highway in the heart of historic Downingtown and occupies the former Samovar Tea Shop.

For Mike Hamara, proprietor, the opening represents more than just months of securing the location and preparing the site for a retail homebrewing business. Hamara realized over 4 years ago that the suburban Philadelphia areas of north Chester County and west Montgomery County lacked the presence of a homebrewing shop.

"I couldn't believe," Hamara says, "that for an area so rich in craft breweries, quality beer & wine bars, and beer distributors, no homebrewing shop was there to service the needs of the area's homebrewers."

Mike has worked at Exton Beverage for the past 9 years (and previously at Spaz Beverage and Mr. Bottle) which has given him insight into the industry. "Customers would come into the beer distributor and share with me stories of mail ordering for homebrewing supplies," he says, "or driving as many as thirty-plus miles just to get the ingredients or equipment needed to get a brewday going. If their brewing session had begun and they had forgotten something, they were out of luck. At that point, I knew that I should do something about it."

His new shop will stock homebrewing supplies for both beginners and advanced brewers. "For less than $100, a new homebrewer can come in to Artisan Homebrew and get all of the equipment and ingredients needed to brew their first batch of beer. But, the most advanced all-grain homebrewer will also find what they need as well."

The home winemaker can also find equipment and ingredients needed to turn out batches of wine at both beginning and advanced levels of technique.

Once up and running, Hamara expects to hold special events at the shop to encourage homebrewers and winemakers to share their creations and share their homebrewing stories. “My goal is to try to bring together individuals who share the passion for making great beer and wine.”

Artisan Homebrew will be open Tuesday thru Friday 11am to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 12pm to 5pm. For more information, contact Mike Hamara directly at the store at 610-873-HOPS(4677) or email at ike@artisanhomebrew.com