Homebrew craze is no small beer

It has long been associated with hardcore ale aficionados and a smattering of spendthrift drinkers.

But with prices of 20p per pint and 89p per bottle of plonk, recession-hit Black Country beer and wine fans are setting up homebrewing operations in increasing numbers — with sales up 75 per cent.

DIY alcohol has become so popular in recent times that budget household chain store Wilkinson now has a dedicated section in its shops selling homebrew equipment.

And Darren Hughes, aged 40, who runs Barrel and Bottle Homebrew Supplies, in Victoria Avenue, Bloxwich, along with 36-year-old partner Zoe Davies, said trade had gone through the roof over the last six months. "Business is booming at the moment," he said

"It was hard for the first few months of the year, but sales are up around 75 per cent now.

"People come in and ask how easy it is to make their own beer or wine, and as soon as they see how simple it is, there's no stopping them. Most customers just keep coming back again and again. I think that although we're just coming out of the recession, people are still looking to save money.

"The thing is, the beer and the wine you can make actually tastes really nice, so you've got the best of both worlds.

"There are even a few techniques people can use to improve the taste."

Ring and Ride bus driver and father-of-two Kevan Richards, is among those to have taken up homebrewing.

The 50-year-old said he had started making his own ale and wine at his home in Fountains Way, Mossley, around a year ago. "More and more of my mates are getting into it just because of the way the economy is at the moment," he said.

"I think there are a lot of misconceptions about it. People are really surprised when they see how simple it actually is.

"The beer I make is 24p per pint and the wine works out at under a pound a bottle. You can't argue with that."