Drinkers brew up to save cash

Shops in the West Midlands have reported a surge in popularity of home brewing kits, as drinkers attempt to beat the credit crunch by making their own beers, wines and ciders at home.

Hamstead Brewing Centre in Great Barr says it has experienced a major rush within the last month, with bosses reporting around half a dozen first-time home brewers coming in to the shop every day to get themselves started on the art of making their own booze.

Health And Herbs in Wednesbury has also seen more and more newcomers picking up starter kits as they shun the pubs.

Chris Hogg from the Hamstead Brewing Centre, in Newton Road, said they had been in business for 25 years but the store was now busier than ever.

"We have had a lot of people in the last three or four weeks," he said.

"With the credit crunch people are trying to do things cheaper but the big thing that people are starting to realise with home brewing is the quality. Money's a bit tight so people are having a go and people are surprised when they taste it.

"For £1 you can make the equivalent of a £10 bottle of wine. The grapes come in a juice concentrate from places like Australia or South Africa. You can do 30 bottles of wines for £20 in about 10 days for £4 or £5 standard drinking wine, or about three to four weeks for a £10 bottle.

"When someone starts off making beer, to get absolutely everything it would be about £70 for 40 pints. But after that its just £10 to £20 for your refills.

"Overall it is a lot cheaper and you are not buying a pasteurised, chemically treated drink. You can get a very good beer for 30 to 40p, a proper bottle of wine for 60p a bottle."

Heather Griffiths, sales assistant at Wednesbury-based Health and Herbs, said they sold home brew kits and the equipment for about £20 for everything to make 40 pints of beer, or about £15 to make wine. "It is getting more popular and we are selling more of it," she said.