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The Rebirth of the Speakeasy

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If you are tired of paying $4+ for a beer at a bar, you aren’t the only one.  As more and more taxes are heaped upon drinks and transportation costs increasing dramatically, we are likely to see even steeper prices charged at the legitimate bar.  Most folks end up buying beer and drinking it at home or in the backyard, but there is something about the socialization that comes with going to the bar that a lot of folks can’t do without.  The point is having fun, not just drinking oneself into oblivion.  Still, to this day, there is indeed prohibition on many kinds of alcohol, such as absinthe.  So, naturally, the result of all this is the resurgence of the speakeasy.

My first experience with the modern speakeasy was one not unlike other bar experiences, but much enhanced exquisitely by the freedom of such a temporary autonomous zone.  The scene was similar to a house party, except that the home bar was exquisitely decorated in red and black velvet, bleached bones, and a kind of green haze in the air.  Naturally, smoking is allowed at such a speakeasy – another reason for the popularity of this event, as most states or big cities have outlawed smoking in bars.  The green was being reflected off of the bottles of Absinthe lining the walls and the milky green drinks being sipped by those in attendance, dressed in either black lace or leather, almost exclusively it seemed.  I was in the leather crowd.

Event, you say?  Yes, by necessity, the modern speakeasy is an event, not a place.  Or rather, a place that is recreated in a different location each time.  It seems that those “in-the-know” were the only ones there, and that the main way people found out about the speakeasy was word of mouth.  Usually the location is kept secret until the night before the event, and then word spreads quickly.  The speakeasy usually doesn’t even open until after other bars are closed, sometime after 2 AM.   All these are signs of a truly underground party scene.

The modern speakeasy will usually have many varieties of home brewed beverages available.  Among the beers I have seen are a raspberry porter and a pale ale, and even mead was available on tap.  The beverages are usually served chilled, from the spout of a homemade kegerator conversion.  Absinthe is sometimes available, either tidy or traditionally mixed with water and sugar.  I like both versions, and I may go in for the stronger stuff as the night progresses.  The exciting thing about the traditional absinthe is that it is served with a live flame on top of the glass, and you must blow it out before drinking – this is reminiscent of an episode of the Simpsons where Homer brews a similarly combustible drink – the “Flaming Homer”.  Straight absinthe is not recommended for anyone but those who have iron gullets and enjoy EXTREMELY bitter flavors.

I have been pleased with the cleanliness and order of the speakeasies I have visited – there is always a bar back to wash glasses and the drinks are nicely displayed.  There were a number of liquors lining the back of the bar at the first speakeasy I went to, and not only were they green, but also clear, blue, yellow, and golden brown.  I was only to find out later about some of these bottles, when I happened upon this same speakeasy again.

The speakeasy bar was nicely built and accessorized.  Plenty of pint glasses and specialty glasses were available for the absinthe, something like a large brandy snifter.  Towels, napkins, and peanuts were all available as well.  Other home bar speakeasies I have encountered have been much cruder than this set-up, merely with Cornelius kegs a-float in ice, with plastic cups.  More of a large crazy party scene.  One thing you can count on with these home bar speakeasies is that the barkeep will have something special under the table.  At times I have found t to Absinthe, Mugwort Liqueur, or Anise Liquor, so if you find yourself at one, you should ask about any specials available.  It was in this manner that I first tasted a truly fine whisky – a rare treat, but still cheap at $10 a shot.  The sweetness of it put it in a whole other category from what I had ever tasted before, and it had a kind of oily taste, hinting of vanilla, that only brought the term “snake liquor” to mind… and I could see why whisky got its reputation.

If you are eager to attend a home bar speakeasy, I recommend keeping your ears open and exploring different party scenes.  You just might get the tip off that will greatly enhance your night.  Or, barring that, why not build your own home bar?  That way, you can enjoy all the benefits of a speakeasy without the potentially nasty legal implications.  And as always, drink in good health.

Entrepreneurship and Home Brewing

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Home brewing has always been a hobby with numerous possibilities for the financial benefit of the home brewer.  With the skills and knowledge of brew craft that many home brewers have, it is easy to make the jump from a hobbyist into a career brewer.  Some brewers start by opening their own local brewpub.  Others go to one of the many schools offering degrees in Master Brewing, hoping to land a job with a larger company that produces ales of quality.  Some brewers even go underground to sell their concoctions at parties and even speakeasies.  If you are thinking of a career in brew crafting, it is wise to look at many of the entrepreneurial options available to you.  You might just find the perfect new career you have been looking for!

Many home brewers love to brew beer, but have trouble making the jump to using industrial style equipment.  If you are confused by the array of home brewing products out there, just remember: with each jump in technology, you will be able to make more beer, more efficiently, more cost effectively, and more time effectively than ever before.  It is always good to keep your old bottling tools on hand in case you want to make a special gift bottle or limited edition ale.  But for the entrepreneurial home brewer, a move to Cornelius kegs and the larger regulation kegs is an important step.

Cornelius kegs are a great way to get to know how modern beer kegging works, and to experiment with carbonation techniques.  The set-up price is relatively small, and the savings in time that would otherwise be spent bottling is vast.  Another good initial investment is the kegerator, or kegerator conversion kit. A proper knowledge of how your Cornelius keg interacts with a draft beer system will help you greatly when you switch to regulation kegs.  Cornelius kegs are becoming harder and harder to find second-hand, but they are available as brand new or reconditioned units through many home brew equipment suppliers.  

Because of the size of the Cornelius keg (about 6 gallons), it is the perfect choice for the home brewer who wishes to gradually develop their brew shop and range of knowledge.  Most home brewers start out brewing batches in that range, and this will allow home beer production to increase without the need for a larger kettle – but this is the next step!  Once you have started to keg your beer, you will find it so easy to make large amounts, that you will want to increase your kettle size to around nine gallons.  A nine-gallon kettle takes only a little more time to brew than a three or five gallon one.  Many home kitchens are not built to accommodate such massive pots, though, so you will have to plan ahead to ensure success with this increased brew load.

You should always have a spoon or stirring paddle that can easily reach the bottom of your kettle.  Kettles with false bottoms and spigots can easily facilitate the exit of the wort from the kettle, which can be a real problem if your kettle is holding in excess of five gallons.  Because of the weight of the wort, you will basically have to not move the kettle until the wort has cooled.  If you are using a wort chiller to affect this change, you should ensure that the water lines can reach the kettle where it is placed.

The most important jump for the entrepreneurial home brewer is the use of the all grain brewing technique.  By using grains, you will save money over using malty extract, and as your batches become bigger and bigger, these savings will increase exponentially.  There are some more start up costs associated with this kind of brewing, but also many shortcuts you can use while perfecting this brewing technique.  Some find it distasteful, but the use of food grade five gallon plastic buckets can replace the need for a false bottom kettle, and a cleaned and sanitized camping cooler can also help with the mashing process, where maintaining temperature is so important.  If you consider yourself a bit of an engineer, and have a lot of room to work with, the three tier brewing system is the best way to maximize the efficiency of your all grain brewing setup.

The career of a brew master is a fun, creative tradition that is enjoyable for both the brewer and the drinker!  Remember that you need not have a degree to be a master brewer, but a scientific knowledge of brewing will only make it easier to repeatedly produce the unique ale that is yours!  Remember that an eye for invention and mechanical improvisation will save you tons of time and money in this effort, and good luck!