While perusing the beer aisle at your local distributor, it can be tough finding the right beer. If you have some money to spend and a hankering for a new hobby why not brew beer yourself!

Since the end of prohibition in the United States in Dec. 1933, homebrewers have been hard at work honing their craft all in the name of good beer.  From start to finish, home brewing is a labor of love and is not for the impatient.

To begin homebrewing, one must understand and get acquainted with the beer making process. The four essential ingredients that are required to make beer are barley, water, hops and yeast. Through the four step process of mashing, boiling, fermentation and bottling, homebrewers can get their first taste in as little as one month to allow for bottle conditioning.

No time is better to start brewing up some beer than now since we are in what some call the golden age of craft beers. According to a 2013 American Homebrewers Association survey, there are currently 1.2 million homebrewers in the U.S. alone with a combined brew of 2 million barrels of beer annually.

Homebrewing outlets can be found online and for local Virginians as close as Falls Church for all your supplies. For as low as $139.99, brewer prospects can start homebrewing with a kit that includes everything needed minus the bottles.

Some brewers are limited by space while others are affected by budget concerns. Napoleon Aparicio, a one year local homebrewer, had this to share:

“Homebrewing can become an expensive endeavor with some kits and equipment reaching up to $500. Due to the fact that I live in an apartment where a propane burner is out of the question, I use my stove top which works but limits my beer output. Ultimately it is the equipment that drives costs up.”

Through trial and error, homebrewers can perfect new and exciting recipes to share with friends and maybe even turn their hobby into a full fledge microbrewery. Craft beer shows no signs of slowing down in popularity and for those who want to gain appreciation for the art of brewing; this hobby just might be the perfect fit.