Added on July 1, 2014 Gerorgette Breen beer , home brewing

NMU Presentation Shares Tips On Homebrewing

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James Shefchik gives presentation at Northern Michigan University on home brewing.

Marquette, MI – NMU’s Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center is currently holding an exhibition on brewing in the Upper Peninsula running from April 19^th until Sept. 6th. The exhibit explores brewing in the U.P. starting from the 1850’s up to today’s modern craft breweries popping up all over the Upper Peninsula.

Signage for U.P. Beaumier Heritage Gallery exhibition on brewing beer in the Upper Peninsula on display in Marquette, MI.

Three Northern students, Gabrielle Hoffman, Courtney Herber, and Adam Papin were in charge of setting up the exhibition. Papin said the exhibit was a semester long project and was overseen at weekly staff meetings with the director of Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center, Daniel Truckey. The student led exhibition features U.P. brewing and beer drinking culture from old time saloons, modern day local brew pubs, and home brewing hobbyists.

On Saturday June 28, 2014, James Shefchik, who brews his own beer gave a presentation in the Beaumier U.P. Heritage Center focusing on home brewing. Himself a hobbyist Shefchik says he became a brewer “On a whim of hey you can make beer?” He then thought, “This is interesting let’s give it a try.”

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James Shefichik explains the basic process for home brewing and answers questions from listeners during a talk he gave on the subject at the U.P. Beaumier Heritage Gallery as part of the What’s On Tap exhibit on display. (photo by Erica McMillan)

Shefchik’s first introduction to home brewing was when he saw his mom’s boyfriend doing it a time or two. He tries to do a couple batches of beer and wine every year. He said he hasn’t brewed steadily but he made his first batch in 2002.

There are problems brewers face when making their own batches. Shefchik said “jumping the shark” is one problem he runs into when brewing. “One time I tried to brew a batch of beer and I noticed the hops I picked wild had molded,” Shefchik said. “I really needed to scramble to put something into this liquid to make it palatable, I don’t think I really made it palatable but I tried ginger.”

A few supplies for home brewing beer. (photo by Erica McMillan)

Some of the items one may need for home brewing include: a fermentation vessel, a thermometer, a funnel, bottle caps and don’t forget a big enough pot (one that can hold five gallons of water).When brewing from a basic batch kit for a day you should leave yourself around 2 and ½ hours which includes 30 minutes to get prepared,it will about about an hour to boil,you want to leave about 30 minutes for cooling and pitching the yest and then about another 30 minutes to clean up. Although this is just an idea of how about long how it takes you never want rush your product. From the beginning to the day you drink the beer it will take about a month because the beer still has to go through the fermenting and carbonation process.

“I like to say about a month because in the summer time it could take maybe just three weeks and you’re done,” Shefchik said. “ But in the winter it could take longer than that.” Shefchik brews more beer in the winter and brews more wine during the summer due to the availability of more fruits to make wine.

James Shefichik explains different equipment used that can be used in home brewing beer during a talk he gave on the subject at the U.P. Beaumier Heritage Gallery as part of the What’s On Tap exhibit on display. (photo by Erica McMillan)

A guest of the home brewing presentation smells fresh hops during a talk on home brewing in by James Shefchik at the U.P. Beaumier Heritage Gallery in Marquette, MI. (photo by Erica McMillan)

The beer or wine it is not to be sold, bought or traded but is allowed to be given to someone who is of drinking age. Shefchik does not only brew beer and wine but he also brews soda. He has brewed different flavors such as rootbear, ginger ale and green tea.For those who are interested in getting started in home brewing he advises people to get themselves a book or two or even go to a presentation and talk to a home brewer.

In five years from now as far as brewing goes Shefchik said he would like to see himself with a better set-up. “It’s still always been a hobby, I don’t know if I can see being full time into brewing,” Shefchik said.“ Where do I see myself in five years from now? Making a couple more batches of beer!”

If you’d like to learn more about home brewing you can attend a meeting of the recently formed Marquette Home Brewers club here in town. Contact David 906-251-0545 or visit their website: marquettehomebrewers.com