During Prohibition, bootleggers made their own booze by burying grapes underground or catching moonbeams in a jar of water. Make alcohol the easy way with today's Groupon: for $64, you get a first-time brewer's package from Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies (up to a $138.80 total value). The package includes:
A brewing essentials equipment kit (a $56.95 value)
A steel bottle opener (a $14.95 value)
Choice of an irish red ale, an autumn amber ale, or an irish stout ingredient kit (up to a $27.99 value)
An instructional DVD (a $4.95 value)
A $25 gift certificate for a second batch
A $12 shipping fee is not included in the price of this Groupon.
The hops hobbyists at Midwest Homebrewing and Winemaking Supplies provide equipment and encouragement to aspiring beverage crafters nationwide. Unlike puzzle-piece-of-the-month clubs, the brewing essentials equipment kit provides everything a first-time brewer needs in one handy package, except for bottles and the brew kettle itself. Ingredient kits yield 5-gallon liquid harvests in flavors such as irish red ale, a richly colored, aromatic quaff popular among home brewers and discerning drinkers. Autumn amber ale provides a roasty seasonal sip, and irish stout sports a rich bittersweet brew topped with a creamy head. Whatever the favored flavor, Midwest's premium ingredients and handy 90-minute how-to DVD help to make consistent batches each time, aiding neophyte brewers in avoiding the embarrassment of turning out a spicy pilsner or bacon-flavored lager. Suds designers can continue to hone their skills by using the $25 gift certificate for the next ingredient kit.
