Central Texans Are Brewing It Right - kcentv.com - KCEN HD - Waco, Temple, and Killeen

(KCEN) -- It's a drink that dates back to the Ancient Civilizations of Egypt and Mesopotamia.     

And now hundreds of Central Texans are brewing it right in their own homes.

The home beer brewing movement has taken off and these beer lovers spend weeks even months to get that perfect batch.

For Patrick Mason there's nothing quite like drinking a beer, especially when you made it from scratch.

Mason, a home brewer, says, "It feels great. First of all its beer. And second of all its something that I made that tastes like a professional made it."

It's his love for beer that sent him into what he calls an obsession with home brewing.

He's got the whole set up, and even engineered some of his own devices.

Patrick makes a 10 gallon batch at a time that way he can share.

And maybe even save some money.

"The beer is cheaper. The actual ingredients is about half the price that you pay at the store . But I always tell people, don't get into the hobby cause you want to save money cause you wont."

The Black Hawk Brewing Supply, in Harker Heights, is where it all starts.

Owner Mark Laack gets everything from new to experienced brewers through his doors, and explains from start to finish what you need to do start brewing.

At first glance it all looks pretty complicated. There are thermometers and flasks and it pretty much looks like a laboratory, but anyone will a little extra time can brew some beer.

"It's not very complicated at all, actually if you can follow a recipe you can make beer," Laack says.

"They buy their basic kit, they buy an ingredient kit, they get their bottles and pots and they're out the door ready to go."

The brewing process takes anywhere from 1 to 4 hours, then comes fermentation that's about 3 to 4 days.

And once you bottle it you only have to wait 2 to 3 weeks until you can drink your own beer.

Laack says, "We sell all the ingredients to make your own beer."

The trend spreads through word of mouth and the military has a lot to do with it.

"When they're on deployments they all sit around and talk and then eventually you'll have like 15 or 20 because everyone is like ohh that sounds like a fun hobby."

Even though it's a hobby Patrick enjoys.

"This is how you can tell you love beer. Haha thank you."

He hopes to make it something more than that.

"I look at it as an opportunity, my wife and I will hopefully one day plan to open a brewery here in Texas."

A hobby turned into a passion.

You can get into home brewing for as little as $150.

And some brews like ales don't require refrigeration during the fermentation making it easier.

Link to Black Hawk Brewing Supply

Reporter: Tania Ortega   Email: tortega@kcentv.com