Lagers and ales. Stouts and IPAs. Porters and wheat beers and brown ales and everything in between. Breweries have been popping up so rapidly lately that it seems like you're never too far away from somewhere that's producing whatever style you prefer. It's become a haven for the adventurous drinker.

​There are also many more resources available to you if you're interested in brewing something yourself. There are local stores that carry starter kits for your basic brew, and more advanced equipment and ingredients are easy to come by with a quick internet search in the right places. Experienced home brewers readily share their own recipes, tips and tricks, which makes it easier for the novice to concoct something that's, well, drinkable.

The first few times that we tried brewing in our parents' back yard didn't turn out so well. One very well known fact about making beer, especially when you're getting ready to store it for fermentation - you better be sure your equipment is sanitized. Dad, bless him, tried helping us out with a brown ale once. Our strainer took a tumble from the top of our jug and landed in the wet grass. He runs to get it, and before we have a chance to yell "STOP", puts it right back into the mix. That batch was not the best, as you can probably imagine. The most important thing to remember when venturing out to brew your own beer - do not expect a phenomenal success on your first try. It's a long and precise process, and you really won't know how it's going to turn out until the very end.

If you're ready to give it a try yourself, we would advise finding a local home-brew supplier, as they'll be more suited to steer you in the right direction as far as equipment and ingredient needs. If you can't find a local shop, searching for a starter kit on Amazon should yield decent results.