Mountain Homebrew Aging Well, Blending Business and Pleasure

JON MENDRICK shares a college beer story that can beat most.

Twenty years ago, while he was a student in Florida, he noticed a brew supply booth at a local market.

“I was a college student and I loved to cook,” Mendrick says. “I thought this is an awesome idea. I didn’t even know you could make your own beer.”

He went home that day and, fortuitously, discovered his tax refund check in the mailbox.

“I thought, ‘I know exactly what I am going to do with it.’ I went down to the brew shop and bought a kit.” Soon, Mendrick was working for the local brew supply store, soaking up everything he could learn about the art of brewing.

Thanks to that experience, Kirkland is now home to one of the premier brew supply stores in the Puget Sound.

In 2000, Mendrick relocated to Kirkland for another job opportunity, but soon decided to open his own brew supply store, , in Rose Hill Plaza. A few years later, with so many wineries opening locally, there was increased interest in home wine making. He answered the demand by making wine a much bigger part of his business.

The business, which Mendrick co-owns with his wife Shannon, continues to grow. This past January, Mountain Homebrew moved into a larger space three doors down from their original storefront.

Today, Mendrick and his team offer a wide range of products and services to all levels of home brewers and winemakers.

“With the new space, we’ve started offering brewing classes on weekends,” Mendrick says. “Beginner classes are three hours. The more advanced all-grain brewing class is four hours. During that time we actually brew a batch of beer. We take you through the whole process so you can see how it’s done. It takes the mystery out of it. If you can boil water you can make beer.”

IN THE FUTURE, Mendrick plans to add wine and cheese-making classes.

What should people know if they’re thinking of giving home brewing or winemaking a try?

“It’s a hobby that is rewarding and a lot easier than you’d think,” says Mendrick. “A lot of people who come in here have stories about friends who made beer back in college and it was horrible. But the ingredients and tools have really improved. It’s very easy to make good beer and wine now.”

The shop offers a wide selection of equipment, ingredients and resource materials. Beginners often opt to start with a kit, which includes step-by-step instructions, all of the necessary equipment and the basic ingredients. “It takes the guesswork out so you don’t have to piecemeal something together,” says Mendrick. “But you can always customize with what you buy.”

Because winemaking kits provide the grape juice, kit winemakers are not tied to the grape harvest season, allowing them to make wine at any point – or multiple times – during the year. Kits also give you access to grape varieties you may not be able to get here in Washington, and the process is much shorter.

“Our staff is very knowledgeable,” adds Mendrick, whose sister has worked at the store with him for the past six years. “We can guide you through the first couple of batches until you get your feet on the ground.”

Winemakers who prefer not to use a kit can order grapes through Mountain Homebrew, which sources grapes from growers in Eastern Washington. “We’re taking orders for grapes right now,” says Mendrick. “Grapes should come in mid- to late October.”

When customers buy grapes through Mountain, they also gain access to equipment to crush, de-stem and press their grapes at the appropriate times during the fermentation process. Equipment is also available for rental.

So, whether you want to jump in to the winemaking fray this grape harvest or purchase a kit that will walk you through the art of crafting your favorite style of beer, you might want to check out Mountain Homebrew. Who knows? Maybe it will be the start of your next career.