Opening the Granite Cask a Store for Homebrewing Supplies and Education
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VOLUME 33, NUMBER 26 NOVEMBER 20, 2008 FREE THE WEEKLY NEWS & LIFESTYLE JOURNAL OF MT. WASHINGTON VALLEY New Business Brewing: The Granite Cask in Whitefield is a home brewer’s wonderland of goods ... A 2 A Holiday Tradition: The annual White Mountain Christmas Festival, Parade, and Tree Lighting is coming to Conway on Dec. 6... B3 MAILING LABEL Center Ossipee,NH Tresort Std. Tresort US Postage Permit #2 PAID A SALMON PRESS PUBLICATION • (603) 447-6336 • PUBLISHED IN CONWAY, NH Page Two Opening The Granite Cask A store for homebrewing supplies and education By Eileen Alexander brew and drink ale from different After the first of the year, John wants Coos County Democrat regions. to provide “brew on premise,” when ‘ ‘ WHITEFIELD — John Allin has come His Saison is based on the traditional people come and brew two cases of beer a long way since he brewed his first case beer that has been brewed for 400-500 on the premises, using ingredients that of beer four years ago after purchasing a years in Belgium. It is brewed in winter John provides. “They make it and then basic extract kit, a basic equipment kit and drunk in the summer when the come back in two weeks to pick up the and a two-gallon pot. water isn’t drinkable. The Tripel, anoth- cases of beer,” he says. Tis the Season This year, the Bethlehem resident er Belgian beer, has traditionally been John has also started a homebrewers captured a bronze medal at the world’s brewed in monasteries. John intends to club, the White Mountain Fermenters. largest beer competition, the American stock Granite Cask with many home- The club meets on the third Friday of for Homebrewers Association’s National brew ingredients that are not available every month and members can bring Homebrew Competition, where 1,308 locally in New Hampshire, such as spe- their homebrews for tasting. homebrewers with 5,644 homebrews cialty malts and grains. In addition, Granite Cask sells upper Angels & Elves competed. He was the only medalist Education is also important, and John end wine kits, and John will eventually north of Connecticut, and his Belgian will be offering classes in the kitchen at offer classes for those interested in wine- Specialty Ale was awarded a bronze, the rear of the shop for those who want making. Imported cigars are also an The Kiwanis Club of Mount having been chosen for the honor out of hands-on guidance and feedback as they interest and John has a nice selection of Washington Valley has opened 317 entries in that category. learn to brew. Having both a retail and those. Now, John has turned his hobby into educational component, says John, is the Granite Cask is located at 6 Kings the new Elf Headquarters at a business, Granite Cask, where he is face of the new homebrew stores. Square on the Whitefield Common. selling homebrew and wine making sup- “Education is huge,” he says. “That’s John can be reached at 837-2224, Settlers Corner (next to plies and is offering classes for begin- the biggest thing, being walked through [email protected], or www.granite- Staples) in North Conway to ning as well as advanced students in the a class and not being afraid to ask ques- cask.com. Hours are Tuesday-Thursday, traditional art of homebrewing. tions or call me with a question (after- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 help ensure that all the chil- Granite Cask had its Grand Opening wards).” p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ▲ last Saturday, Nov. 15, in a tiny store- dren in our community have a front on the Whitefield Common. John good Christmas. and his wife, Leah, welcomed friends and customers and those interested in learning more about homebrewing to the shop that years ago housed the Village Gun Store, owned by Leah’s par- ents, Stan and Sandy Holz, who now Individuals and businesses can occupy larger quarters right next door. sponsor children in the Angels Gone are the guns and ammunition, replaced with shelves stocked with & Elves program by calling homebrewing kits — both commercial 356-8710, or by stopping at kits and Granite Cask kits made to order by John using his award-winning recipes Elf Headquarters. Parents — and all the supplies one would need to get started in the business as a hobby- and guardians can complete ist or as someone more serious about children registration forms at beer making. It costs around $75 for a basic homebrew kit and the basic equip- Elf Headquarters. ment to produce two cases of beer. Additional homebrew kits range from $18 to $50 or more, depending on what kind of beer is being brewed. Once Elf Headquarters at Settlers someone has the basic equipment, future beer making costs about 40 percent less Corner (next to Staples) than purchasing the same amount of commercial beer, says John. currently is open from The young entrepreneur prides him- noon to 4pm on Mondays, self on the cleanliness and freshness of his ingredients. For example, all of his Wednesdays, and Fridays; yeast and hops are refrigerated to retain their freshness. He also designs his own and will be open from 11am recipes, tweaking each batch, and rely- to 4pm daily from ing on feedback from competitions to improve them. All of his recipes have December 1 to December 20. been award winners for John at various competitions. The result is an intimate familiarity with a variety of beers — from pale ales to heartier blends — and a knowledge of To sponsor a child or make a how to make them that John intends to pass on to his customers. “It’s cooking, donation, contact Angels & it’s science, and a little bit of engineer- ing,” he says. Elves: Phone 356-8710, John has chosen styles of beer from www.angelsandelves.org, around the world to incorporate into his Granite Cask kits — Sticky Toffee PO Box 3053 North Pudding, Scottish, and Extra Special Bitter are some of those available — to Conway, NH 03860 appeal to a wide range of tastes. “It’s like Leah and John Allin on opening day at their new store, Granite Cask, on the Whitefield taking a vacation,” he says, when people Common. (Photo by Eileen Alexander) On the Cover Inside Index Reporting news of yesteryear Arts & Entertainment..............Page B1 Newspapers in the White Mountains began ‘Try On’ Afghanistan Learn about Afghanistan by examining the Calendar...................................Page B4 appearing in the late 1800s and although artifacts of everyday life, listening to its none of them have continued to print Entertainment..........................Page B6 sounds, experiencing its smells, dressing in throughout the following century, much of its clothes — and talking with an artist and On the Rockpile.......................Page B8 their history can still be found by reading scholar who spends several months every the original pages, which now reside in local Nooks & Crannies.................Page B12 year working with Afghan families — on libraries. The Conway Public Library has a 603-383-4186 Saturday, Nov. 22, at a free workshop at North Country Notebook.....Page B11 treasure trove of these historic periodicals. Cook Memorial Library in Tamworth. Page Real Estate .............................Page A14 Rt. 16, Glen, NH 03838 Page A6 B10. www.storylandnh.com (Images Courtesy Conway Public Library) Sports....................................Pages B14 Page A2 - The Mountain Ear, Thursday, November 20, 2008 Ear Marks Youths consider the many paths leading to college AMTP Teens volunteer at N.H. Foodbank WOLFEBORO — Local teens in the ple take to get to and pay for college. and leadership opportunities Appalachian Mountain Teen Project “After going to all the schools, I for youth in the Lakes (AMTP) recently explored a wide range definitely know I want to go some- Region. For more informa- of future possibilities for community place where I can live on campus,” tion about AMTP or to make service and education after high school. said Rachael Soucy of Ossipee. “But a referral, visit www.teenpro- During trips to Durham and now I’m also really interested in jectnh.com or call the office at Manchester, teens visited four different doing a year of service with City Year 569-5510. types of colleges and volunteered side- to earn some money for college. And AMTP’s programs in by-side at the N.H. Foodbank with then maybe I’ll start at a place like Carroll County are made AmeriCorps - City Year N.H. members, Southern New Hampshire where I possible by generous com- who are doing a year of service to earn can have small classes and maybe even munity support from the money for college. play on the soccer team and then Carroll County Incentive For many teens, the highlight of the transfer to UNH after a year or two.” Funds, private family trusts trips was the chance to work with City “I really liked City Year because I and foundations, and individ- Year N.H. members to sort food that will already do a lot of volunteering and I ual donors. These college be distributed to 392 food pantries across like to help people, plus it can help trips were also made possible the state. As they worked, teens in the you pay for college,” said Ashley by support from the New AMTP had the chance to talk with their Mann of Alton. “And I think I liked Hampshire Charitable City Year partners about why they chose UNH-Manchester the most, because Foundation. to do AmeriCorps and the nuts and bolts it’s really small and you can commute AMTP volunteers at N.H.