Home brewers are a unique breed. You may see them at Thompson’s Brewery or at a booth in The Ram with pen in hand, jotting notes on flavor, character, and color. In the Capital Market, the clerks often see these folks lingering among the vast selection of microbrews, examining labels before carefully selecting a variety six-pack to take home and study. These individuals are knowledge seekers. They are quick to exchange ideas and even quicker to offer you a pint of their latest creation along with a bit of their own home-brewing philosophy.

“It’s about freedom to create what you love,” said Nolan Gillespie, a Salem home brewer. “I see it as a challenge of self-sufficiency, where I’d never have to buy beer at the store again. In my opinion, there is something special about a truly fresh beer, something that can’t be beat.”

Since 1862, Salem has been on the microbrew map with the opening of Sam Adolph’s Capital Brewery on Church and Trade streets. The existence of home brewing in Salem, however, pre-dates Oregon’s statehood. It survived the iron fist of Prohibition and continues to thrive behind closed kitchen doors.

From start to finish Gillespie can turn a bundle of malt, yeast, hops, and water into a keg of homebrew in just three short weeks. His father has brewed beer since he was a young adult, sharing his techniques with his son in the way it has been transmitted for years. The process of combining local ingredients with Cascade mountain water has been passed down in Salem for generations. It is a craft that has remained unscathed by modernity and it is accessible to anyone.

“You don’t need to master the process to get good beer,” Gillespie said, “just become comfortable with it.”

The simplicity of the craft and the infinite variations in recipe add to the camaraderie among local brewers in Salem. As the gatekeeper of this close-knit community, Doug Faynor, owner of Salem’s only brew supply shop, provides beer enthusiasts with all of the equipment, ingredients, and knowledge needed to add their own mark on Salem’s home brew history.

Doug’s shop is appropriately named Homebrew Heaven. Those who walk inside will find themselves delighted by the smells of fresh hops and roasted malt. As the stein-mural front door closes, patrons to Homebrew Heaven are welcomed by a well-spoken, unquestionably intelligent man EMDASH a man who knows beer. Beside a window lined with colored bottles, there are dozens of ribbons and medals that Doug has won from statewide brewing contests. Although his days of competition are past, Doug’s role as a home brewing adviser is what brings him joy and keeps his customers loyal.

“I started out just trying to make a living,” Doug said, “but I’ve come to realize what I do makes a lot of people happy.”

Doug opened Homebrew Heaven nearly two decades ago in hopes of helping others avoid the aggravation of driving to Portland for supplies. While other shops in Salem have come and gone, Homebrew Heaven has remained because of Doug’s ability to provide affordable tools and ingredients without sacrificing his personal touch.

“It’s where I buy all my stuff,” Gillespie said. “I doubt there’s anyone as good as Doug. He’s got everything you’d ever need. There’s enough combination of ingredients in his shop to recreate any type of beer, no matter the region or country.”

To get started on your own homebrew, you simply need to walk into Homebrew Heaven and speak with Doug. A beginner’s kit will cost under a hundred dollars and it includes an extensive book on home brewing that can take you as far as you want to venture into the world of crafting beer.

For those who are interested in tasting a bit of home brew, there is the Capital Brewers club which meets once a month to exchange suds and ideas in a relaxed atmosphere. A minimal yearly fee will get you in the door and the exchange of ideas and techniques will pay dividends for the rest of your home brewing life. Visit Doug Faynor at Homebrew Heaven for more information.