Courtesy of Brooklyn Brew Shop
The sparkling wine kit by Brooklyn Brew Shop.
- If you're self-isolating at home due to the coronavirus, you probably have extra time on your hands and are slowly running out of closets to clean.
- If you want to test out a new activity with a tasty result, try making your own alcohol at home - from home-brewed beer and sparkling wine to DIY classic cocktails or made-up ones, there are plenty of options.
- But don't try to make your own hard liquor, as it is a highly flammable process that could lead to explosions.
- $4.
If you find yourself with extra time on your hands during self-isolation at home, you may be tempted to make your own alcohol.
Although many liquor stores luckily fall under the "essential services" category and are still open, it's still a great time to get started on your home-brewing skills and whip up some DIY drinks from the comfort of your own home.
It's important to note that you should not try making your own hard liquor at home, even if you think you'd master it after your late-night Google searches. Hard liquor and high-proof alcohol are extremely flammable, and the process could lead to a deadly explosion.
"Distilleries have all sorts of equipment that are explosion proof," said Joseph Magliocco, president of whiskey-maker $4.
So if you're looking for something with a little stronger kick, look into delivery - or playing around with what you have. A lot of open stores are offering delivery, online ordering, and curbside pick up. Some services, like $4, are specifically geared toward bringing drinks to your door, assuming you're of age. Obviously, there are rules and regulations restricting the sale of alcohol online - especially across state lines - but it's not an impossible buy.
But beer lovers are in luck. Erica Shea and Stephen Valand are the owners and cofounders of $4, a New York-based company that they began to make "to make beer and brewing feel more like baking and cooking." They designed $4 scaled down to produce just one gallon of beer, allowing customers to save on space and brew time.
They say that while you may be unable to share them with your friends just yet, if you start your own home-brew kits now, in a month or so you can enjoy the fruits of your labor.
That's right: Home-brewing beer or wine can take about four weeks, sometimes longer, so it does require patience. But if you're impatient, you can also create your own cocktails at home using whatever you have in your liquor cabinet - and share your work of art over a virtual happy hour.
"There are so many great recipes online, you can get very creative with whiskeys and spirits, Zoom to drink together - there's a lot of things you can do to stay connected," Magliocco said.
Home-brewing has grown in popularity in recent years, and there are plenty of options for at-home kits that make things like $4 relatively simple. Brooklyn Brew Shop also offers sparkling white wine and sparkling rose kits for those more inclined toward a refreshing bubbly beverage.
So whether you're looking for an activity to pass the time or a quick fix, here's what these experts recommended for getting a little boozy.
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