One day in 1993, while driving through Highland Park, NJ ...

A sign that read "Brunswick Brewing Supply" caught my eye. I figured I'd stop in for the heck of it and check out what a brewing supply shop might offer.

After some time and thought, I returned to the store and bought a basic brewing set-up. This included fermentation and bottling buckets, a bottle-capper and bottling tube, as well as other paraphernalia to jump-start a brewing session.

My first brew would be an amber ale.

I got started one horrific evening a winter Nor-easter pounded New Jersey. As I set up my ingredients, the wind and rain howled outside our new townhouse. I focused on the delicious creation bubbling in the wort pot.

Lady Brewmaster described the aroma of the boiling grains (pre-hops) as similar to hot "Grape Nuts" cereal.

I had no idea what it would taste like, how it would turn out or what the bottling process would entail. To my delight, the Nor-easter waned without incident and I waited long into the evening for the wort to chill ... long before I ever acquired a dedicated wort chiller. My first brewing session was a success.

From that point on, I slowly invested in equipment, including that wort-chiller I could have used the first night.

Over the next couple of years, I honed my Amber Ale skills and friends curiously sipped from a foamy pub glass after I cracked a bottle. Their smiles told me all I needed to know.

My original brew supply source was The Brewer's Apprentice in Freehold, NJ, but they've since closed. I now use Solar Homebrew LLC (listed below). I've experimented with many styles of beer since those first few months. I continue to explore different flavors and methods, and I've also worked with Princeton Ale and Lager Enthusiast Society.

This is a hobby, but at some point my dream is to own a micro-brewery; perhaps offer a good American chow-down menu including cheese steaks and burgers.

And some day, maybe you'll sidle up to a bar and ask for a cold Laurel Highlands ale. I'll be happy to serve you.