Brew Love

Local home-brewer Ed Cooper has been brewing beer in his Bean Hollow road workshop since 1984. A resident of Athens, Ohio, Cooper says his first batch was, “not very good to start with, but it’s come around.” His first foray was with a can of malt from the grocery store that he didn’t even have to cook. “It didn’t taste pretty good… I do all grain now,” he said.

His beers range from 6-12% alcohol; with his 12% “Shaky Legs” aged ale being his most popular beer. “The flavors are smooth, so you don’t even know it’s high.” He enjoys the process more than the final product, and doesn’t particularly like to drink. By changing the recipes, Ed is able to craft his own brews to his liking. “It’s just like baking, you can make it any way you like.”