Meet the Brewer: Joe Powers

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Joe Powers is the head brewer and production manager at Homegrown Brewing Company in Oxford. He is dedicated to putting his time into high quality, craft brewing. Homegrown goes by the motto “get down to earth” which reflects how they want to brew an excellent example of core styles to help make craft beer more approachable in their lively community. Joe started home brewing around 15 years ago and developed a passion for it. When his dad joined him, they found that they made a great team, and it really grew from there. While Joe is technically self-taught, there is a lot of overlap in information from his previous career in Environmental Engineering, where he used to work in the Upper Peninsula, Florida, Australia, and New Zealand. He has also benefited from the knowledge shared by peers in the industry, such as Annette May from Schoolcraft College and Know Beer. The Brewers Association has great educational resources, and the Cicerone Certification Program has been helpful.

BY Mike Lerchenfeldt

Meet the Brewer: Joe Powers OF Homegrown Brewing Company

MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE

FALL 2022

Joe was surprised how welcoming the industry is to newcomers. Homegrown is surrounded by amazing breweries in Metro Detroit and throughout Michigan. Before opening their doors to the public in 2017, they received advice from local stalwarts like Brooks Brewing and Brewery Vivant. Homegrown has seven flagship brews that they strive to make superb examples of their style, and about five or six seasonals where they get to experiment more, plus seltzers. They make new beers

Check out Hearst’s newest brand showcasing Michigan Breweries at MiBrewTrail.com.

almost weekly, which keeps it fun for Joe. Staying on top of the planning and management of keeping 16 taps full and fresh can be tricky. Homegrown has had incredible brewery assistants but always seem to be looking for and training new ones. Since opening, they have received numerous awards for their brews. In 2019, the Oxford Ale, a cream ale, won a gold medal at the World Beer Expo in addition to The Zephyros Hazy New England India Pale Ale winning gold and Ruck-a-chuck American India Pale Ale receiving bronze at the New York International Beer Competition. The Zephyros started out as a hazy experiment and was so popular that they added it to the permanent line-up.

Homegrown was also named Best Brewpub in Metro Detroit in the ClickOnDetroit competition in 2020 and 2021 recognizing them for creating a pro-kid, family-friendly environment. Their beer-pairing dinners are a huge hit and have a bit of a cult following. Joe is very proud of their local sourcing ethos, for both brews and their from-scratch kitchen. They have so many fresh ingredients available nearby and they love to support local suppliers. Homegrown even hosts an annual Makers Market to celebrate their local farmers, veggie growers, coffee roasters, and beekeepers. Down the road, their friends at White Pine Coffee supply them with delicious beans. They order a special double strength cold brew to make their coffee beers. One of their brews was an all-Michigan IPA made with specialty malt from Detroit’s Motor City Malthouse, hops from MI Local Hops in Traverse City, and a yeast from Craft Cultures in the UP. Unfortunately, Craft Cultures is now closed.

Homegrown Brewing Company www.homegrownbrewco.com

MIBREW TRAIL MAGAZINE

FALL 2022

At the 2020 New York International Beer Competition, Homegrown was named Michigan IPA Brewery of the Year, received gold again for The Zephyros, as well as bringing home the bronze for their Pine Knob Spruce Tip Pale Ale and White Pine Coffee Porter. At the 2021 New York International Beer Competition, they were named Michigan Belgian Style Brewery of the Year, received gold for their Poly Ann Witbier, silver for Oxford Ale, and bronze for Steamboat Stout.

Joe enjoys continuously getting to make something new, being creative, and improving his craft. They are not trying to be weird with their beers, and they want to make craft beer something that people can enjoy without feeling like they must be connoisseurs. He is doing what he loves and is following his passions. Joe absolutely loves the recipe creation and the beginning to end process from ingredients to beer. Being able to write a recipe and create something different out of raw grains

that people can enjoy is a great feeling. He is creative with his beers and thinks outside the box, which allows their brewery to always have a rotation of taps. Joe is a great role model for anyone interested in learning more about brewing some ale or a career in the craft beer industry. When he is not brewing, Joe likes to hike, mountain bike, and spend time in the outdoors. He met his Australian wife when he was on study exchange from Michigan Tech. They now have two young kids who keep them busy. Homegrown Brewing Company are proud members of the Michigan Brewers Guild and the Feelgood Tap Program. They are exceptional and worth putting on the fall to-do list.