About Ales Meant for Ailments

What is Ales Meant for Ailments?

Ales Meant for Ailments is a project started by me, Shawn Henry, in my kitchen in February 2014. As a fan of pretty much all beer, I had tried many varieties. After years of "research" in the field, I noticed that many beers were alike, while others really stood out. It was at that point I decided it was time to try my own hand at crafting something unique and to my own liking; something that would really stand out. After 18 months, I still have not found that new recipe, but along the way, I decided this was where I wanted to spend my time.

I originally got started when I asked for a brewing starter kit for Christmas in 2013. I got my wish, but found out later that the starter kit I received was missing a critical component, a kettle. Being diligent in selecting the proper equipment, it took me a couple months to find an affordable kettle that met my requirements. I needed one that was big enough to handle the small batches I would be brewing and with enough room to spare to keep pesky boil-overs within the kettle.

With kettle in hand, I embarked down the path of brewing my first beer. The first one came in a kit offered by Jasper's, a small home-brewing supply company located out of Nashu, NH. My first kit was a clone of a beer I had tried in Arizona, and could not buy locally. The beer was Moose Drool, by Big Sky Brewing Company, and despite its name it tasted like heaven. I brewed the first batch and relied on faith alone that I had followed the instructions carefully. Six weeks later, I found out I most certainly had followed the instructions precisely, and that my clone actually tasted better than the original. From that moment on, I knew that home brewed beers were the way to go, and since that day I have brewed over 200 gallons of frothy wonderfulness.

After 1 year of brewing, I realized it was time to start sharing my experiences with others in the area. I took a course in web site design and got to work. For the page, I put together a list of recipes that worked for me and are relatively easy starting kits, a list of my personal favorite brews from there, and a complete glossary of terms for the beginner. I hope this helps. If you think there's more I can do, please visit the contact page.