Tesco Real Food announces that home brew is booming

Tesco Real Food has announced that home brewing is booming and it has seen sales of beer and wine making kits soar by 50 per cent over the past year.

The UK's top supplier of home brew kits, Youngs, also reports a boom in sales and commented that national sales are some 40 per cent.

Youngs said that the main reason behind the boom is that making beer and wine at home has never been easier. New technology and new designs means that amateur brewers can create their favourite tipple at home in half the time it used to take, around two hours instead of four hours to prepare. It will then take about a month for the ale or cider to be ready to drink, while wine may take as much as six weeks before it is completely ready.

In the past many people were put off making home brew because it was considered a fiddly operation worthy of a laboratory technician; but that's no longer the case.

Tesco home brew specialist Wayne Byron said: "We have seen a boom in 'foodies' as it has become fashionable to make dishes from scratch and even grow your own herbs and vegetables. Now young people in their 20s and 30s are turning their attention and skills to creating their own vintage or tipple. They are joining the more traditional home brew enthusiasts, who tend to be retired. It is a brilliant way of exploring new flavours - whether a fruity lager or a flowery wine - and it is great value, too."

For more information visit www.tesco.com/food