How Jimmy Carter paved the way for the craft beer revolution

Part of former President Jimmy Carter’s legacy can likely be found at any number of craft breweries throughout the country. In 1978, Carter signed a bill that ended the prohibition on homebrewing. As states gradually followed suit—Georgia legalized the hobby in the 1990s—homebrewing grew in popularity and helped create new generations of craft beer entrepreneurs. Charlie Papazian, the author of The Complete Joy of Homebrewing, spoke with GPB’s Peter Biello. 

Peter Biello: Before Carter signed the legislation lifting the federal prohibition on homebrewing, what was it like for Homebrewers who were trying to learn the craft?

Charlie Papazian: Well, the fact that homebrewing was illegal really didn't stop the beer enthusiasts at the time. We knew that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms had a lot more important things to do. And then, you know, they've come out and indicated that they weren't interested in prosecuting homebrewers who were making beer for their own personal use.

Peter Biello: As far as I understand it, they actually came to one of the classes that you were teaching, right? You had a ATF agent show up?

Charlie Papazian: Well, allegedly, yes.

Peter Biello: You never got confirmation of that?

Charlie Papazian: Well, I was teaching homebrew classes here in Boulder, Colo., in the 1970s. And I got a warning that somebody suspicious had registered for my class. And this guy showed up with dark slack pants, a white shirt and a black necktie. And he probably was the only person dressed like that for miles around. And he came to the class. I knew he was going to be coming. And I just gave my ordinary spiel that, you know, the ATF, the government has better things to do than arrest homebrewers, just — you make homebrew, make it for your own personal use and definitely don't sell it. And then I went on with teaching the glass and he rolled up his sleeves and learned how to make beer in the two classes that he showed up in.

Peter Biello: What was your reaction when Carter signed the bill lifting the prohibition on homebrewing?

Charlie Papazian: I was really happy that it happened. But I'll tell you, a lot of my homebrewing students that had taken my class, they said, "Oh, nuts. Now that it's legal, it's not going to be as much fun." But it turned out that it's really a blast and I'm still brewing after 50 years.

Peter Biello: And in addition to the hobby staying fun, as fun as it ever was, what other changes happened to the hobby once the bill was signed lifting the prohibition?

Charlie Papazian: Well, the bill really had some serious effects, positively, on the quality and the quantity of and the variety of beer-making supplies, ingredients, equipment. The ingredients became more fresh as people were able to really learn about homebrewing and access these ingredients. But what really inhibited things was the ability to get together and have homebrew competitions and homebrew events and share your knowledge and your beer with others. And that's what the legislation really addressed more seriously than the ability to make it at home. It was the ability to share it with your friends and go to club meetings and conferences and competitions and learn about the art and science of homebrewing.

Peter Biello: So what was the impact of finally being allowed to have those conferences and those competitions?

Charlie Papazian: Well, in those days there was very little homebrew knowledge available. There weren't very many books. Mine was one of the few. So we had to rely on each other's experiences and the sharing of knowledge one-on-one with each other. So it was pretty damn important that we be able to get together and taste each other's beer and talk about what we were tasting or what was good about our beers and what was not so good about our beers. And that was the whole foundation of the culture of homebrewing was the sharing of knowledge. And it continues to this day, not only with homebrewing but the foundation of and the idea of collaboration and sharing information really has spilled over to the professional craft beer and brewing movement as well. So it was homebrewers that were really driving the craft beer movement throughout the '70s, '80s, '90s and even today. A lot of the innovation that we see has its foundation in some homebrewer's home brewery.

Peter Biello: Well as we raise a pint to President Carter, Charlie Papazian, thank you so much for speaking with me. I really appreciate it.

Charlie Papazian: Thanks for having me, Peter. It's fun. Too bad we couldn't be sharing a beer while we were doing this.