He doesn’t ride with Nina, Keisha, or Molly. He doesn’t wear chains around his neck while brewing nor does he produce “brews-a-make-her-dance.” His name is Jason Carpenter, known to friends as “Ratchet” for the last 18 years, and no relation to Juicy J or 2 Chainz. By day, he is the office manager for a small law firm in Knoxville, TN where they can help “Turn Your Ex into Some Checks!” and a home brewer in his spare time.
Ratchet Brews was founded sometime between 1995 and 1996 after Jason learned to brew along with some friends from a homebrew kit. It wasn’t until 2009 that he decided to delve into it full force. Since then, Ratchet has continued to dedicate his time to perfecting his work and developing his brand in order to meet his ultimate goal: to open his own nano-brewery.
“My basic brew day is usually 6-8 hours, but this doesn’t include all the stuff leading up to it, like getting water, starting the yeast, and cleaning equipment.” Not only is home brewing time intensive, but it can also grow quickly from just a hobby to a full-time job. “It can easily become an obsession. I’ve spent more on brewing equipment than I did on my first couple of cars. Often, I will forgo grocery shopping to buy brewing ingredients.”
A Florida native, Ratchet now calls Knoxville home. He can often be found in Downtown Knoxville enjoying a brew when he is not working on his own, which he describes as, “Clean, chaotic, and party!” He is also a member of the Knoxville Beer Crew.
So what advice does Ratchet have for those looking to cook up their own batch? “Buy and read every beer and brewing-related book you can get your hands on. Join online homebrew forums like HomeBrewTalk If you want to pursue the hobby, get the good equipment up front. Also, anyone can make beer. Don’t half-ass it; if you are not going to do your best to make a great brew, stick with the store bought stuff.”
Keep up with Ratchet Brews news on his website, or check him out on Facebook and Twitter @RatchetBrews.
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Confessions of a Nutty Brewnette 