If ever there were a time to dive into homebrewing, now would be it. Not only does 2018 mark the 40th anniversary of President Jimmy Carter signing H.R. 1337 — making it legal to relax and have a homebrew — Nov. 3 is the American Homebrew Association’s 20th annual Learn to Homebrew Day. Those who’ve celebrated the holiday in the past know that Boulder Fermentation Supply is a one-stop shop for all your homebrewing/wine-making needs.
“No matter how much or how little people want to do, we’re here to make that happen,” Greg Kallfa says.
“It’s like an art supply store for people making beer,” Adam Kandle adds.
Founders, owners and brewers, Kallfa and Kandle, opened BFS in late 2013. The two met while working at Hop To It, Boulder’s previous homebrew shop. It turned out to be fortuitous for both as Kallfa was building up a brewery in his garage — “bootstrapping” a barrel-and-a-half frankensystem — while Kandle was looking for the kind of job he could devote himself to. Their idea: open their own homebrew shop, one that would offer something Hop To It didn’t.
“We were going to focus on Colorado malting companies, we were going to get the local grains, and we were also going to make sure that we didn’t run out of things,” Kandle explains. “I just had to convince myself that Boulder could sustain two homebrew shops if we’re a really different homebrew shop.”
“It was kind of an easy in for us because we knew the scenario,” Kallfa adds. “Since we had both been immersed in it, we knew we could do it.”
The two ended up being a perfect fit, and while each brought something different to the table, both agreed on core aesthetics. For one, Kallfa resents the notion that retail stores have to be sterile. Kandle was on board, knowing full well that a distinct portion of the Boulder population appreciated a shaggy, lived-in space full of character.
“Here’s Macy’s over here and here’s a bunch of people hanging out under a bridge,” Kandle says holding his hands up to mimic a scale. “We want to be closer to Macy’s than the halfway point, [but] we don’t want to be a surf shop: when the tide comes in, everybody leaves work and puts a sign on the door.”
Consistency, a vast selection of grains and gadgetry, and a whole lot of know-how has served Kallfa and Kandle well. As has VisionQuest Brewing, their seven-barrel brewery next door that consistently puts out excellent and unique beers. Both businesses work hand-in-hand, supporting the other through sustained organic growth.
“It’s just been a slow build,” Kallfa says. “A very true and earned slow build.”
Boulder Fermentation Supply celebrates its fifth anniversary this Thanksgiving while VisionQuest recently celebrated its third year of brewing. The future looks bright for Kallfa and Kandle; not too mention, the Boulder homebrew scene.
“We’re in this Boulder market, and we’re not leaving,” Kallfa says with a smile. “We’re staying here.”
