Welcome to the first installment of The Farm Reports Growing Beer special. In this series, your host, Erin Fairbanks, is investigating beer as a value-added, agricultural product. On this episode, Erin is talking beer basics with Mary Izett, President of the New York City Homebrewers Guild and founder of the website, My Life on Craft. Erin and Mary list and explore all of the ingredients of beer- from alpha acids to yeast. Hear about the different roles of the various components of beer. What dictates the fruity or spicy components of beer? Later, Erin and Mary list the different steps in the brewing process. Learn about the importance of temperature and air control in the fermentation process. Hear about how the beer-making processes differ depending on whether the brewer intends to bottle it or put it in a keg. Jeanne Hodesh, the GrowNYC Greenmarket publicity coordinator, calls in at the end of the episode for a Market Update! Hear about Buzzard Crest Vineyards grapes, as well as the wealth of apples coming into the citys greenmarkets! This episode has been brought to you by Cain Vineyard and Winery. Hops do three major things. One: they add bittering compounds that balance out the malty sweetness of the beer. Two: theyre a preservative. Three: they provide a lot of aroma and flavor. -- Mary Izett on The Farm Report