When asked about why they make their own beer, many home brewers will give the same answer: it tastes better. But the truth is there are several benefits of brewing beer at home, of which flavor is just one, although one of the most important.

First, there's the hobby, pure and simple. Home brewing can be quite a therapy for many people to release the stress of a hard work day. You can think of brewing beer as an advanced form of cooking. It may easily be done in your kitchen. You will always be experimenting with new recipes, new ingredients, or trying new equipment. It's a never ending research, which sometimes can lead to great discoveries. Your kitchen is your own private lab.

Then, there's the sense of community. You will rarely be alone in your home brewing hobby. Home brewers are social creatures and love to get together and share experiences, recipes, techniques or simply stories. There's no sense of competition at all, even among commercial microbreweries. And they also love to help beginners. You can always count on a fellow brewer to guide you through the ropes and tricks when you are starting.

Another benefit of home brewing is simply saving money. Of course there's the initial investment in home brewing supplies, but once you're setup, making your own beer sometimes means saving quite a bit of money, especially if you like expensive craft beers like the Belgian trappists. If you are more of a commercial lager type, then you won't save as much by home brewing and it may even end up costing you, since those beers are always on the cheap side. But once you discover a whole new universe of flavors that your own creations can deliver, you will see it more in the lights of a rewarding hobby than as an expense.

Of course we cannot forget the taste. Commercial beer simply can't compete with craft or home brews when it comes to flavor. Not only they add lots of adjuncts in order to reduce cost - thus weakening the flavor of pure malt - but they also follow rigid recipes and don't care to offer variety. By home brewing you dictate what goes in your beer, and you are free to choose whatever ingredients and spices will be used. You like berries? Add them and create fruity ales. Love coffee or chocolate? Why not? The possibilities are endless.

Finally, brewing your own beer gives you a sense of accomplishment in itself. From struggling with your first batches to perfecting your craft and to finally knowing that the great beer you tasted yesterday was your own creation can be quite rewarding. And sharing this passion with family and friends can be fun too. Once you become the expert -- or at least more experienced -- it may be your turn to bring more people to this exciting hobby.

Whatever your reason - or most likely, reasons - may be, you can rest assured that brewing beer at home is lots of fun and is highly recommended.