Brooklyn Brewery co-founder picked up brewing in Middle East
Brooklyn Brewery co-founder Steve Hindy picked up his interest in home brewing from an unusual source: American diplomats in Saudi Arabia, where Islamic law prohibits alcoholic drinks.
“These guys all made their own beer at home, so I was fascinated by home brewing,” says Hindy, who spent time in the Middle East as a reporter during the late 1970s and early ’80s.
Once back in the U.S., Hindy started making beer at home and eventually decided Brooklyn would be an ideal place to start a microbrewery. Today, Brooklyn Brewery is one of the 10 largest craft brewers in the country and a top exporter.