Photo by Travis Pratt Instructor Buck Reed, left, watches while Jesse Lee of Walkersville washes the grains he used for his beer during a beer brewing class at the Flying Barrell Brewery in Frederick.

The business offers a home-brewing class three times a year, which attracts between six to 16 students from all walks of life -- clergy members, rocket scientists, doctors, lawyers, warehouse workers, mechanics and IT experts, said Buck Reed, class teacher.

"It's really a hobby for everybody," Reed said.

Frederick County is home to many brewers, he said. "Just about everybody knows somebody who brews."

Reed's brewing club has 100 members, yet he often meets other home-brewers who have not heard of the club, he said.

"I always tell people, 'You can take your stamp collection to a party and that's all well and good, but if I bring my home brew, I don't think anybody will pay attention to you,'" Reed said.

When class is in session, Reed can be heard bellowing assignments and instructions.

"He's got a no nonsense style and he's very direct and a seasoned brewer," said Tom Dean, of Frederick.

New Market microbiologist Darci Smith brewed for the first time last summer.

"It turned out to be good so I decided to attend class," Smith said. "Being a microbiologist, I am naturally interested in this kind of stuff, and it's a lot of fun."

Kim Payne completed the class and brews beer at home with her husband.

She's also known as the "Bottle Queen" for the class, meaning she sanitizes the bottles before they are filled with beer.

"I love to come to class, help out, brew," she said. "I love the smell, the camaraderie -- and the end product isn't so bad either," Payne said.

Sean McAdam proudly wears his "class volunteer of quality control" Oktoberfest T-shirt.

Most people who take the class really like beer, McAdam said.

Experimenting with various concoctions hasn't caused any explosions, Reed said. "We've made our mistakes, but the best part is you learn from them."

A key priority for the class is sanitation, Reed said. "We can't over-stress sanitation. One out of every six things I say involves sanitation."

Several customers bought ingredients for their home hobby as the class was in progress recently.

A co-worker turned Rick and Robin Cronkite on to home brewing and the couple has been cooking up their own beer at home for about seven years.

The Cronkites were stocking up on malt, barley, malt extract syrups, hops, yeast, and bottle caps.

"In a few weeks, it'll be American IPA," Rick Cronkite said, referring to the recipe. "These are basic ingredients but there's so many variations."

Starting with a home-brewing kit pre-packaged with ingredients is less intimidating, Rick Cronkite said.

Reed is self-publishing a list of beer-making recipes generated over 10 years of brewing, he said.

The brewery's owner, Bob Frank, founded the company when a dead-end job led to an interest in home brew. The hobby became his business. Flying Barrel's closest rivals are in Hagerstown, Columbia and Alexandria, Va.

"We're all good, friendly competition. We help each other," Frank said.

Flying Barrel offers a complete line of home-brew, winemaking and mead-making needs and books, kits, ingredients and equipment.