Shmaltz Brewing Company, the jokey and punny Jewish craft beer brand seemed to be done when founder Jeremy Cowan moved to other projects after 25 years.
He’Brew: The Chosen Beer is now owned by Jesse Epstein, a 26-year-old Reform rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College. Epstein started home brewing during the pandemic and saw an opportunity to reinvigorate religion which is struggling with attendance.
I saw a great quote from Epstein, “What about our Jewish values can be used to inform our food practices?” he asks. “How, through beer, can we embrace the values of welcoming in the stranger, freeing the captive, opening the eyes of the blind?” A refreshing thought when religion seems quicker to divide and discriminate.
It will probably be a slow build but hopefully Epstein can accomplish it.