Best Places To Buy Back Home Beer

Back Home Beer is a craft beer company based in Brooklyn, New York City, founded by Zahra Tabatabai, a 39-year-old Iranian-American writer. The company's beer is inspired by Tabatabai's Persian roots and her grandfather, who brewed beer and wine in Shiraz, Iran. Back Home Beer currently makes two beers, a Gose Sour and a Persian Lager, as well as a special New Day IPA. The beer is sold in 100 shops and restaurants in New York City and Washington, DC, with plans to expand distribution.

Back Home Beer in Brooklyn

Back Home Beer is a brewery based in Brooklyn, New York, that has been in operation since 1996. Its brews are inspired and influenced by Middle Eastern and Persian roots.

You can find Back Home Beer at several locations in Brooklyn, including Cafe Mogador, ABC Kitchen, and The Sultan Room. If you're looking to purchase Back Home Beer to enjoy at home, you can find it at Beer Run Harlem and Flagship Brewing Co.

Some of the popular brews from Back Home Beer include the Persian Lager, Sumac Gose, Summer Witte, and Yalda Queen. These beers offer a range of flavours, from the fruity and sour notes of the Sumac Gose to the refreshing wheat taste of the Summer Witte.

Whether you're enjoying a night out in Brooklyn or looking to stock up on craft beer, Back Home Beer offers a unique drinking experience rooted in Middle Eastern and Persian culture. So, if you're in Brooklyn and craving a taste of something inspired by these regions, be sure to check out Back Home Beer at one of the many locations it's available at.

Iranian-owned breweries in the US

Iranian-owned breweries are rare in the United States, due to strict alcohol regulations in Iran. Since the Iranian Revolution of 1979, the production, possession, or distribution of any alcoholic beverages has been illegal and punishable under Islamic law.

However, one notable example of an Iranian-owned brewery in the US is Back Home Beer, founded by Zahra Tabatabai, a female Iranian-American entrepreneur. Tabatabai's family history and Iranian heritage played a significant role in inspiring her to start her own brewery. Her grandfather, Gholam-Reza Fakhrabadi, used to brew homemade beer in his basement before he moved to the United States after the revolution. Tabatabai's grandmother's longing for the taste of her late husband's homemade brew sparked Tabatabai's interest in brewing.

Tabatabai began experimenting with brewing in her small Brooklyn kitchen during the pandemic. She tried various ingredients, including sour cherries, barberries, dried black lime, and sumac, which are commonly used in Iranian cuisine. After perfecting her recipe, she rented a space on Staten Island to produce cans of "Back Home Beer," a fruity beer featuring sour cherries and cured sumac.

Tabatabai's brewery not only brings Iranian-inspired flavours to craft beer but also carries a deeper cultural significance. She aims to shed light on the rich history of fermentation in the Middle East, which has been largely erased due to religious restrictions. Additionally, Tabatabai faces the challenges of being a woman of Middle Eastern descent in a predominantly white male-dominated industry. Despite these obstacles, she has successfully established her brewery, delivering her unique beer to over 250 bars, restaurants, and markets in New York and Washington, D.C.

Middle Eastern-inspired brews

In the Middle East itself, microbreweries are also becoming more common, despite the region not being known for its alcohol consumption. An example of this is Bosphorus Brewing Company in Turkey, which was established by an Englishman who wanted to bring British craft brews to Istanbul. Similarly, Carakale in Jordan, founded by Jordanian Yazan Karadsheh, aims to bring quality beer production back to its origins in Mesopotamia.

Lebanon is also home to several microbreweries, including 961 Beer, founded by Mazen Hajjar during the Lebanon-Israeli war in 2006. Despite the challenges of the conflict, 961 Beer has grown significantly and now exports its brews to over 25 countries. Another Lebanese microbrewery is Colonel Microbrewery, which was launched in the seaside town of Batroun and has quickly gained popularity.

In Palestine, the Taybeh brewery was established in the village of Taybeh in Ramallah by two Palestinian brothers, Canaan David Khoury and Nadim Khoury, who returned to their homeland after living in the United States for 20 years. The brewery aims to boost the local economy and introduce a new style of beer to the region.

Where to buy Persian-style beer

Persian-style beer is a growing trend, with a number of breweries now offering their own take on this ancient beverage.

One such brewery is Parseas Brewing, which claims to be the only producer of authentic Persian beer in the world. Brewed in Arizona, Parseas is a blend of Iranian heritage and American craftsmanship. The beer is available in cans and on tap, and the company offers special discounts for restaurants, bars, and music festivals. Parseas Brewing prides itself on its eco-friendly practices, including reduced waste in brewing, eco-friendly packaging, and sustainable processes.

Another option for purchasing Persian-style beer is Back Home Beer, a Brooklyn-based brewery founded by Zahra Tabatabai. Inspired by her grandfather's recipes from prerevolutionary Iran, Tabatabai set out to create a Middle Eastern-style craft beer. Back Home Beer is scheduled to begin brewing in the spring and will be available to the public in cans during the summer.

In addition to these breweries, there are also homebrewing scenes in Iran, although they maintain a low profile due to the country's restrictions on the production and consumption of alcoholic beverages. However, the ancient beer heritage of Iran, which predates any European nation, is gaining recognition and exciting Middle Eastern expat communities.

When it comes to purchasing Persian-style beer, your options may depend on your location. Both Parseas Brewing and Back Home Beer are based in the United States, so they may be more accessible to those living in or near the US. However, with the growing popularity of Persian-style beer, it's possible that more breweries and retailers will begin to offer this unique beverage.

Sumac Gose by Back Home Beer

The Sumac Gose is crafted with attention to detail, using sumac cured in Gaziantep, Turkey, and salt and cherries sourced from Iran. This beer, with 4.6% alcohol by volume, is a testament to the time and dedication invested in its creation. It retails for $5 per can at Domestique, and six-packs can be purchased for $16.99 to $18.99 at various fine beer retailers like ANXO Brightwood Bottle Shop, Churchkey Bottle Shop, and Craft Beer Cellar.

Sumac Gose has received positive reviews, with drinkers describing it as "sweet, tart, complex, [and] yummy," with pleasant red fruit notes. It has earned multiple badges on Untappd, including the Riding Steady, Fruits of Your Labor, Pucker Up, and Land of the Free badges. The beer pairs well with various dishes, such as corn chowder seasoned with rosemary garlic sea salt and smoked paprika.

Back Home Beer, owned and founded by Zahra Tabatabai, brings a unique perspective to the American beer industry by celebrating women-owned breweries and highlighting the often under-acknowledged influence of immigrants in modern craft beer. The brand draws inspiration from the Middle East, the birthplace of beer, and the stories of Tabatabai's grandfather, who crafted his own beer and shared it with his community in Iran.

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