Gush brew

On tours of the little site, visitors are invited to taste the malted barley from which the beer is manufactured, learn how it is made, and even watch as Susan brews it in large stainless steel pots. So far, the Lone Tree Brewery produces eight different labels.

By AVIVA BAR-AM
311_microbrewery (photo credit: Shmuel Bar-Am)
311_microbrewery
(photo credit: Shmuel Bar-Am)
When Susan and Yochanan Levin immigrated to Israel from the US four years ago, they made their home in Gush Etzion. Delighted with what the area had to offer them, they wanted to give something back in return.
Racking their brains, they realized that Israel lacked only two things: Sundays, and a really good home-brewed beer. There was nothing they could do about the first, of course, but they decided to do something about the second.
Set in a tiny caravan across from Deerland, and together with neighbors David and Myriam Share, the Levins crafted their own recipes and began manually producing beer – which my companion declares to be absolutely first-class (I can’t comment, as I don’t drink beer).
On tours of the little site, visitors are invited to taste the malted barley from which the beer is manufactured, learn how it is made, and even watch as Susan brews it in large stainless steel pots. So far, the Lone Tree Brewery produces eight different labels.
Apparently there is nothing unusual about the fact that Susan does much of the physical labor. After all, she says, in Pharaoh’s household it was the women who prepared this particular tipple. And another tidbit from our tour: Although they lived several hundred years apart, Rabbi Papa and Rabbi Hizda, who feature in the Gemara, became wealthy not from their holy occupations, but by producing beer.
You can show up unannounced; but if you want to watch the actual brewing process, it is wise to find out in advance on which days and at what time it takes place. Tours are free. Phone: 054-234-5439.