About Fermenter's Supply

Fermenter's Supply has been an established store in Omaha, NE, since 1971. The current owners have run the store since late 1992. The main employee, Frank, has over 35 years of beer and winemaking experience.

Frank started making beer and wine in college after having been to Europe visiting relatives. The availability of good beer in the Midwest was sporadic at best back in the 1970's and 1980's. While studying for a degree in Chemistry, Frank was learning wine and beer making from commercial books from other universities degree programs. In a short time, Frank was asked to be the Superintendent of the Nebraska State Fair Wine Competition, followed a few years later with also being the Superintendent of the Nebraska State Fair Beer Competition.

Frank was in the first group to be certified by the the Beer Judge Certification Program as a Certified Beer Judge in the state of Nebraska. Frank has judged wine and beer at competitions across the USA and Canada over the last 31 years.

Frank has taught winemaking and beer making classes since 1992. Frank has also taught wine judging classes, proctored beer judging tests for the BJCP, and done demonstrations at festivals in the area.

Frank has also grown grapes and hops in the Omaha area since the mid 1980's. While newer varieties have come about since then, the challenges of growing those products have not changed much in that time.