From a Kettle in the Kitchen to a Brewery with Heart: The Humble Beginnings of Hermit’s.

It all started with a kettle.

Not the kind that whistles on your stove, but this stainless steel beauty in the photo—gleaming, oversized, and packed with promise. Sitting atop a box of Huggies in my garage, surrounded by baby gear, cardboard chaos, and a whole lot of barley, this was the scene that marked the beginning of something unexpected: the birth of Hermit’s Brewery.

It was the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The world had hit pause, and like so many others, I found myself stuck at home, searching for a sense of purpose and a creative outlet. With time on my hands and curiosity in my heart, I ordered this kettle from a local home brew supply store called Grapes to Glass. It’s an amazing store which has more than what I could ever imagined for home brew at that time. Thanks Doug for helping me out with the supplies and explaining to me how to make good beers at home.

I didn’t know it then, but that first homebrew—crafted in the quiet hum of my kitchen next to a sleeping baby — would stir something deep within me.

Each batch became a lesson in patience, balance, and experimentation. I played with flavors that reminded me of home, drawing on the comforting spices, herbs, and tropical fruits of Asian kitchens. Ginger, tea leaf, toasted rice, lychee... ingredients that told stories. And with every fermenting carboy and every sip shared (socially distanced, of course), I started dreaming bigger.

The solitude of lockdown gave me time to reflect, but it was this kettle that gave me direction. It brewed more than beer—it brewed possibility.

Hermit’s Brewery was born from those early days of isolation, but it’s grown into a celebration of connection: to culture, to flavor, and to craft. That experience is now a memory, but I keep this kettle as a symbol of where it all began. Because at Hermit’s, we don’t forget our roots—we ferment them.

To everyone who's supported us on this journey, thank you. And to those who are just discovering us—welcome. There’s a little bit of that pandemic-era brewing magic in every beer can.

Stay curious. Stay bold. Brew from the heart.

— The Hermit