"We provide the directions and tell you what to do each step of the way," Wendy Pzena says. "The equipment is sanitized for you, and the cleanup that we do is a bonus."

According to her husband, sanitation is the most difficult aspect of the brewing process.

"It's hard to keep the equipment clean," Jeff Pzena says. "People who are careful and detail-oriented make good beer, but here we take care of all the clearing and sanitation for you, so it's inevitable that you'll make good beer."

On average, one batch of beer costs between $100 to $130 and makes about five to five-and-a-half cases. Jeff Pzena estimates that making beer at home costs between $10 and $15 per case, while brewing a case at The Modern Brewer costs about $20.

Although business is steady, the Pzenas say they are disappointed that the brewing-on-premises end of the business hasn't proved more profitable.

"It hasn't caught on like we thought it would or like it has caught on in Canada, where brewing your own beer is treated like a singles' event," she says.

So the Pzenas turn to tastings at restaurants, universities and graduate schools to generate business, offering brewing classes and selling brewing equipment and ingredients. Shelves are full of glassware, publications like Zymurgy, a magazine for homebrewers and beer lovers or guides to beer and wine-making.

"We are very profitable for a home brew supply shop, and the brewery is a good idea," Wendy Pzena says. "We just break even, though, on the brew-on-premises equipment because of the costs of labor and ingredients."

High operating costs leave little money for marketing or expansion.

"We don't even have a budget for advertising," she says. "We'll do a little advertising around Christmas, but a lot of our customers are regulars."

Nevertheless, the Pzenas say that the people who enjoy the brewing come back.

"Everyone always seems satisfied with the end product," Jeff Pzena says matter-of-factly.