Homemade is better. It’s true for pastries. It’s true for jam. Is it true for beer?

“When it’s brewed at home you can ensure the product is fresh,” said Jason Smith, owner of Adventures in Homebrewing, which recently opened an 18,000-square-foot operation at 6071 Jackson Road in Scio Township.

Though Michigan beer drinkers are “surrounded by great breweries," Smith said there is always some concern about the freshness of small craft-bottled beers. There are no preservatives, and the customer does not necessarily know when it ships or how long it is on the shelves.

“Homebrewing guarantees freshness in beer,” he says.

Smith knew he had found a niche market in Ann Arbor. He did some research via his homebrewing mailing list. He noted the area's successful small breweries and saw the city as a population that enjoys craft brews. Smith purchased the 18,000 square-foot building in Scio Township to expand Adventures in Homebrewing beyond its first, smaller location in Taylor.

About 6,000 square feet will be used for retail sales. Smith plans to use the building to boost his warehousing space for online sales, too.

Smith talks excitedly about what he envisions for the future of the large space: classes and demos, a winery license where people can bottle and label their own wines, club meetings, a tasting room and its own small brewery. It all adds up to … “something very unique,” he said. It is Smith’s hope that Adventures in Homebrewing will attract more than just the experienced homebrewer.

The shop will carry seven types of beginner kits for someone new to homebrewing. It will also carry supplies and materials for crafting your own wine and even soda. The shop will also sell various beer-related products, including mugs, shirts and signs.

Smith began brewing while in the military while stationed in North Carolina in 1992. He eventually came home to Michigan and began his work toward a pharmacology degree at Wayne State University. During that time he began running Adventures in Homebrew in Dearborn. When the store was in danger of closing in 2001, he bought it from the owner, though “no money was exchanged" in the deal, he said.

In 2005, Smith moved the business to Taylor on the busy corner of Telegraph Road and Van Born near I-94. “The first month was busier than ever, and we knew right away that it was a good move,” he said.

Michigan’s dire economy has had only a positive effect on business, Smith says. With gas prices rising and vacations getting sacrificed, he sees an uptick in sales.

“People are staying home, but they still want time with friends and family, with good drinks and a good meal,” Smith said. “Beer is something that you can make for cheaper than you can buy; it’s nice to have a home brew for a barbecue or a party.”

Cheaper than you can buy it? “Absolutely, but” Smith says, “it’s a hobby. So people like to invest in equipments and add-ons. There is a lot of neat, fun stuff.”

Adventures In Homebrewing plans to host a grand opening event from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sept. 24.

Angie Smith is a freelance reporter for AnnArbor.com.