PARKERSBURG - Parkersburg native Justin Logue is interested in starting a home brewing club in his hometown.
Logue, 24, is studying exercise physiology at West Virginia University in Morgantown and is calling the club the Infamous Parkersburg Alers (IPA).
"I needed a hobby because I didn't have one," he said. "It sounded interesting so I picked it up last year."
Logue will be out of school soon, and is excited to return to his hometown to look for a part-time job and begin to leave his mark on the community.
"There are clubs up here but I never joined one because I was just here temporarily," Logue said about Morgantown.
"I started searching in Parkersburg, and I found one that started and kinda died out," he said. "It got me thinking I should go ahead and start my own."
Logue said he has had a lot of interest in the club. His friends and people have seen him advertising for it on his Facebook page afterhe made one dedicated to the club.
The first meeting of the club will be held at the North End Tavern and Brewery at 3 p.m. Sept. 9.
"We can do different things, something like inner club brewing competitions and style nights," Logue said. "Style night is where everyone brings certain styles of commercially made beer to compare with home brews."
Logue plans to be the one conducting the meetings, but would like to leave the style of the club more "laid back" so that all members have the option of contributing ideas for future meetings.
Dues will be asked for yearly, at $20, with prizes and raffles taking place on special nights. Meetings may be on a rotation and take place at members' homes after the first official meeting takes place.
"We can have a prize night where club dues go toward a brew pot," he said. "And raffle that off each night."
Logue said it feels great to be a part of bringing something like this to the area.
"It feels great to be the only one (home brewing club) in Parkersburg," he said. "It's always good to get involved with the community."
Logue plans to stay in the area long term, so this club could be around a long time. Updates such as meeting times and dates for the group will be posted on the Facebook page regularly.
