"Hamm's" is the first spoken word recorded in Rob Nelson's baby book. His parents say he was influenced by the rhythmic beat of the Hamm's Beer television commercial. Now, when not consuming one of his own homebrew creations, Nelson, 47, is out searching for the perfect pint. His favorite beer to date, Alaskan Smoked Porter, arrived back in Seattle the first week in November after a nine-month hiatus.

"I just love the dark, rich, smoky taste," Nelson says. "They make it with a smoked malt up in Juneau, Alaska. Great with food, a nice oily taste to it. Wonderful stuff, but not everybody likes it. I've been trying to duplicate Smoked Alaskan Porter since I've been homebrewing in the Northwest. I've come pretty close."

A self-employed software applications trainer at Seattle-area companies by day, Nelson brews and works on his Web site at About.com. in the evenings. When neophytes e-mail wanting to get started brewing beer, he refers them to his online article "The Best Way to Get Started." Nelson says brewing is as easy as following a simple recipe with just three basic ingredients: yeast, malt extract and hops.