A Thriving Population

I spoke with one of the Poughkeepsie brewer to ask a random question. His reply completely floored me; he asked, "Why not ask a brewer near you"? What did he mean "near me"? Had I travelled up the perilous trails of the Hudson Valley for no reason? There were men near me who knew all these magical concoctions? Had I stumbled onto some undergroundnetwork? Would I be invited? Was I already in? Just as I had gotten comfortable with being 1 of 2 in my quest, I found that I was a new member of a thriving population.