The Year of the Hobby: Beer Brewing

boatBurner

boatBurner

shutup, crime!
Feb 24, 2012
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The jerky thread is awesome, and made me decide to take some action into pursuing something unrelated to business or the computer that I've always wanted to do. In this case, it's beer brewing.

I did a lot of research a few years ago when I almost purchased the parts, but stopped short. This year, I'm going to allow myself this hobby.

Any fellow beer brewers around? Any recommendations for suppliers of ingredients and starter equipment? I live in Phoenix, so the climate is dry, and have a good-sized garage to work with. Big drinker of IPA's as well.

Suggestions are welcome.
 


I don't have anything useful to add on beer brewing specifically.

However, I think that it's extremely important for a man to have a hobby that provides him something to focus on and improve at that doesn't have the purpose of anything other than happiness. I feel like this provides him with a way to mentally "recharge" for faster recovery from working on other things, and I feel like it aides creativity and motivation in other areas.
 
potentialeight said:
I think that it's extremely important for a man to have a hobby that provides him something to focus on and improve at that doesn't have the purpose of anything other than happiness.
Click to expand...

I agree, and it's this line of thinking that makes me want to take on something I've always been interested without any business-related incentive. And in my case, something that doesn't have to do with a computer.
 
boatBurner said:
The jerky thread is awesome, and made me decide to take some action into pursuing something unrelated to business or the computer that I've always wanted to do. In this case, it's beer brewing.

I did a lot of research a few years ago when I almost purchased the parts, but stopped short. This year, I'm going to allow myself this hobby.

Any fellow beer brewers around? Any recommendations for suppliers of ingredients and starter equipment? I live in Phoenix, so the climate is dry, and have a good-sized garage to work with. Big drinker of IPA's as well.

Suggestions are welcome.
Click to expand...

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58tTSuX9IA8]Brewbot The Smart Brewing Appliance KickStarter - YouTube[/ame]


Brewbot | The Smart Brewing Appliance
 
Good call on the offline hobby.

Finding something that is interesting that takes an real investment of time and patience to improve on is great for clearing your mind.

Only thing I can add to this is to try out as many kits, or try from scratch , as possible. It is crazy to see the variance in quality between kits, and the reality that the price doesn't always make the end result better.

One of the best things I have found for getting better is to either look to see if there is a forum, sadly getting back online is the only way for this, or a community course that is focused on your interest. This way you get involved in a community and can grow your knowledge based on other peoples experiences. Or if you are a hobbit just learn through your own mistakes.
 
boatBurner 2014:

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If you're really a beer lover, I recommend you watch a TV show called Brewdogs. It's pretty cool.
 
My best friend has been brewing his own beer for a few years and I've done it with him a couple of times. He's only just started doing the first step (boiling the wort or something I think?) himself recently, having used kits in the past. There's a lot of variables so best to start off using kits and get familiar with what you like style wise and used to brewing.

- Start with a kit.
- Save bottles (ages better and keeps longer than if you do it into one of those keg things. Bottle caps/capper and the hose thing are cheap too.)
- Be careful sterilising everything.
- Spray malt is a pain in the arse to work with.
 
I've actually brewed beer before, both in a All-in-One kit and a standard batch with the regular tools.

#1: if the items you use aren't 100% clean and sterilized, you risk ruining the batch from day 1. I worked at a restaurant/brewery for years and our brewmaster spent as much time cleaning as he did brewing.

#2: the All-in-One was about 10% as good as the standard batch. Huge difference. The ingredients and materials were very easy to use, but the beer was pretty well garbage.

I'd recommend starting with the most basic recipes first. A friend of mine tried to do a multi-staged brew his first time and it literally was the worst beer ever. He's since become quite good, but the learning curve is steep for that first go-round.
 
I've done half a dozen or so extract recipes and a few of my own IPA recipes, but I've only done all grain one time. It really is the way to go for controlling the flavors of the beer. I prefer IPA's too and it's awesome to experiment with different grain bills and yeasts.

I buy all of my supplies at NorthernBrewer.com or from a local home brew supply. NorthernBrewer also has a great forum here (The Northern Brewer Homebrew Forum • Index page).

If you want to start out with all grain, they have a decent starter setup or you can get your feet wet with extract brewing. They have great setups for any budget and tons of great prepackaged kits you can make.
 
As a former brewer, I would just like to say enjoy your new hobby. Diversify your efforts. Give brewing spirits a go as well. Above all be patient, unless you want to go and buy a proper keg set up. If you do that, buy yourself an old fridge so you can cut a slot in it for the keg tap, and then enjoy pretty much beer constantly.

Only downside - you will end up being pissed more often than not. Notice I said former brewer.

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I have some hard cider aging, but I haven't done beer in quite a while.
1. Cleanliness is really important, make sure everything is sterile.
2. Bottling is a pain in the ass.
If I was to brew beer now, I think I'd buy a CO2 setup and some fountain soft drink syrup containers and rack the beer in the syrup containers.
 
My lady bought me a kit to do a IPA with, for christmas. Haven't gotten to it yet but I'll let you know how it goes.
 
Second said:
Brewbot The Smart Brewing Appliance KickStarter - YouTube


Brewbot | The Smart Brewing Appliance
Click to expand...

BOO this man! Two friends of mine are really into brewing beer. Won a few local competitions. I got into it a few years ago. I truly think it's an art form and stuff like the BrewBot takes all the fun and science out of it. My recommendation is to check out a local brewers club - Arizona Society of Homebrewers

Learn the art of it from the ground up. It's rewarding in so many ways. Everyone likes a beer after a hard days work, but when you crack the top on a brew you yourself made, it's infinitely better.
 
It's a great hobby to get into. I've been brewing since '98. I highly recommend NorthernBrewer.com for ingredients and supplies. They have some good starter brewing equipment kits. Start off with a extract ale kit that sound good to you.

If your into it like I am you'll soon find yourself doing all-grain batches, kegging, building your own equipment, etc. I'm actually going to be brewing a Doppelbock this weekend. Currently I have a Robust Porter & Foreign Extra Stout on tap. In my secondary fermentors I have a Berliner Weisse and a Munich Helles. I also have root beer on tap.
 
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