Anyone with experience teaching visually impaired to brew?

MadisonVI · 01-16-2010, 07:30 PM

Hi Everyone,

I'm running a blind/low vision conference in Madison, WI and would like to find someone who can volunteer to teach basic brewing techniques/adaptable equipment for brewing to a blind/low vision audience (beginner level).

Anyone out there fit the bill or know anyone who had done this?

Thanks!

MadisonVI

**Edcculus** · 01-16-2010, 07:32 PM

Maybe look into how they teach basic cooking techniques? I can't imagine a lot of brewing stuff, like hot burners, gallons of boiling wort, and even measuring hops or specific gravity will be too friendly toward the visually impaired.

**Stuntman** · 01-17-2010, 05:12 AM

In all due respect, too dangerous! Like the guy that wants to pour boiling wort into a preheated carboy for sanitary reasons.

If you have a visually impared beer drinker in the Houston area, I would certainly entertain the idea of him/her comming over, and I will explain what I am doing, and fill him/her with some great homebrew. About him/her driving home, I would have to make the call, since it is on my head if he/she drives himself/herself home.

Edited: I must be a shovanist.

MadisonVI · 01-17-2010, 02:19 PM

Hi Edcculus and Stuntmantoo,

Visually impaired people, like really any other people, need basic training/techniques to cook but also, like any other people, when they have what they need depending on individual ability and experience they can do it.

What I'm seeking is someone who knows the right techniques and adaptive equipment to demonstrate/teach brewing to the visually impaired.

Thanks!

**Stuntman** · 01-17-2010, 02:33 PM

Do you Home Brew, or know what has to be done to manufacture Home Brew? The budget brewer is lifting full five gallon carboys. There is any where from 3 to 5 gallons of liquid, boiling for an hour, during this boil there is a point that you have to be right on top of when the boil over occurs. to adjust flame and keep from having boiling wort all over your garage or kitchen.

Sure would be interested if you get a program together. I have a bud that is a real hero. He teaches the disabled how to water ski. It is a joint effort of about ten people, they go all around the Houston area to different locations. I know he would like to hear about this as well.

Good luck

**Revvy** · 01-17-2010, 02:43 PM

This sounds like a noble thought, but I too think that finding a visually impaired brewer may be a challenge. Homebrewing even on a 5 gallon scale IS dangerous. There might be something said for expensive "push button brewing" but those systems either are expensive, or need to be built before they can be utilized.

Having said that a 3 gallon countertop system may works...but again it needs to be built. It looks like this.

http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f51/countertop-brutus-20-a-131411/

I even googled looking for visually impaired homebrewers, and nothing but THIS thread came up on the web.

I honestly don't have a good answer for you. I wish I did.

Best of luck,

TeacherPatti · 01-17-2010, 02:48 PM

Hello, everyone! My friend Twittered this post to me and I signed up to this forum, because I think I can help.

I am a teacher of the visually impaired (and, interestingly or perhaps not, went to law school in Madison WI in a previous career) and so I can hopefully give you some advice. (I am not visually impaired myself)

First, I understand the inclination to think this is too dangerous. For some folks, it may be--but hell, for some sighted folks it is too dangerous.

But with the proper guides and adaptations, many folks who are VI can do this.

Next, do you know if the folks are totally blind, low vision, Braille users...? If they need Braille markings on anything, I can help with that. If they are low vision, they may just require hand over hand techniques and guidance.

Also, keep in mind that most folks who are VI have figured out "life management skills"...that is, they have probably been taught or figured out a way to measure things, to not burn themselves at the stove and so on. Ask them what they do at home.

An easy modification is to use a "buddy system". My students are mainstreamed all day and I am always telling the mainstream teachers to use this system. I think it will work for brewing, as well. It's just what it sounds like...have someone work with the person who is VI, as part of a team.

I'm sure I will think of other stuff! Meantime, please let me know if you have any other thoughts/questions!

Patti

**Stuntman** · 01-17-2010, 03:54 PM

This IS an interesting subject, to say the least. If I had someone that had SOME sight, and wanted to brew, I would say it would be a breeze.

If a new brewer had no sight at all, it would be very difficult. I would not recommend brew day without help from a knowledgable Home Brewer. That boil over point is crucial to catch in time, it comes up very quickly. You have to get to that point for a boil to start, and catch it within a few seconds to get it under control. Anyone that sees how it is done, should understand the technique and be able to control it the next time for the completely VI person.

Another point is to go NO glass at all if completely VI. Going to kegs instead of bottling. I went Party Pig (they are plastic) but I would not recommend them, too many problems. Better Bottles will take the 5 and 6 gallon glass carboys out of the equation. I am sure they have temp guages that talk, you would need a Hydrometer reading a few times for each batch.

In retrospect it could be done with very little help from a friend at certain points.

I am not familiar with the Mr. Beer Technique, http://www.mrbeer.com/ What I have read it sure looks good. All Plastic (including bottles) Twist on caps (instead of trying to cap glass bottles). Everything to give it a go for no more than 170 bucks for the deluxe kit. Cheap as forty or there around for enough to do one batch. I have heard Mr. Beer is the single start for most home brewers, I don't know if this is true (as I started with a kit for a Local Home brew Store.

Please note that there will still be a danger, more so for VI brewers. Here are some stories, I myself cut my leg and had a hard time getting the bleeding to stop when a glass carboy broke. http://www.homebrewtalk.com/f14/injuries-sustained-while-brewing-134156/

Good luck

**TXCurtis** · 01-17-2010, 04:47 PM

OP, can you give us an idea of the level of impairment that your conference attendees have?

As mentioned earlier - one of the most important phases of brewing is the break phase where the wort REALLY wants to boil over. If the brewer is unable to watch the boil pot closely it's a recipe for disaster.

As brewers, we rely on sight a lot. We watch for boil overs, we inspect our fermenters to ensure they are clean, we read the scale when weighing things. Safely brewing with limited sight is possible but undoubtedly will be a challenge.

If there's interest, maybe try to set up a monthly group brew where at least one or two participants have good eyesight. I'd imagine that many of the brewers here would be willing to participate in such a thing.

**Stuntman** · 01-17-2010, 05:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by curtis97322

OP, If there's interest, maybe try to set up a monthly group brew where at least one or two participants have good eyesight. I'd imagine that many of the brewers here would be willing to participate in such a thing.

Pencil me in...I love to brew, and would consider it a blessing to help you out. Houston area.