Newest Threads

TimmysPaleAle · 03-05-2009, 12:03 AM

Hey all-

I have my first-ever batch in a nice and bubbly fermentation right now, and I am happy with the process so far. What brings me to post here, however, involves my mistaken belief that the staff at my local specialty liquor store would CARE that I am brewing my own beer.

My bad, I get it. They are in the business of selling a product. For that, they need people to buy. Everything I've read says that you need to Relax and Have a Homebrew, and everything will be ok. Well, as I said this is my first batch, so I didn't have any homebrew!

So what do I do? I decide to hit the local specialty liquor store for some goods produced by a local micro (Furious, by Surly -- AMAZING). I mentioned to the clerk, whom I have spoken to about beers and breweries before, that I was going to brew my first batch.

I was obviously excited about it, and I had been waiting ALL DAY to get home and take care of business. The clerk, however, was NOT EXCITED, and in fact he attempted to rain on my parade. He told me that "home brew won't even come close to the quality of the beer that they sell," and that "in his opinion, it's a waste of time and money."

Can you believe this guy? What a jerk. I hope that my experiment goes well, and I never have to step foot in his store again.

Has anybody else had a similar experience with liquor store staff?

**Revvy** · 03-05-2009, 12:06 AM

I have just the opposite, we have three great beer stores in town, (one of them even carries a small aisle of homebrew supplies) and the owners know I brew, and I like beer...so they always want to know what I'm brewing, and they turn me on to interesting beers...plus they also give be bottle boxes...

But just becasue I brew, doesn't mean I still don't buy beer, so they are not worried...which I'm sure was probably the reaction your person have..if people brew beer, than they might not be customers.

You should show them up someday and have them taste your beer....

carnevoodoo · 03-05-2009, 12:16 AM

Ive taken a bottle or two to the local beer bar and have been well received. However, it is safe to say that 95% or more of homebrewed beer sucks. People are proud of their efforts and all that, but a lot of it is barely drinkable. I know plenty of people with this attitude and I do not blame them one bit.

However, as an employee of a store, it should be known that you are supposed to be nice to your customers. That is pretty ridiculous.

carnevoodoo · 03-05-2009, 12:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Revvy

You should show them up someday and have them taste your beer....

Yes, but make sure it is good before you do this.

TimmysPaleAle · 03-05-2009, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnevoodoo

Yes, but make sure it is good before you do this.

haha. will do.

OLB · 03-05-2009, 12:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnevoodoo

However, it is safe to say that 95% or more of homebrewed beer sucks. People are proud of their efforts and all that, but a lot of it is barely drinkable.

Dude, you are raining on my parade. But seriously, I have now made 7 batches and am glad to see that the results aren't always great. The first three have had mixed results. The 4th is bottled and the last three are fermenting or dry hopping. The Hefe I just tried after 9 days in the bottle was probably better than what the first three batches produced. I enjoyed my first batches because I made them, but it was beer I wouldn't be willing to pay for.

However, I have found tips for improvement here and they are starting to pay off. After I tasted my first beer I decided to keep quiet about homebrewing until I could make something that I could objectively say was good. I know now I am definitely closer.

jmp138 · 03-05-2009, 12:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by carnevoodoo

However, it is safe to say that 95% or more of homebrewed beer sucks.

Really, you can't honestly believe that. I would say the majority of homebrew done by anyone with a pretty good idea of the processes and not using John Bull and a pound of sugar is putting out pretty decent beer. Maybe not world class craft brew, but certainly not something that is barely drinkable.

Maybe your homebrewing friends just need to step up their game!

Stef1966 · 03-05-2009, 12:44 AM

Quote:

You should show them up someday and have them taste your beer....

I dont think so, they would just use the occasion to piss further on his enthusiasm even if deep inside, they would enjoy the home brew, for %90 of people, pissing on other people's enthusiasm is a national sport.

Never expect any sign of enthusiasm from other people about anything you try in your life, always do it for yourself, and if by any miracles, people enjoy it, take it for what it is and be content.

Stef1966 · 03-05-2009, 12:47 AM

Quote:

Ive taken a bottle or two to the local beer bar and have been well received. However, it is safe to say that 95% or more of homebrewed beer sucks. People are proud of their efforts and all that, but a lot of it is barely drinkable. I know plenty of people with this attitude and I do not blame them one bit.

Allow me to totally disagree with you on this.
I have tasted a $hitload of beer in my life, and as far as my home brewed beer and the ones from others i have tasted so far, i have nothing to shy about compared to any store bought beer.

Then again, it is always a matter of personnal taste, maybe you do not like the taste of home brewed beer.

**Denny's Evil Concoctions** · 03-05-2009, 12:49 AM

Yeah, I still go and buy beer, especially styles I have not brewed. soemtimes I buy beer to compare mine to. And it's not always convenient to lug a keg to a friends house just to half a pint or two.

Personally I like my beer better than most store bought and so do my friends. They keep urging me to start a brewpub etc. I just can't afford to do that.