What I'm wondering is this: what stuff have you done as you passed through your brewing adolescence that you now look back on and laugh?
I'm mostly posting this to laugh at myself. I started brewing just less than a year ago, and since May I'd say it's been a full-on obsession. I brewed just about 185 gallons in 2011. Since joining HBT I've scoured these forums literally every day. I've read six books, constantly tinker with old recipes, and search for new ideas. And sometimes I fool myself into thinking I know what I'm doing
Example? I've posted in a few threads about growing a pipeline and how that has helped me be more patient with my beers.
This afternoon I went to my beer fridge after getting home and decided to grab one of my deuces of THA clone I brewed in late August. I wasn't thrilled with it in the fall--too yeasty on the nose and palate. Now it's freaking UNBELIEVABLE! Yeast is gone, it's clean, perfectly bitter, and really drinkable. I had no idea my beers could be this good!
The point? I expect many of you have beers older than my entire brewing career by far. Can't believe I've been proud to let many of my brews go a whole month.. Now tasting this four month old brew, I feel like a goofball. I'm taking a few of all my beers and hiding them away so I can see how good they really are!
I'm mostly posting this to laugh at myself. I started brewing just less than a year ago, and since May I'd say it's been a full-on obsession. I brewed just about 185 gallons in 2011. Since joining HBT I've scoured these forums literally every day. I've read six books, constantly tinker with old recipes, and search for new ideas. And sometimes I fool myself into thinking I know what I'm doing
Example? I've posted in a few threads about growing a pipeline and how that has helped me be more patient with my beers.
This afternoon I went to my beer fridge after getting home and decided to grab one of my deuces of THA clone I brewed in late August. I wasn't thrilled with it in the fall--too yeasty on the nose and palate. Now it's freaking UNBELIEVABLE! Yeast is gone, it's clean, perfectly bitter, and really drinkable. I had no idea my beers could be this good!
The point? I expect many of you have beers older than my entire brewing career by far. Can't believe I've been proud to let many of my brews go a whole month.. Now tasting this four month old brew, I feel like a goofball. I'm taking a few of all my beers and hiding them away so I can see how good they really are!
