When you guys started, how did you convince yourselves to take the time to learn from your own mistakes and successes?
From my initial reading of homebrewing experience, it never seemed like an easy task/hobby. Not to mention there is so much unreliable information out there; it's best to take it as a general guide and then finding out on your own how to brew--making mistakes and learning from them.
I have at the most brewed one batch a week, for up to three batches at once. I use Google docs (it's called drive now) and the calendar to keep track of the recipes used, fermenting/bottling schedules, and to keep notes such as mash temps, specific gravity tests, fermentation temperatures, and anything different that could be useful to remember when tasting the finished beer and reviewing the process. I don't know how else anyone could keep track of this stuff, but I could not learn without at least a minimal amount of tracking (which also helps me remember the experiences).
My third brew was an all grain. I don't find all grain to be difficult or requiring expensive equipment, just a lot more time consuming and generally cumbersome. I don't make my own recipes, I use existing ones. I will start my own recipes naturally when I know enough to do it without much effort--learning to brew doesn't mean learning to make recipes. I recently started reading the BYO style profiles which is enlightening though.
The hardest challenge while learning is doing various styles at once, because the grains and hops give different effects, and yeast strains behave different ways. But doing the same beer over and over is too boring. I actually always do the same beer twice in a row (most of them come out better the first time--again my notes reveal my faults).
Last night I popped a beer that was done conditioning, and it tasted nearly excellent which was a first for me, though it was probably due to a forgiving yeast and adjuncts (it was a top heavy wit). I think it was by 12th batch. Maybe in another six months I'll get mostly repeatable, reliably 'excellent beer' across a few styles (perhaps I am too optimistic and that's ok).
I can't help but to learn from my mistakes but at the same time I have to remember not to get angry with myself if the beer doesn't get better right away, I have to keep trying something new and asking for help.
I guess that if a person starts with more expensive equipment, they will get better results and will have less to learn (at least right away). But I'm happy with my equipment for now.
