Obsession is right

I have 2 brews under my belt in the last 6 weeks. One is an IPA which was bottled 2 weeks ago and the other that is fermenting now is a Nut Brown Ale. Let me tell you I am so obsessed with this hobby already. I have a few books on brewing, a list of favorite websites marked and telling my wife to keep an eye out for coolers so I can build a MLT. She laughs because I talk about brewing beer so much now. I have the HomeBrewTalk app on my phone, brew book on the toilet so I can read on the throne and I usually have at least 3 websites up on my computer at any given time. I am always thinking about how to build up the pipeline to keep it flowing. The only thing I am disappointed in with this new hobby is that I didn’t start doing it years ago.

Also while I am on this roll I just wanted to say thank you for this awesome group that I have and will continue to learn from. I love this site and yes I will be paying for my membership soon. Something this good should have some money thrown to it.

Well said! Sounds all too familiar!!

I brewed my first batch 16 years ago from a book I found. The resources available now are astounding; websites, books and newspapers all available anywhere (even the throne)! I definitely agree - this site in particular is invaluable.

WhiteEagle1 said:

Sounds all too familiar!!

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+1. I hear you, man! Great hob-session, awesome site!

Ummmm, that would be a hell yeah!!!! I only have one completed brew, but I have already started to gather the all grain equipment. Bought a burner and 60 Qt pot today. Building a three tier sculpture already (I'm a welder by trade) and looking for a 10 gallon igloo for a MLT.. I have it bad, I wake up and write down recipes and design improvements on my sculpture. It's like crack, once you get a taste it never enough again...But I'm like the OP, I thank all of you guys and gals that helped me get interested and them that keep me interested and those who will invariably help me drink it and offer their critiques. It is 100% fun. If you dont count the pennies too close and try to save too much it is the most enjoyable way to spend an afternoon I have had in a good long while. And it really is cheaper than a lot of hobbies like shooting, archery, hunting, metal working, and scuba diving. I did all of that in the past so I know what each of them costs over time. I still metal work and do ornamental iron, so now I can build a really cool loking beer tower with trick systems and improvements. The sky is truly the limit. Have fun and enjoy the addiction.
Bob

i hear ya bro! :rocking: it's why i think that's the favorite of my hobbies. it's definitely one where the outcome is most rewarding. and it's definitely something you can dive into from all aspects. there's the DIY, the beer, the scientific side, the beer, the culinary art of brewing, the beer.... well, you get the idea!
welcome to the hobby, man!

I love this hobby for many reasons. I literally started on 1/12/12 and have already brewed 5 batches...The 6th will be this weekend. I'm HOOKED. I've always felt comfortable in the kitchen. I like to think I'm a pretty darn good cook. Couple that with the fact that I love good beer and....Bam....Home brewing caught my interest and the rest is history. I can't wait until I'm good/comfortable enough that I can start to create my own beers, like I do my own dishes. Here's to the craft! :fro:

Me too!! I'm just doing extract at the moment to get comfortable with the process. Looking at all grain summertime. I love cooking... Taking a hamburger helper adding some cheese, salsa and so on and the kids get upset when there's no more. But this is better I can take a beer I like, play with it until it's a masterpiece.... And it's beer!!!! Never go wrong with that

I will definately have to agree with the part about this is like crack. My wife bought me a simple little extract brewing kit for Christmas 2011 and holly ****, it was on from there! We brewed our first batch the day after Christmas and as of now we have brewed four extract batches and just did our second all grain batch. She laughs at me because I cant stop talking about ideas and ways to improve our batches. I will have to say, she is the coolest wife ever, she fully supports me in this. I never have to ask twice to buy a new brew toy. She rocks :rockin:!! But dont fool yourself, she can drink as much as I can.

We just recently built a three tier brewing stand and she helped me the whole time. I attached a picture of it in case anyone cares. So basically my point is, I LOVE THIS ****!!! :fro:

Welcome to that brew family, cheers!

JeffoC6 said:

I love this hobby for many reasons. I literally started on 1/12/12 and have already brewed 5 batches...The 6th will be this weekend. I'm HOOKED. I've always felt comfortable in the kitchen. I like to think I'm a pretty darn good cook. Couple that with the fact that I love good beer and....Bam....Home brewing caught my interest and the rest is history. I can't wait until I'm good/comfortable enough that I can start to create my own beers, like I do my own dishes. Here's to the craft! :fro:

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Damn, you aren't wasting any time at all!



My first brew was a NB extract kit on 10-16-11.

Now all I think about, read about, or look for when I am out and about is brewing related. I even built a single vessel "brewery" in my house.

It's my most favorite hobby yet, and one that I can see being in till the day I die. :rockin:

The obsession stays for a long time, but the family and friends learn to deal with all of the talking, looking, brewing, brewporn, ideas thoughts. i would suggest you find a local club to vent your obsession or people will get sick of hearing of it. also, it will either fade with time or you will learn to manage your obsession. i have been brewing for a few years now and i will still get brew-brain once in a while. i just tell my wife that i need to brew or bottle or fiddle or build. just can't do too much at one time (money can get tight with this hobby). i just keep a note book of ideas and to-dos, ingredients, recipes and the like. i am making a hops garden this spring, and moving to AG once it warms up. i also have plans to make a mash paddle, brew stand, and i just finished a DYI stir plate. you can get as obsessed as you need want. that is the great thing about the hobby, creative outlets

I'll add on to this too. I've only done four batches, but I love it. The trick -like others here - is getting buy in from The Missus. She constantly teases me about how much I talk about beer and the brewing process whenever I have the chance.

These boards have been a great source of info and inspiration, so kudos to everyone else who helps feed my obsession!

I agree with you as well my wife thinks i am crazy. I have a friend at work who is also a homebrewer. All we do is talk about beer other people at work have called us beer nerds. I kinda like the name, and I am quick to remind them taht atleast I dont have Bud or bud light in my frige. If they only new there are beers that are so much better out there

Reading this almost makes me feel normal. I've got the HBT app on my iPhone and iPad (actually like the interface on the app better than the website itself), have The Joy of Homebrewing downloaded on my Kindle app, and converted my Northern Brewer DVDs and tossed them onto my iPad as well. Never know when you need a quick refresher course. Enjoy - cheers!

SkippyWilliams said:

I have the HomeBrewTalk app on my phone, brew book on the toilet so I can read on the throne and I usually have at least 3 websites up on my computer at any given time. I am always thinking about how to build up the pipeline to keep it flowing. The only thing I am disappointed in with this new hobby is that I didn’t start doing it years ago.

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Good to hear. I was getting scared.
I got my son a brew kit for Christmas and he decided to leave it here with us because we have more room than he does at UCF where he lives and goes to school. He comes over and we brew together. It is a great hobby for me to enjoy with my son. The thing is I’m not just obsessed I’m full on addicted and I don’t drink beer that much but I love to brew it. My wife is going crazy about all the stuff I have bought in a month and is starting to get concerned. I just tell her it’s a great hobby and our son and I get to spend some quality time together brewing. The problem is I started brewing even when he can’t make it over. I guess I kind of stole his gear. Opps… I love everything about brewing. I love the making of some of the gear, wort chiller and now the mash tun so we can start to AG. Also the science side of it, I was a biology and chem major in college. I also love the recipe and brewing part of it as I love to cook too. I don’t think there is a cure for my addiction and I don’t want intervention. It is nice to hear others have the same problem. I’m lucky with my wife that our son is involved because you know that makes it OK for Momma Bear. Well on to Batch 5, our son wants oatmeal stout so I have it waiting for him to come over. Brew on I say.

Lol.. that is awesome.

I have been talking to a couple of friends about my brewing and last night the wife of one of them told me how he is planning this space in the garage because he wants to start brewing beer. Well she didn't know I was doing and I laughed and told her it was my fault for telling him about my new hobby. It is better to brew with someone so I can't wait until we start having brew parties

SkippyWilliams said:

Lol.. that is awesome.

I have been talking to a couple of friends about my brewing and last night the wife of one of them told me how he is planning this space in the garage because he wants to start brewing beer. Well she didn't know I was doing and I laughed and told her it was my fault for telling him about my new hobby. It is better to brew with someone so I can't wait until we start having brew parties

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I just love to brew anytime now, but, you are right it is fun to brew with others. My son's girlfriend and a couple of her friends were over the last time we brewed together. It was great fun and I love to spend time with them. It’s a bonus that his college girl friends are cuter than mine were.

Anyone in Orlando Florida interested in home brewing and would like to see how we do it can PM me. We brew almost every weekend in our outside summer kitchen. That way SWMBO keeps her kitchen to herself inside.

It is imperative that you get SWMBO on board in this hobby early! I'm making her a Blue Moon clone batch next because it's important that she love the products of your hobby! This is especially true when you still need the kitchen to complete each batch!


As for Brewing as a hobby...there is no hobby more rewarding!

Why?

1. You were buying beer before you started brewing, often for as much as $1.50 per 12oz bottle! You can make good beer for $0.50 per bottle.

2. With most hobbies your wife, GF, and friends do not benefit, they only see less of you! With brewing they enjoy the fruits of your hobby as well as you do!

I just did my 1st extract last Saturday, and if I wasn't booked up the next 2 weekends I'd be making my next batch. I plan on doing a Blue Moon clone for SWMBO, I'd be interested in hearing your recipie Jayhem.

I too would love to see a good all grain Blue Moon clone.
Thanks Jayhem.

Mase said:

I just did my 1st extract last Saturday, and if I wasn't booked up the next 2 weekends I'd be making my next batch. I plan on doing a Blue Moon clone for SWMBO, I'd be interested in hearing your recipie Jayhem.

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CourtHouseBrewing said:

I too would love to see a good all grain Blue Moon clone.
Thanks Jayhem.

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I'm doing a partial mash but I got this recipe off a friend who said it is the closest Blue Moon clone he had made.

5.2 gal batch

3.0 lbs of White Wheat Malt
3.0 lbs of Briess DME Golden Light
1.0 lb of Honey (add at flame out)
1.0 lb of flaked oats (I use quickoats in with the mash)


Double crush your grains to get at least 70% efficiency

Hops: 1oz of Cascades or other 6-10% AA C-hops at 60 minutes. IBU's should be 18-20. You do not want hoppy dominance in this beer.

0.75 oz of crushed coriander boil for 10 min
0.3 oz of sweet orange peel at flame out

Yeast: Safbrew WB-06 wheat beer yeast with 76% attenuation.

OG: 1.053 FG: 1.013 (5.3% ABV)

We will see how this turns out I already have all the ingredients ready.

Sounds great. i might have to steal that one for SWMBO

Jayhem,
Thanks for posting this. It will go into the rotation for sure when my fermentation chamber is free. The SWMBO loves Blue Moon. Thanks again.