2018 Brewing Calendar (PDF available)

[arnobg]

Does anyone else typically plan out in advance what time of year you want to brew certain styles of beer for the next year? Even though I keep 15+ varieties of hops, 30+varieties of grain and 2-3 strains of yeast on hand at all times, I find this is almost necessary to make sure I am prepared to have a beer ready by a certain time or event during the year.

Here's an example of the spreadsheet calendar I created showing what beers I expect or want to brew and during what time of the year. This helps me plan out fermentation chamber and vessel usage as well as making sure I have yeast and other ingredients ready.

Yes, I may be an organization freak but it works for me! Share your methods and process when it comes to planning beers for occasions. I can share the excel for anyone interested.

Cheers!

 

[chris000]

Looking at the schedule, I wonder if you drink wine between October and March?
However, to answer your question I certainly do not plan an entire year ahead. Retrospectively, I might have brewed the same styles around the same time as you scheduled, but I don't know how much and when my beer is going to be consumed. I always brew more than I drink myself and if there are sometimes fewer, sometimes more people coming by, and I have to adjust to maintain a steady flow. And if I have to brew more, I just ask what they would like.

 

[brewcat]

Last year was the first year I planned anything out. I planned two brews a month and accounted for conditioning time. It lasted for a few months. I ran out of ingredients, didn't like what was next, ran out of time, or kit sales.

I'll probably do it again for 2018. My bulk stock is a lot better. Still working on a yeast bank, but have enough on hand. Will probably just highlight the seasonal ones.

 

[Shwagger]

I decide the day I go to the brew store usually. Never brew the same hing twice. I wing it, keep it simple, etc

 

[MapleGroveAleworks]

I usually plan out about 2 months but not the entire year. Things change up way too much to be planning that far ahead for me.

 

[MaxStout]

I don't plan too far ahead. I just decide what I want to brew, work up a recipe in Beersmith and get supplies.

 

[johngault007]

I usually have styles in mind during certain times of the year, but unless I want something ready for a certain occasion, usually make it when I need to.

 

[hafmpty]

I plan my brewing year in advance. I look through past issues of BYO And Craft Beer & Brewing magazine as well as the recipe books I have and HBT too. All that is distilled down into 24 beers I want to brew. I brew once a month but do two batches.

Next year I’ve decided to do a “staple” beer meaning nothing too crazy and then something much more experimental. It’s kinda fun. Of course I leave room for changes, new ideas, etc. but I like having a direction to go and at least a general idea of what my kegs will have in them.

And with my personality I actually like the planning process. Probably explains why I used one of the days I was on vacation in Florida to make my 2018 Brewing Calendar.

 

[cmac62]

I don't plan that far ahead usually, I know my plans wouldn't mean much anyway. I think of a beer I want to brew, come up with a basic recipe (or use one from friends, books, forums) get the ingredients and brew. I would like to get a little more organized so I have the six months of lagering required for a really big double bock and I'd love to try an Eisback. That is where the planning may come in handy.

 

[WFox93]

Honestly I don't like the idea of planning too much. Brewing for me is definitely a fun hobby that I do when I have time and money (which albeit ended up being about once or twice a month). But I like to have styles or idea in mind for certain times of year weather it be because that when it will taste good or thats when I can ferment at the right temperature. Because of that though. I have ended up putting my Rye Pilsner so far behind, I probably wont be able to brew it til like February and I've got an idea for a winter hefe that's been waiting a while too. Oh well, that's what makes it fun to me. My ingredients speak to me and tell me what they want to be and I have fun flying by the seat of my pants.

 

[WFox93]

Looks like a great calendar that could be adapted for fermentation schedules though. Much more classy than me using my stainless steel fridge as a giant whiteboard

 

[EagleScout]

I plan beers I'm making for holidays and birthdays but that's it. Beyond that I'm always looking at recipes and kits for things I might want to make.

 

[thehaze]

I plan in advance, weeks and even months, just to be on schedule.

I usually work the recipes a while and then buy what I need and brew. Next year I am planning on brewing somewhere between 200 and 225 gallons of beer.

 

[chris000]

...My ingredients speak to me and tell me what they want to be and I have fun flying by the seat of my pants.

Overstock of ingredients is one of the reasons why I often start substituting some for other and by the 3rd brew I lends itself for something completely different than what I originally thought I'm going to make. Keeps the entire thing interesting