I generally brew alone, but I prefer an extra set of hands at certain points. My wife usually helps me out, but the last brew I did was a big AG IIPA and she was out of town so I had a friend come over and give me a hand.
Seems as though many of us prefer to brew alone. Like you said, it is very relaxing, Stauffbier calls it "zen". I'm the same way.
You didn't mention if you are doing extract or all grain. If you happen to be doing all-grain, if you have a crusher or plan to get one don't get all caught up in the perfect motor and pulley system or drill to do the work. Attach the hand crank and grind it yourself.
It's not always practical I suppose but if you can set away a half hour of peaceful time to weigh out the grain and grind it yourself; I think on a zen factor of 1-10, you'll find grinding by hand is around an 11, but that's just me.
One thing I truly enjoy about this hobby is DIY and patience. Great therapy when life get's to busy. I'll never use a drill again to crush grain.
Wow! Where did all that come from?
I need a real brew buddy....someone who will show up at my door with 15 lbs of grain, hops and yeast and say "ya busy?"
see and I found the journey from hand cranking to drilling to be the most satisfying out of all my upgrades
I brew with a friend. We split the cost on the equipment and ingredients. We will brew on Saturday at his house. Three weeks later, we will bottle at his house, split them evenly, then move everything to my house and start the next batch. He prefers more hoppy. I prefer more malty. But we both appreciate a variety of styles and are having a great time trying stuff we can't get at Costco.
I just recently got a few 6 gallon buckets so I am going to start doing some batches on the side when the fermentor is over at his house.
I always brew alone...... Nobody likes me, or maybe it's because my breath smells like fish heads.
I'm a loner in most things. I like to do things my way. Especially when I'm trying to use a new piece of equipment or change my process I don't want anyone there creating variables that I didn't plan to account for.
Brew days usually end with me secretly fist-pumping and saying to myself, "You did it again you SOB, you made beer." That would be awkward if someone else was there.
Homercidal said:Once my new rig is put together and I finalize my system,
it is really fun to have a friend or two join in and throw back a few in the process.
I also have yet to find a friend who will stay for a 3 step decoction mash.
I brew alone. I've brewed with others in the past, but it just seems that one of the brewers dominates the process (in any group, sometimes it's me). In the end, it just feels like I (or the other guy) was along for the ride, but it wasn't really my (his) beer.
Brewing alone doesn't mean there can't be others around, BSing and drinking beer, it just means I'm the only brewer for that batch.
I will probably still brew with others occasionally, but 90% of my batches will be on my own.
there's still nothing like getting up at 5:30, firing up the coffee pot, then the brew kettle, and mashing in as the first hints of dawn start to hit my deck...
Yeah...when I do brew with people over, it's a lot of fun, but it's still always my brew. I've brewed with my cousin-in-law a few times here and there, and when it's in his brewery, he takes charge, and it's still his beer in the end. Still fun though!
I've had the opportunity to turn a few people on to the process and gotten them started on their own obsession (the C-I-L included) and that's always very cool...
As much as I enjoy brewing with other brewers, or just a good buddy who is just hanging out, there's still nothing like getting up at 5:30, firing up the coffee pot, then the brew kettle, and mashing in as the first hints of dawn start to hit my deck...
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