The_Scooch
New Member
Disclaimer:
This is probably my 3rd post in this forum and I've yet to brew my first beer. The following is both a question and general opinion and I'm just curious about what others here think.
For reasons I have yet to fully understand, I recently had the epiphany to brew my own beer. I've become a beer snob over the last few years (that's what my wife says) and have spent much time educating myself about beer. A few weeks ago I decided to brew beer. I have yet to do it but I have become obsessed with the idea. I have read Palmer's book now twice, spent alot of time searcing and reading this forum, bought some equipment, fabbed some others and am still piecing together the items I want. As many of you have suggested, I'm not wasting money on things I will end up not using in the future. I'm getting the good stuff.
For the first time in a long time, I'm really excited about learning something new and (hopefully) progressing to be able to do it well. I will go ahead and admit that I am obssesive and methodical about accuracy, quality and detail. Do it right or don't do it at all.
My excitement has become infectious and now my wife is anxiously waiting for the big day. She works with all men and told them about my plans, telling them about the various items I had bought or made. A few of them chimed in about having brewed beer before (but not in a while) and said I was "over-thinking it". They went on to say that the harder I tried to make good beer, the worse it would turn out.
I can understand this point of view but then, these guys are not consistent brewers, just tried it a couple times in the past. I'm sure you can make yourself nuts trying to treat brewing as though it were synthesizing DNA... I'm not that crazy. But I don't think using a wort chiller or a pre-chiller, doing a full boil or setting up a thermostatically controlled fermentation fridge are signs of OCD.
I know some of you will say "stop waiting and just brew". Believe me, I would like to. But I simply can't do it until I feel I have the proper tools and are mentally prepared. Then it's "game on".
Meanwhile, what do you think? Do you brew for the satisfaction of making a great beer or just for the casual fun of making beer, regardless of how it turns out? Am I over-thinking it?
Thanks
This is probably my 3rd post in this forum and I've yet to brew my first beer. The following is both a question and general opinion and I'm just curious about what others here think.
For reasons I have yet to fully understand, I recently had the epiphany to brew my own beer. I've become a beer snob over the last few years (that's what my wife says) and have spent much time educating myself about beer. A few weeks ago I decided to brew beer. I have yet to do it but I have become obsessed with the idea. I have read Palmer's book now twice, spent alot of time searcing and reading this forum, bought some equipment, fabbed some others and am still piecing together the items I want. As many of you have suggested, I'm not wasting money on things I will end up not using in the future. I'm getting the good stuff.
For the first time in a long time, I'm really excited about learning something new and (hopefully) progressing to be able to do it well. I will go ahead and admit that I am obssesive and methodical about accuracy, quality and detail. Do it right or don't do it at all.
My excitement has become infectious and now my wife is anxiously waiting for the big day. She works with all men and told them about my plans, telling them about the various items I had bought or made. A few of them chimed in about having brewed beer before (but not in a while) and said I was "over-thinking it". They went on to say that the harder I tried to make good beer, the worse it would turn out.
I can understand this point of view but then, these guys are not consistent brewers, just tried it a couple times in the past. I'm sure you can make yourself nuts trying to treat brewing as though it were synthesizing DNA... I'm not that crazy. But I don't think using a wort chiller or a pre-chiller, doing a full boil or setting up a thermostatically controlled fermentation fridge are signs of OCD.
I know some of you will say "stop waiting and just brew". Believe me, I would like to. But I simply can't do it until I feel I have the proper tools and are mentally prepared. Then it's "game on".
Meanwhile, what do you think? Do you brew for the satisfaction of making a great beer or just for the casual fun of making beer, regardless of how it turns out? Am I over-thinking it?
Thanks