Hey guys,
I decided to try my hand at home brewing in 2014. I bought a few pieces of equipment on craigslist or Offer Up, a Brewer's Best extract kit, and I was hooked, (i.e. obsessed). I was/am retired. I spent most of my adult life as a weekend warrior rock star playing guitar in bands. That was my passion and my hobby, (and my obsession). In 2014 I was 54 and the whole band thing had long since lost it's appeal, so I gave it up. I replaced that hobby/obsession with home brewing, and jumped in with both feet. For the next 5 years this hobby consumed me. I bought every book I could find, watched every Youtube video, and visited every brewery in Arizona and southern California. By 2019 my garage was pretty much a nanobrewery. My typical "brew day" started on Friday night adjusting water chemistry and ended Sunday morning when I pitched my yeast. At 59, it was labor intensive and extremely hard on my body. I always had several 5 gallon corny kegs full of beer, (a couple in the keezer and a few on deck). I also usually had a case of bottled beer in the pantry, and a handful of corked & caged 750ml big Belgians aging somewhere. I spent hours a day, every day, on this website, and learned SO much.
Unfortunately, it was just my wife and our adopted granddaughter living here, and they don't drink. I also didn't do a lot of socializing since getting away from the music scene. Long story short, I was the only one enjoying all of the fruits of my labor. As much as I loved the hobby and as obsessed as I had been for the past 5 years, I seemed to simply lose interest in it over night. After about 6 months of not doing anything even remotely associated with brewing, I decided to sell off all of my gear and clean the garage out. I sold literally everything.
That was 3 years ago. Yesterday was Christmas and my 9-year-old daughter got me a Starter Home Brew kit. (a couple plastic buckets, hydrometer, bottle filler, a capper, Star-San, a few small nylon bags, etc). I asked for it.
I decided I really do miss it. It was/is the most rewarding, fascinating thing I've ever done. My goal is to learn from my past mistakes, and to not get caught up in that bigger is better, more, more, more mentality this time. I'm going to keep it to small 2 to 2.5 gallon batches, (or smaller). I realize there are some limitations to small batch, and some advantages to brewing in larger quantities. Be that as it may, my new involvement will be focused on brewing the (hopefully) world class level beer 2 gallons at a time. I'm now 62 so I'm not looking to turn this into a career or to open up a brewery.
I haven't been on this site in awhile so it's take me a minute to refamiliarize myself. I'm hoping to hook up with other small batch brewers and learn. My immediate project is ambitious: I'm going to purchase a 5L new oak barrel, fill it with white dog whiskey, and age my own bourbon. I don't drink bourbon, so I'll be giving it away. I just want the barrel to age a big Russian Imperial stout that I plan to brew. I know there are a million aspects involved in this project, and all kinds of things that can go wrong along the way. It's probably not the best choice as far as getting my feet wet again is concerned - but for better or worse, tat's where I'm headed.
Good to be back
Marc
I decided to try my hand at home brewing in 2014. I bought a few pieces of equipment on craigslist or Offer Up, a Brewer's Best extract kit, and I was hooked, (i.e. obsessed). I was/am retired. I spent most of my adult life as a weekend warrior rock star playing guitar in bands. That was my passion and my hobby, (and my obsession). In 2014 I was 54 and the whole band thing had long since lost it's appeal, so I gave it up. I replaced that hobby/obsession with home brewing, and jumped in with both feet. For the next 5 years this hobby consumed me. I bought every book I could find, watched every Youtube video, and visited every brewery in Arizona and southern California. By 2019 my garage was pretty much a nanobrewery. My typical "brew day" started on Friday night adjusting water chemistry and ended Sunday morning when I pitched my yeast. At 59, it was labor intensive and extremely hard on my body. I always had several 5 gallon corny kegs full of beer, (a couple in the keezer and a few on deck). I also usually had a case of bottled beer in the pantry, and a handful of corked & caged 750ml big Belgians aging somewhere. I spent hours a day, every day, on this website, and learned SO much.
Unfortunately, it was just my wife and our adopted granddaughter living here, and they don't drink. I also didn't do a lot of socializing since getting away from the music scene. Long story short, I was the only one enjoying all of the fruits of my labor. As much as I loved the hobby and as obsessed as I had been for the past 5 years, I seemed to simply lose interest in it over night. After about 6 months of not doing anything even remotely associated with brewing, I decided to sell off all of my gear and clean the garage out. I sold literally everything.
That was 3 years ago. Yesterday was Christmas and my 9-year-old daughter got me a Starter Home Brew kit. (a couple plastic buckets, hydrometer, bottle filler, a capper, Star-San, a few small nylon bags, etc). I asked for it.
I decided I really do miss it. It was/is the most rewarding, fascinating thing I've ever done. My goal is to learn from my past mistakes, and to not get caught up in that bigger is better, more, more, more mentality this time. I'm going to keep it to small 2 to 2.5 gallon batches, (or smaller). I realize there are some limitations to small batch, and some advantages to brewing in larger quantities. Be that as it may, my new involvement will be focused on brewing the (hopefully) world class level beer 2 gallons at a time. I'm now 62 so I'm not looking to turn this into a career or to open up a brewery.
I haven't been on this site in awhile so it's take me a minute to refamiliarize myself. I'm hoping to hook up with other small batch brewers and learn. My immediate project is ambitious: I'm going to purchase a 5L new oak barrel, fill it with white dog whiskey, and age my own bourbon. I don't drink bourbon, so I'll be giving it away. I just want the barrel to age a big Russian Imperial stout that I plan to brew. I know there are a million aspects involved in this project, and all kinds of things that can go wrong along the way. It's probably not the best choice as far as getting my feet wet again is concerned - but for better or worse, tat's where I'm headed.
Good to be back
Marc
