As the title says, this thread is dedicated to the worst possible thing to happen to a newer brewer (IMO). Lets face it, you probably will not screw up your 1st beers nearly as bad as you think you will. So, what is this horrible mistake? I can sum this up with 1 word PIPELINE.
What is a pipeline? I did not really understand this concept until it was way, way to late. I brewed my 1st batch on St. Pats day weekend, about 5 weeks after that I brewed my second batch. Since, I was going to get 1/2 or less of the original batch (brewed w/ my dad).
Life happened and I continued to drink my Smithwick's as I normally have. Waited and waited to see how the 1st beers tasted before I made more. Nearly 2 months! Well, they turned out FANTASTIC IMO. They were so good, I started drinking more and more home brews and less and less store bought brews. Dang, those Home Brews are good!
5 weeks ago reality shows up and decides to slap me awake rudely.(Reality being my 2nd arch-nemesis, only to gravity) I have gotten "hooked" on home brew and to make things even worse I was down to my last 12. Basic math kicked in and said that I needed around 6 weeks before any would be ready or close to it. So I planned and brewed my next batch 1 month ago.
Well, I will be bottling that batch tonight so in 1 weeks time I can drink me a green beer, which is not anywhere nearly as good as a properly conditioned beer. I will also be brewing 3 batches of different beers on Monday.
I have been hording, like some Hollywood crack head, my last 3 home brews. I actually went the last 8 days without any. I have tried other micro brews I even had a round of DFH 90 min IPA's and nothing seems to satisfy that evil; little homebrew demon inside. I can satisfy him by feeding him this weekend the last few homebrews I have but let me tell you, this is not fun or pretty.
In order to aid other newer brewers from making the same mistake as me, Plan to do a batch every 30 days at a minimum after your 1st batch, 3 weeks is better. This is a pipeline, where you brew more than you can drink, so you never run out!
I promise you it is not as bad to brew a few batches up before tasting the 1st ones as it is to run dry...and never get caught up in the fact you have some around so "I can wait to brew some more."
Live and learn.
What is a pipeline? I did not really understand this concept until it was way, way to late. I brewed my 1st batch on St. Pats day weekend, about 5 weeks after that I brewed my second batch. Since, I was going to get 1/2 or less of the original batch (brewed w/ my dad).
Life happened and I continued to drink my Smithwick's as I normally have. Waited and waited to see how the 1st beers tasted before I made more. Nearly 2 months! Well, they turned out FANTASTIC IMO. They were so good, I started drinking more and more home brews and less and less store bought brews. Dang, those Home Brews are good!
5 weeks ago reality shows up and decides to slap me awake rudely.(Reality being my 2nd arch-nemesis, only to gravity) I have gotten "hooked" on home brew and to make things even worse I was down to my last 12. Basic math kicked in and said that I needed around 6 weeks before any would be ready or close to it. So I planned and brewed my next batch 1 month ago.
Well, I will be bottling that batch tonight so in 1 weeks time I can drink me a green beer, which is not anywhere nearly as good as a properly conditioned beer. I will also be brewing 3 batches of different beers on Monday.
I have been hording, like some Hollywood crack head, my last 3 home brews. I actually went the last 8 days without any. I have tried other micro brews I even had a round of DFH 90 min IPA's and nothing seems to satisfy that evil; little homebrew demon inside. I can satisfy him by feeding him this weekend the last few homebrews I have but let me tell you, this is not fun or pretty.
In order to aid other newer brewers from making the same mistake as me, Plan to do a batch every 30 days at a minimum after your 1st batch, 3 weeks is better. This is a pipeline, where you brew more than you can drink, so you never run out!
I promise you it is not as bad to brew a few batches up before tasting the 1st ones as it is to run dry...and never get caught up in the fact you have some around so "I can wait to brew some more."
Live and learn.