Is this normal

So I started brewing about 3 months ago because my uncle bought me a brewcraft kit. I now can't stop thinking about brewing all day at work all nite while I'm trying to sleep. Thinking about new equipment hops styles. My wife says I've lost my mind! I just purchased a 16 gal kettle and will be getting a MLT HLT next month. Needless to say she is concerned should I be? Lol!

 

Welcome to they hobby. Time to see how far that rabbit hole goes

 

^+1 Can confirm. Its a deep rabbit hole

 

I been brewing for just over a year and it's still always on my mind. I was hoping it would get better at some point.

 

Tell your wife we said "it's OK" it just means you are enjoying your new hobby(obsession). And to think my wife asked me why I named my first barleywine Down The Rabbithole.

 

The only concern is that work might be getting in the way of brewing.

 

The rabbit hole is deep enough for some that it becomes a change of life/career (and no not meaning becoming an alcoholic, although that could be one outcome..lol)...
I am in the planning stages for that new career change is I can raise the capital and open my brewpub so yea, deep hole you are entering.

 

Wait till you start cleaning all those tuns and fermenters. The glow wears off. Turns out brewing is a lot of standing around waiting, then cleaning like hell, only to wait some more.

But, beer.

 

^This

 

The cleaning isn't so bad... kinda nice way to pass the time while waiting... I typically plan my brew day where I can cleaning something during all my wait times - by the time I'm done brewing all I have left to clean is my brew kettle and wort chiller. Plus maybe I'm weird, but I like cleaning.

 

It's called beer porn and it's pull is irresistible.

 

Just don't add up the cost of anything and you'll be fine and keep your sanity. Love the hobby. Wait till yous tart kegging, you'll love it even more.

 

No, it's not.

But don't worry, homebrewers are not normal people.

 

fortunately for me I have copious amounts of down time at work with access to internet. I think that's probably part of the problem! I did already add up the cost of going all grain. Not ectreamy bad but I justified it to the wife that once I get set up look how much money I'll save not buying as much microbrew lol

 

I have the same issue... I check HBT so many times a day that I'm running out of threads to read.

 

You know you have an addiction when you try to log on to your work computer using your HBT login and password...

 

Yea I'm the same way, I've been a beer nerd since I could start drinking but didn't start brewing till last month and it's literally all I think about most of time. It's taken my love and respect for the craft so much further. I agree, it's a lot of cleaning and waiting(and drinking) but with hard work comes great reward and I'm glad I can share that reward with others!

 

Weird indeed Sir, weird indeed.

 

what can I say - it calms me down. Not to mention with all the challenges in this hobby it's nice having one thing I know I'll always get right!

 

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It started with a simple 5 gallon kits from Bells. Nothing to see here, carry on.

 

We all start like that. 504 batches later, I'm pretty much over it.

 

What are you using these days @Denny? Wasn't the Brutus 10 your design?

 

Nope, I believe that was Lonnie Mac. Too fancy for me..I don't build equipment! I do most of my brewing withe the 48 qt. cooler and hose braid...the same cooler and braid I started with in 1998! I whip out quick batches on the Zymatic when I have too much to do to devote a day to using the cooler. I love it for experiments where i have to be able to brew consistent batches. With the Zymatic, I can clean the house, do the laundry and write a couple chapters for the new book while I'm brewing. The Pico is just plain fun to use, but it's totally unlike other "brewing" experiences. Pretty much set it and forget it. I've only used the Grainfather once so far but it was a better experience than I had anticipated. Looking froward to brewing another batch on it, maybe this weekend. It's a loaner for review purposes so it'll go away eventually.

 

Now that's what I call a man cave minus the beard logo

 

I really only had one other hobbie which was building guns so this one is waaaayyyy cheaper my wife freaked after I showed her 5k ruffle I was gonna buy so she is less concerned with this hobbie