Are you the Black Sheep of your neighborhood?

[241]

Didn't have access to the sink last brew and flooded my apartment parking lot cooling my wort last brew. Pretty sure I made it on a few people's naughty list haha

One neighbor dropped into my garage and hung out for a bit after saying "as long as you're not cooking meth!"

I coaxed a few others over by promising them some of the batch.

For the most part I try to be considerate to my neighbors and their families. I find it goes both ways

 

[neophilus]

I have lived in my house for two years and literally have never met one of my next door neighbors. The others are polite but reserved. Not sure if it's just a new England thing. I wonder what they think when I brew but at the end of the day it doesn't really matter either way.

 

[Brad2287]

My neighbors are great and don't think anything of it. Infact a lot of them either homebrew or enjoy craft beer. I am guessing a lot of this is area driven. I would think that those of us that live in major craft brew areas have neighbors that realize what we are doing or ask and think nothing of it.

 

[rattler72]

Here's my first post to this forum. But I'm here because I felt like the black sheep for not brewing! My wife's friends husbands all seem to be brewing as well as my neighbour. Anyways just started my first batch on Thursday, looking forward to the process.

 

[BobbiLynn]

I don't have any neighbors, I'm a good mile out into the woods. But, I'm sure that if I did have neighbors... they would either not approve or happily join in the fun. I guess those are the 2 choices!

 

[pabloj13]

I live on a cul-de-sac and do my brewing in the driveway. Neighbors come by all the time to ask questions. We had a homebrew and chili potluck a few weeks back. I've got one neighbor on his 3rd batch and a few others with kits that I will be helping them with soon. Expanding the craft!

 

[scoundrel]

Well the best thing i to probably keep the doors open to anyone interested. I think in the spring, I'll move from the garage to driveway. Maybe then people passing by will feel less intimidated and more inclined to ask questions.

 

[JoeyChopps]

I was staring to feel a little black sheepish for a while in my cul-de-sac. I live across the street from a cop I figured all my neighbor figured if he doesn't care they don't either well that all changes a few months ago. But first a little back ground I live in a military town and I'm a vet but don't look the part as you can see from my pic I have a long beard and use to have long hair and when my garage is open metal or punk is blaring from the stereo. Most of the people in my area are at least 10 years older than me and me cooking anything in the garage raised suspicion. I few months ago I was building a fermentation chamber in the garage and the cops wife ( who is also a vet and also use to be a cop ) asked me what I was building I told her what it was and she thought it was neat. She build stuff for her flea market and asked if I would help her build some furniture. I went over a few nights later and built some stuff with her and drank hb the whole time. Now the cop and his wife are really cool with me and my wife and the neighbors have also lightnened up with what I'm doing and they are nice to me. But as others said if they didn't like me before or wanted to act sh!tty I really don't care.

 

[andvari7]

I have an irregular work schedule, and I'm often off on Fridays. I brew during the day, when others are at work, so I have never had a single complaint from a neighbor. There is one neighbor, with whom I have never spoken, that I suspect is also a homebrewer - I saw him rinsing out a five-gallon bucket, with a familiar hole drilled into the side. He might be aware of what I'm doing, but I cannot confirm this.

I have had complaints from the other occupants of my house, who basically sent me to the backyard, due to the mess. Well, to be fair, I can't really do five gallons on my kitchen stove without a massive headache.

But, to answer the question: I feel like my wool is getting a little ebon, but homebrewing has nothing to do with it.

 

[scoundrel]

I have an irregular work schedule, and I'm often off on Fridays. I brew during the day, when others are at work, so I have never had a single complaint from a neighbor. There is one neighbor, with whom I have never spoken, that I suspect is also a homebrewer - I saw him rinsing out a five-gallon bucket, with a familiar hole drilled into the side. He might be aware of what I'm doing, but I cannot confirm this.

I have had complaints from the other occupants of my house, who basically sent me to the backyard, due to the mess. Well, to be fair, I can't really do five gallons on my kitchen stove without a massive headache.

But, to answer the question: I feel like my wool is getting a little ebon, but homebrewing has nothing to do with it.

I wonder how they would react if you brewed during the evening or weekends.

 

[UtahNate]

I live in Utah in a predominantly Mormon neighborhood... Need I say more?

In all seriousness though, no one seems to care. I don't know many of my neighbors, but offering beer to teetotalers isn't likely going to help with that.

 

[Leadgolem]

I live in an area of town that is unofficially called "Little Mexico". I can't even talk to most of my neighbors.

 

[DrunkleJon]

Direct next door neighbor will not speak a word to me. He will acnowledge me saying hello, as I do every time I see him. I am nothing if not neighborly, but he will just look up and then go back to what he is doing. Maybe he is just angry that a 32 year old kid moved in next door, or just doesnt like the fact that for the past several years the house has been inhabited by guys in their 20s before I moved in and some of them are still renting from me. Maybe he just doesn't like me. He sure as heck will talk with my parents when they stop by, but will not say a word to me.

As for Black Sheeping because of brewing, I have only done one outdoors brew and that from my rear facing garage so no one would know about it. I wonder how my neighbors would feel about it if they knew. I guess we will see more this spring when people leave their homes to venture outside. I would love to get my neighbors involved, or at least have inquisitive neighbors stop by whilst I am brewing.

 

[Clonefan94]

I've only ever had one neighbor come over while I was brewing. It was a nice day and I was doing it on the back patio as opposed to my normal garage brew. He and his wife were out gardening and when I added the first hops, he came over to take a look. "MMMM, love that smell, when we first got married my wife and I lived down the street from the Budweiser Brewery. I loved it when the added the hops."

Other than that, I've had zero interest from anyone. I suppose I've always been a Black sheep in a way, but not because of my brewing. When my wife and I first moved into the neighborhood 15 years ago, we were really young compared to everyone else. Most of the people on the Block, we were closer to their kids' ages than to the parents. I'm always very helpful and friendly around the neighborhood, but I think there was just that disconnect because of age.

As a reference, I've actually become a little more social with another of our neighbors because his grand kids are the same age as my kids. So, when they are in town, the kids play together a lot.

 

[JonM]

Ive only done one batch at the new place so i don't know how the neighbors will react, but Northern Brewer's Milwaukee store is on the main drag through our little suburb, so I bet most of the neighbors have seen the store and know what it's about, and know that homebrewing exists.

 

[scoundrel]

I suppose I've always been a Black sheep in a way, but not because of my brewing. When my wife and I first moved into the neighborhood 15 years ago, we were really young compared to everyone else. Most of the people on the Block, we were closer to their kids' ages than to the parents. I'm always very helpful and friendly around the neighborhood, but I think there was just that disconnect because of age.

I think you summed up my scenario. I think there is a disconnect. Most of my neighbors are older and at a different stage in their lives. Unfortunately, they're current stage seems to be the "dull stage".

I'm no spring chicken anymore but I refuse to succumb to the forces of daily routine and the notion that now that I'm a middle aged responsible adult (old), I should cut the lawn every Saturday, clean the garage every spring like clockwork or get the Christmas lights up no later than end of Thanksgiving weekend, like the rest of the neighborhood. Screw that, I'm brewing.

 

[dfess1]

I have to wheel my rig out into the driveway to brew. For the most part, my neighborhood is very friendly. I have yet to have a complaint, and have actually met other homebrewers in the neighborhood just from having it out there. I tend to kick off the smoker as well when i brew, so that helps. Can end up in an impromptu social gathering.

 

[whoaru99]

Never had any complaints or dirty looks about brewing, although I just do 5gal extract boils so here is no elaborate/chemistry set looking apparatus.

That said, I do have one neighbor at the far end of the next block that doesn't have much appreciation when I crank up just short of 9,000 watts of music through some old JBL pro audio speakers and subs I have in the garage.

 

[Waynep005]

We have a facebook page for the homebrewers in my neighborhood.

 

[Conan]

I've gotten nothing- positive or negative- from our neighbors. I brew in the driveway but usually have my truck parked between me and the street. I need the tailgate as part of my brewstand. Like many of you seem to be, we're in a different 'age bracket' than our neighbors. Kyle

 

[drainbamage]

Other than that, I've had zero interest from anyone. I suppose I've always been a Black sheep in a way, but not because of my brewing. When my wife and I first moved into the neighborhood 15 years ago, we were really young compared to everyone else. Most of the people on the Block, we were closer to their kids' ages than to the parents. I'm always very helpful and friendly around the neighborhood, but I think there was just that disconnect because of age.

I think that's my problem too. When I moved in 5 years ago, I was one of the youngest homeowners in a subdivision of 35 or so houses. It's not like I was throwing keg parties on my front yard, but I think that age gap (and that fact the my wife and I don't have any kids yet) made people a little more distant.

 

[NateLTB]

A lot of my neighbors brew beer too. I live directly across the street from a grocery store that sells more beer than anywhere else in Oregon and I brew on my front porch so I'm constantly having people come by and check it out the whole time I'm brewing.

Belmont Station?

 

[WhiteEagle1]

I am the King of all the other Black Sheep in my neighborhood. I'm 35, divorced and have no kids. On a typical brew day in the summer there's about 10 people hanging out in my garage. Loud music, lotsa beers, potato gun firing, friends relieving themselves on the side of my garage and motorcycles doing burnouts in the driveway. It's just like being in college again! I love it!

 

[mgortel]

I am the King of all the other Black Sheep in my neighborhood. I'm 35, divorced and have no kids. On a typical brew day in the summer there's about 10 people hanging out in my garage. Loud music, lotsa beers, potato gun firing, friends relieving themselves on the side of my garage and motorcycles doing burnouts in the driveway. It's just like being in college again! I love it!

Yeah baby!!!!! Now that is living!!!!! Let me know if a house goes up for sale in your hood...I am moving in

 

[andvari7]

I wonder how they would react if you brewed during the evening or weekends.

Although I have no way of proving it, I suspect that they'd leave me alone, like they usually do. I should have a better answer next time I brew, but that may be some time. I don't have enough bottles to do another brew, unless I go for a two-month triple-ferment, six-week bottle conditioning, so I can't see myself brewing against the wishes of my neighbors.

 

[porky_pine]

Belmont Station?

No, I think Belmont Station has one of the best selections but I live across the street from a New Seasons grocery store that sells the most volume of beer. It's pretty much all craft beer though and not too shabby.

 

[BrewGeek_Ohio]

I've only ever had one neighbor come over while I was brewing. It was a nice day and I was doing it on the back patio as opposed to my normal garage brew. He and his wife were out gardening and when I added the first hops, he came over to take a look. "MMMM, love that smell, when we first got married my wife and I lived down the street from the Budweiser Brewery. I loved it when the added the hops."

Other than that, I've had zero interest from anyone. I suppose I've always been a Black sheep in a way, but not because of my brewing. When my wife and I first moved into the neighborhood 15 years ago, we were really young compared to everyone else. Most of the people on the Block, we were closer to their kids' ages than to the parents. I'm always very helpful and friendly around the neighborhood, but I think there was just that disconnect because of age.

As a reference, I've actually become a little more social with another of our neighbors because his grand kids are the same age as my kids. So, when they are in town, the kids play together a lot.

Wait, Bud uses hops? Lol least flavor in the world

 

[bottlebomber]

Wait, Bud uses hops? Lol least flavor in the world

Actually there was just recently a whole article about this, Budweiser used to use German hops of the highest quality before they were purchased by InBev. As much flack as they get they were actually brewing a very high quality product.

 

[CountryRootsBrew]

My neighbors sell drugs, so I'm the normal one on the block.

 

[Jayhem]

I bought a house in the country so I wouldn't have to worry about my neighbors or those ridiculous HOA's!

I brew on my covered back deck and there is nothing behind my house but a row of trees and then a corn field. None of my closer neighbors have any clue that I brew.

If I'm a black sheep on my road it would be due to the fact that I currently have 5 vehicles parked in the driveway (2 are for sale). But I do keep up with the house and yard at least as well as my closest neighbors.