Being A Good Cook Initially=Easier Time As A Newbie?

[Phoenix7801]

Any day now I'm gonna start brewing my BBS Everyday IPA and it got me thinking. Does being a good cook before getting into homebrew ease some of the worry associated with being a newbie. I've been cooking since I was 6 (I'm 30) so T.G. turkey, BBQ, scrambled eggs, steak or cake doesnt phase me. What do y'all think?

 

[BreezyBrew]

I think it helps you conceptualize the recipes. It doesn't do anything for the actual taste. The only way to know if ingredients work together is if you try them yourself. Someone may make a recommendation that has a similar palate, but everyone is slightly different.

 

[beergolf]

I am a good cook and Have been doing most of the cooking at our house for a very long time. I think that brewing can be an extension of that. You understand processes, are aware of subtle flavors and can conceptualize what the results will be with a little experience.

I can go to a resaurant and have a dish and recognize the flavor. I then can make it at home and get pretty close. The same thing is happening with my brewing as I gain more experience with the flavor of the brewing ingredients.

So, yess being a good cook can help your brewing. It definitely won't hurt it.

 

[Dr. Francois]

I think it helps. Once you've learned lessons about boiling stock or tomato sauce, those lessons transfer to brewing. Same thing with cleanup and sanitation.
Of course, being a tea geek would help, too, as steepers know a lot about temperature control and regulation.
I came to the hobby through cooking. I think others come from engineering and other myriad disciplines. Everyone brings a set of skills from which to build.

Sent from my SGH-T889 using Home Brew mobile app

 

[619Brewer]

I think it definitely helps in being comfortable with the brewing process. Being able to follow a recipe is a good skill, but being able to adapt to a mishap of a recipe on the fly is an invaluable skill in brewing. Trust me, you'll have to think fast on the fly in brewing.

Ultimately, being comfortable with temperatures, measuring, catching volumes and being precise in all of those will make you a great brewer.

Once you've got some batches under your belt and have an idea of what ingredients do what in what amounts, experience in the kitchen can help with tinkering together a recipe.

 

[Phoenix7801]

Sounds good to me guys. Kind of figured that when a person, for example, makes bread they learn about controlling temperatures so that you don't murder the yeast. Or something simple as making oatmeal. Plus it also helps that if a person cooks well alot of times they already have stockpots, thermometers, strainers etc.

 

[Rhumbline]

Sure it helps. The same concept of preparation, attention to detail, and organization that makes cooking easy also applies to brewing.

I use the mise-en-place method in my cooking and brewing.

 

[Beernik]

My opinion: if you can make bagels, you can make anything. All grain brewing is easier than making bagels.

 

[KeyWestBrewing]

Lots of great answers here that pretty much covered my thoughts exactly. The way I see it brewing is a form of cooking.

 

[Phoenix7801]

I have never made bagels but have always wanted to lol. Good to know about the ease of brewing.