Brew Masters on Discovery w/ Sam Calagione

[PolishLogic]

I thought the show was pretty entertaining (although the rap gave me the ******-chills, but I'd guess that was part of the intent). I wasn't expecting it to be a super-technical, scientific how-to-brew program, much like I don't expect Deadliest Catch to be a show that breaks down the intricacies of the commercial crab industry. It's definitely earned a season pass on my DVR.

As an aside, I'm another who's hoping to see a glimpse into some of their strategy sessions. It would definitely be an added bonus.


As for the dislike that guys like Jim Koch or Sam (or any craft brewer) seem to garner once they realize success, I look at it in terms how bands are treated. They have those fans that were all about how great band "X" was when they played open-mic shows at some dive bar. They were even excited when they signed with some record label that operated out of a guy's garage. However, once they signed on to open for some huge world tour, or were wooed by Geffen, those same "diehards" turned on them and dubbed them commercial sellouts because the band actually began to realize some modicum of success for their hard work.

 

[SwampassJ]

Interesting, Jim Koch made a video to answer my question on facebook and at least one person has to come on and piss in the swimming pool.

Hard to keep track of which thread it is. Seems every other click I see him whining about something.



I watched it last night and I learned a lot about the inside of a brewery. I don't like most of their beers, and some of them I think are just nasty and absurd. Then I think about to the 60, 90 and the chicory stout and realize others like them so rock on with changing things.

 

[Revvy]

...(although the rap gave me the ******-chills....

Great term. Love it. When I saw it I first thing I thought of was;

 

[Thile]

I think its obviously going to be DFH specific, but it seems like from following their twitter and whatnot that Calagione will be visiting other breweries as well. (I'm going off memory which ain't what it used to be but think they visit a place in Belgium and maybe one in the midwest). I may be totally wrong about that too though. I really liked the show although I am a big DFH fan & would like to visit their pub in Delaware. I know they've done some collaborations with other breweries so hopefully they'll have that if they continue the show on - would love to see Stone or Sierra Nevada on there (Or Russian River which I've never had).

Kind of interesting - the Chicha show is next. Following that are ones called "Punkin & Portamorilla" and "From Grain to Glass". At least according to the discovery channel brew masters site.

 

[GLWIII]

The one thing I noted about the show was what a happy-go-lucky guy SC is. The guy literally did not stop smiling the entire show. I guess if I were him I'd be smiling too, but I have a real admiration for people that do what they truly love.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

The one thing I noted about the show was what a happy-go-lucky guy SC is. The guy literally did not stop smiling the entire show. I guess if I were him I'd be smiling too, but I have a real admiration for people that do what they truly love.

Was it me, or was his smile a little...creepy? Kind of an odd look to it.



ETA: OK, I just did an image search on Sam, it appears to just be the way his mouth is shaped. I'm one to talk, I probably scare small children and most dogs.

 

[Rockchalk]

I found the show interesting. But like has been said… this show isn’t going to teach you guys much (except for maybe tighten down your bottling spicket). It’s geared for guys like me who don’t brew (yet) but like beer. Same thing happening here happened on the BBQ forums when Pitmasters (a show about competitive BBQ’n) was introduced. Good show that got decent ratings but it just got blasted by competitive cookers who thought they may learn something or get some secrets or thought their methods were stupid or… …

These shows are made to appeal to the masses… not the small group of hardcore viewers who already know everything.

 

[Cpt_Kirks]

I found the show interesting. But like has been said… this show isn’t going to teach you guys much (except for maybe tighten down your bottling spicket). It’s geared for guys like me who don’t brew (yet) but like beer. Same thing happening here happened on the BBQ forums when Pitmasters (a show about competitive BBQ’n) was introduced. Good show that got decent ratings but it just got blasted by competitive cookers who thought they may learn something or get some secrets or thought their methods were stupid or… …

These shows are made to appeal to the masses… not the small group of hardcore viewers who already know everything.

Ug, don't get me started on that show. I have yelled myself hoarse over the silly crap on there.

 

[TheDom]

I enjoyed the show, and will DVR the rest of the season. For me it was a "hooray beer" show, not advanced recipe formulation 201. I'll agree that Sam seems like a weird dude, and I shared the ******-chills during the rap. I'm curious to see what good info we can glean from background stuff the rest of the season.

 

[HItransplant]

That is what I would have liked to see. The actual recipe formulation process. We learned nothing about out of the box recipe creation.

Did people really think they would "invite" us into their recipe development sessions?

 

[HItransplant]

(although the rap gave me the ******-chills, but I'd guess that was part of the intent).

Great term. Love it. When I saw it I first thing I thought of was;

first thing I thought of was:

THIS

 

[King MF Midas]

The crazy thing about that show and the documentary "Beer Wars" is that Sam is really like that. Full tilt and happy to meet you. His employees will tell you the same thing. I met a few while at the brew pub in DE and heard some pretty funny stories. Sam was a former underwear model was probably the funniest but don't listen to me, I'm biased. I even have a pic of me and Sam in my gallery.

 

[rico567]

I find some of the responses in this thread at least as interesting as the first episode of "Beermasters," which I watched on the DVR, it having obligingly taped the program while we were in Japan.

What I found interesting:

1. People who were surprised at all the rap, etc. Get real: the whole deal with Sam & Co. producing this custom brew was as a PR thing for a Sony re-release of a Columbia album. DFH is just the tail of a bigger dog here, and ain't gonna wag it.

2. That there was actually anybody who thought that any part of this program was just going to be a high-end discussion of brewing techniques, maybe a jumped up version of the club's last group brew in somebody's driveway.

3. People who thought that their views of DFH and its beers had anything to do with the content / quality of "Beermasters."

As for me, given the quality of television generally these days, I was quite gratified to see that they actually included a few of the nuts and bolts:

"This is GRAIN. We grind it up. This beer has more SPECIALTY GRAINS."

"This is the MASH. This is where little animated barley kernels go to die, so that WORT may live."

"This is a FERMENTATION tank. YEAST, the magical mystery microbes that make all this possible, live here."

"We are REALLY, REALLY WORRIED that our bottling line will break and so we won't get this beer shipped."

(No, really. Despite my evident sarcasm, I am always pleased when TV allows an actual fact or two through without distortion or "spin.")

 

[ksbrain]

Finally watched this off my DVR last night, and I loved it! I am not the biggest Sam Calagione fan, by a long shot, and I was very skeptical. But I'm looking forward to the rest of the episodes. Like the others have said, it's not a technical how-to, it's ENTERTAINMENT!

And I love the rap. I had heard the "keep pinchin' pennies" song, and I heard someone mention one about "check yo' gravity" LOL.

As far as the ******* Brew beer itself, I didn't get a chance to try it when it was around, if it was around, but I might toss some honey and some of those weird sticks and leaves into my next stout and try to make a version myself.

 

[NuclearRich]

Watched it off of my DVR last night, and was really excited. Of course there isnt going to be a full disclosure on how to berw in one episode. This is TELEVISION, after all. and this show did what TV is supposed to do, entertain me. So nice to see a brewing show. I haven't gotten big into DFH, but its a craft brewery, so its good enough for me.

I actually saw the ******* Brew on the shelves a week or two ago and was interested, but not quite enough. After seeing it brewed and hearing what it is like, I am going to grab one!

Cant wait for the next episode.

 

[Tiber_Brew]

I find some of the responses in this thread at least as interesting as the first episode of "Beermasters," which I watched on the DVR, it having obligingly taped the program while we were in Japan.

What I found interesting:

1. People who were surprised at all the rap, etc. Get real: the whole deal with Sam & Co. producing this custom brew was as a PR thing for a Sony re-release of a Columbia album. DFH is just the tail of a bigger dog here, and ain't gonna wag it.

2. That there was actually anybody who thought that any part of this program was just going to be a high-end discussion of brewing techniques, maybe a jumped up version of the club's last group brew in somebody's driveway.

3. People who thought that their views of DFH and its beers had anything to do with the content / quality of "Beermasters."

As for me, given the quality of television generally these days, I was quite gratified to see that they actually included a few of the nuts and bolts:

"This is GRAIN. We grind it up. This beer has more SPECIALTY GRAINS."

"This is the MASH. This is where little animated barley kernels go to die, so that WORT may live."

"This is a FERMENTATION tank. YEAST, the magical mystery microbes that make all this possible, live here."

"We are REALLY, REALLY WORRIED that our bottling line will break and so we won't get this beer shipped."

(No, really. Despite my evident sarcasm, I am always pleased when TV allows an actual fact or two through without distortion or "spin.")

They actually put some more details than that in there. I heard something like:

"We're looking for a specific temperature for this mash so that certain enzymes can do their work.."

[about the African ingredients]"I'd like to...make a tea out of it..." [Any other experimental brewers out there knows why this is juicy (but not new of course) info]

TB

 

[bonzombiekitty]

I thought the show was OK. Good premise and I don't mind the "dumbing down" aspect so much. I think what I really disliked was Sam doing the narration. His narration is just... off. It sounds too much like he's reading straight from a scrip, which, when you have no acting ability, sounds really bad.

Also personality wise, I don't think Sam, at least as he comes across on the show, is the type of person I could stand being around. I don't have anything against Sam, or DFH, I just don't think that our personalities would mesh really well. I'm more of a Jim Koch person. Of course, I'm basing this opinion of them purely on what I've seen on TV and I could get a totally different impression of both of them in real life.

 

[kjjohns5]

I thought it was good. It has to be "dumbed down" a bit, for people to get into brewing. Obviously I think all of us here would like for them to open up all of their secrets (not that they actually have many of them), but I was satisfied. I'm interested to see exactly how complicated they will actually get this season though.

Must say, I was excited to see that they just throw **** together without knowing wtf they're doing when making a recipe, much like me, lol.

Btw, that next episode looks nasty.

 

[user 14523]

To all the "I think you hit the nail on the head" explainers:

You think that just because a show is about beer, that all of us are supposed to like it? This series is a big fluff monster on a roller coaster. I'd just rather shut off the TV and go do some work in the garage. I'm not much of a TV watcher, and sorry, but this show failed to capture my attention.

I had only one expectation of the series. It has to do with the fact that the title is in the plural form, BrewMasters, as in, more than just one.

I didn't know who the hec SC is, not a groopie, and don't drink DFH beer. It's too expensive. I like Miles Davis. I enjoyed the tour of his brewery. But like many shows on cable these days, I don't respond well to the pretentiousness and "choreographed spontaneity." Hec, the guy drives a "rusty truck" that has most definitely been modified to preserve "the look." I felt like someone is bull****ting me. And I don't like that. The heavy dose of the whole wacky and zany glitz turned me off too.

I'm happy that Sam is a successful man, with a nice brewery, loyal employees, and his very own TV show. This is all very nice. I'm happy for him, and most definitely do not feel any hatred toward the man.

But the whole style and format is not for me. Like I said, I am not much of a TV watcher. I held on until the very end when the kicker came in. Next week we get more Sam. So, this is not going to be about brewmasters, as in plural? Just Sam?

<click>

 

[user 14523]

His narration is just... off. It sounds too much like he's reading straight from a scrip, ...

He was. I suspect the whole "rap" stuff probably wasn't their idea either.

 

[knotquiteawake]

 

[kjjohns5]

To all the "I think you hit the nail on the head" explainers:

You think that just because a show is about beer, that all of us are supposed to like it? This series is a big fluff monster on a roller coaster. I'd just rather shut off the TV and go do some work in the garage. I'm not much of a TV watcher, and sorry, but this show failed to capture my attention.

I had only one expectation of the series. It has to do with the fact that the title is in the plural form, BrewMasters, as in, more than just one.

I didn't know who the hec SC is, not a groopie, and don't drink DFH beer. It's too expensive. I like Miles Davis. I enjoyed the tour of his brewery. But like many shows on cable these days, I don't respond well to the pretentiousness and "choreographed spontaneity." Hec, the guy drives a "rusty truck" that has most definitely been modified to preserve "the look." I felt like someone is bull****ting me. And I don't like that. The heavy dose of the whole wacky and zany glitz turned me off too.

I'm happy that Sam is a successful man, with a nice brewery, loyal employees, and his very own TV show. This is all very nice. I'm happy for him, and most definitely do not feel any hatred toward the man.

But the whole style and format is not for me. Like I said, I am not much of a TV watcher. I held on until the very end when the kicker came in. Next week we get more Sam. So, this is not going to be about brewmasters, as in plural? Just Sam?

<click>

Just a quick question: did the idea, effort, and execution of creating a beer the way they did not interest you? Because I feel like that was what the show was really about. It was about taking a concpet and creating a beer out of it. As well, it was the fomulation of the recipe and the execution of an important brewing project without the usual window of time required to pull off something like that.

The extra stuff (rapping, introduction to the staff, the brewing process... etc) seems to me to be the first episode type of formalities. I doubt they'll do all of that stuff much anymore. But they won't cut down on the "entertainment" side of the show, rather they simply won't be repetitive.

Please don't take my questions the wrong way, I'm not trying to point fingers and claim that this show is the best thing ever, I just wonder if, since brewing is our hobby here, you were interested in watching the actual brewing process of the show. I found at least that part kind of cool. And I've brewed in a large brewery before.

And lastly, isn't it possible that you weren't being "bull****ted." That Sam is really just that silly on a daily basis? That his truck may just be really old and he likes to drive it? And that the few brewers that we saw are the only ones at his brewery? Most owners are the face of their brewery, not necessarily the "head brewer," after all.

 

[jmkratt]

I wondering how much time, effort, and thought Sam put into his first Mod: removing a working AC unit.

 

[knotquiteawake]

Look, if Conan O'Brien drives a Taurus then how hard is it to believe that Sam drives that truck?

 

[user 14523]

Just a quick question: did the idea, effort, and execution of creating a beer the way they did not interest you? Because I feel like that was what the show was really about.

You are correct. It did interest me. It's just that I'm not big on watching TV, and I could get that sort of inspiration and information elsewhere without having to sit through the "entertainment." It's just not my bag.

And lastly, isn't it possible that you weren't being "bull****ted." That Sam is really just that silly on a daily basis?

Could be you are correct again. This could just be the real Sam.

 

[kjjohns5]

You are correct. It did interest me. It's just that I'm not big on watching TV, and I could get that sort of inspiration and information elsewhere without having to sit through the "entertainment." It's just not my bag.




Could be you are correct again. This could just be the real Sam.

Cool

 

[dgoldb1]

Not sure if this has been mentioned yet...but that is really Sam's truck.

 

[Bobby_M]

I thought the show was OK. Good premise and I don't mind the "dumbing down" aspect so much. I think what I really disliked was Sam doing the narration. His narration is just... off. It sounds too much like he's reading straight from a scrip, which, when you have no acting ability, sounds really bad.

His narration was a billion times better than this ********'s...



And um, have you ever, uh, tried to do a voiceover recording, um, without a script? No? STFU.

 

[milholen]

I thought the show was great. It was more than I expected. I like how he talked about beer history and actually talked about some more technical details of brewing such as what specialty grains are and the fermentation and aging processes a bit. I think it was a good representation of an amazing brewery. As for the quality of DFH beers, they are one of my favorites. I respect the fact that they do things their own way. I really believe that Emerson quote that Sam read at the beginning defines their philosophy. Create something of value and people who appreciate it will get on board. A great example is their 90 minute IPA -- it's a malty, sweet IPA -- very very different than the majority of Imperial IPAs out there that are overwhelmed with late-edition hops. I like those too but I really appreciate the uniqueness of a 90 minute.

As for the rapping and goofing around -- this is brewing we're talking about here -- not heart surgery. If you can't have fun brewing then I don't want to do it!

 

[JonK331]

Just watched it for the first time myself. I thought it was great, made me want to experiment with some different ingredients. I don't understand why people are complaining so much. Television shows must be made to appeal to a wide range of people so obviously there will be parts that you like and parts that you don't. If you want something that's tailored exactly for you that you can watch and be entertained, go stare at your gun collection.