I have been brewing for about 16 months now, I consider myself an intermediate-advanced brewer. I've passed through the usual growth stages: beer kit-extract-partial-all grain. I've formulated my own recipes and tackled a few of the more challenging styles (lagers, high gravity, traditional Belgian).
But, I just had a couple of my bottles erupt soon after uncapping them, suddenly realizing that in my hubris (being an "intermediate/advanced" brewer) I bottled the beer too soon, when all the signs pointed to incomplete fermentation (higher than expected SG and 46% apparent attenuation). Now, I'm thinking that instead of defining my "level" of brewing experience by how long I've been brewing, or what method I use, or what styles I've brewed, I think a brewer's level of expertise should be defined by how many common mistakes he/she has made (and learned from).
Let's make a checklist for new brewers to see what they are in for, and also share our own experience. I think it's reassuring to know that the pros have made all the same bone-headed derps that I have made.
But, I just had a couple of my bottles erupt soon after uncapping them, suddenly realizing that in my hubris (being an "intermediate/advanced" brewer) I bottled the beer too soon, when all the signs pointed to incomplete fermentation (higher than expected SG and 46% apparent attenuation). Now, I'm thinking that instead of defining my "level" of brewing experience by how long I've been brewing, or what method I use, or what styles I've brewed, I think a brewer's level of expertise should be defined by how many common mistakes he/she has made (and learned from).
Let's make a checklist for new brewers to see what they are in for, and also share our own experience. I think it's reassuring to know that the pros have made all the same bone-headed derps that I have made.