Does anyone else have THAT homebrew friend?

[Helloworld]

An old coworker of mine brews and he thinks I am crazy when I talk about, what must be silly little details to him, things like fermentation temp. control and adjusting mash temperature for style.

But then he will stumble upon that information himself and start implementing it (without ever bringing up that I had told him about it earlier).

What boggles me is that his beers are constantly bad to so-so and all his friends and family wax poetic about them. Maybe they are just like me and aren't brave enough to say, "this tastes like ass, dude."

 

[FireManDan]

Be a good friend and tell him straight up that his beers suck, and why they stuck. He'll thank you later.

 

[agrazela]

The only people who have given me honest, useable feedback about my homebrews are my wife, the wife of a coworker, and a good friend of mine's wife.

Conclusion: if you want criticism, seek out a wife.

 

[bobeer]

I'd love to have a friend homebrewer. Tell him, talk shop with him, brew together and learn together. I've tried to get my friends into brewing but all they want to do is drink. So be happy you have a friend that does brew. Maybe you guys could both learn something from each other.


A wife WILL always tell you what's up. That's for sure!

 

[MaxStout]

You could tell him his beers could be better, but he might have the "ugly baby" syndrome and think his swill is just fine. You can only coax and encourage people so far. If your co-worker is satisfied with his beer, let him continue to make it that way.

OTOH, you could dare him to enter some of his beers in a comp, and he can see what kind of scores he gets. That might help him bump up his game.

 

[bluemoose]

The only people who have given me honest, useable feedback about my homebrews are my wife, the wife of a coworker, and a good friend of mine's wife.



Conclusion: if you want criticism, seek out a wife.

So true, my wife has plenty of criticism for me. Man I wish she drank beer.

 

[Helloworld]

OTOH, you could dare him to enter some of his beers in a comp, and he can see what kind of scores he gets. That might help him bump up his game.

Oh, I did. He scored in the 20s and one of the flaws was diacetyl. This didn't stop his ego.

 

[FloppyKnockers]

Yeah, I do. His beer tastes like socks and dog feet and it gives me diarrhea....Whattadoosh.

 

[MaxStout]

Oh, I did. He scored in the 20s and one of the flaws was diacetyl. This didn't stop his ego.

There's probably nothing more that you can do for this person. His view of his beer is like the emperor's new clothes. He simply doesn't recognize the reality. If the scoring from BJCP judges doesn't convince him, I doubt anyone else will.

And if he truly enjoys his own beers--flaws and all--let him. To each their own.

 

[MaddBaggins]

I have no homebrew friends. I am a loner in the homebrew world.

 

[rocketsan]

I'm in the "I could give a ray's ass what anyone thinks about my beer" camp. If the guy and his family like his beer - well that's swell.

 

[alane1]

I don't know how to respond to this but a co-worker of mine that brews beers willy-nilly challenged me to brew off. He's like I just brewed a 9.8%abv. maple vanilla cherry cream apple coconut pumpkin porter...and my friends think I should open a brewery, it's that good!!! I take a sip and tell him he shouldn't ferment in a greenhouse...the esters and fusels are out of control and it matches no style known to mankind...butt hurt he challenged me to a brew off, but with friends like his as the judges I had to decline the offer.

 

[AdamBomb]

I have no homebrew friends. I am a loner in the homebrew world.

Same here, been making wine for 10 yrs and Im the only one I know. Aside from the guys I know that make hootch in a 2 Liter bottle and have a big copper thing that drips engine degreaser.

But I don't count them as "Homebrewers"

 

[chuckcomm]

I have a friend at work that enjoys good beer. He doesnt homebrew. I give him samples of what I brew and he gives me honest opinions which usually are the same as mine. I can easily tell a mediocre beer that I brew compared to the "keepers". My SWMBO is also a good critic.

 

[atoughram]

Conclusion: if you want criticism, seek out a wife.

Only if your willing to bet half your 5h1t that she'll love you forever...

(Spoken by a man who's been married and divorced twice... You wont catch me making that mistake again...)

I've had some friends (The majority) tell me to go pro...

I've also had a few look cross-eyed when they taste my beers (Especially an IPA that I did) and politely tell me "It's good..." (I couldnt stand it either...)

I wouldn't mind taking a beer tasting class if one ever comes up locally. I know what I like - but is that a good thing?

 

[Helloworld]

There's probably nothing more that you can do for this person. His view of his beer is like the emperor's new clothes. He simply doesn't recognize the reality. If the scoring from BJCP judges doesn't convince him, I doubt anyone else will.

And if he truly enjoys his own beers--flaws and all--let him. To each their own.

I definitely am done trying to give input. Last time I was at his house when he brewed he decided to dough in at over 170 F (!). But whatever; its all about having a good time.

 

[gotraut]

So true, my wife has plenty of criticism for me. Man I wish she drank beer.

Same boat, I also wish my wife drank beer. I even tried with a sweet apple cider,,,, no go. The cider was great and a hit at our Christmas part. Oh well, she scrapbooks, i make beer.

 

[elerten]

I got the opposite. The wife loves beer. Gives me great feedback on when I've hit a homerun, and when I struck out. Problem is when I hit a home run it seems like I get to drink a lot less of it.

 

[fredthecat]

ive stopped bothering with how other people brew since the last two i helped start up. one was semi-sincere about it, the other was of the "oh YEAH lets MAKE SOME BEER!! RIGHT NOW!!" type and just wanted to get drunk and throw some stuff together. i did help them start up, but for me brewing itself is a pleasant, quiet afternoon experience i prefer to do on my own.

i sound very egocentric but im also the only judge of my beer. ive got a good palate and i usually dont sample from the carboy. when it's ready i give it an open minded, honest appraisal. normally i get what i expected (thanks to brewtarget) occasionally i strike out and look at what mistakes i made.