Ever feel uncomfortable besting your favorite beer with your homebrew?

[bluidshay]

I didn't exactly best my favorite beer, because I didn't really have a favorite beer. Actually I never loved beer before we started this homebrew adventure. But you bet your sweet bippy I do now! I like our homebrew far more than I've ever liked commercial beer, and I've discovered different styles that I've never had before by picking out recipes that sound good from the description. Then I often go and buy an example of that beer from our local beer & wine store. Sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't. It's a whole new world for me!

 

[Rev2010]

I'm impressed with your ability to rack up over 500 posts in three months!

Come to think of it, looking at the duration it's about 6 posts a day - not much for an active user. I suppose you could also make fun of Revvy.


Rev.

 

[eanmcnulty]

Besting a beer is subjective. I have brewed two Spotted Cow clones, and most have said my second is better. It does make me happy, but I am trying to brew Spotted Cow. I have three more recipes I am going to try. I want to learn how to control what I brew. I feel that I am far from that. After brewing the next three Spotted Cow Clones, I may go back to the second recipe, but I am looking for control. I think that with control, I will be able to best all of my favorite beers. The problem is that I am a noob, and not a chemist or engineer or whatever it takes to be diligent enough to not make the mistakes I do. But, I like my beer.

 

[sudsmcgee]

Come to think of it, looking at the duration it's about 6 posts a day - not much for an active user. I suppose you could also make fun of Revvy.


Rev.

Just pulling your chain man.

Post on.

 

[deadscott]

I think it is outstanding when I best a comercial brew. I was at a brew pub over the weekend that I have been to a few times over the years. I used to love their beers. I have not been there since I started brewing. We went to Savannah with intentions of visiting several times through out the weekend. First night there I ordered the sampler of all their beers. I found myself thinking my beers beat all of the beers I was served. I did not order another one from them that night and did not return the entire weekend.

 

[Homebrewtastic]

That's the best part about homebrewing. You can design a beer to taste how you want it. So yeah... I like my beers over most all commercial beer.

 

[TANSTAAFB]

I have noticed a couple of things since I started brewing...

I usually don't try to clone beers but I brew in styles that I like. I definitely like many of my homebrews better than the average (and some above average) commercial versions of the styles. I agree with Revvy that freshness is a big part of it, but so is the complexity of flavor. There are a couple of small brewpubs in the Hill Country that make pretty good beer but I have definitely become less impressed as my brewing experience grows. They have to brew, for the most part, for the lower if not lowest common denominator of beer consumers. So I'm not surprised that their beers have become somewhat simplistic to my palette.

On the other hand, more popular brewers with a larger market like Freetail in San Antonio can experiment a little more and I am constantly impressed by many of their offerings. I have also found myself buying better commercial beers. I tend to go for 22's and 750's of specialty beers rather than 6-packs of common brews to push my tastes and keep out in front of my brewing. These beers usually have far more of the complexity and depth that I strive for in my own concoctions.

Finally, I like to drink good beer and I can't afford to drink what I like going commercial. I love my beer but continue to seek out commercial examples that I want to approximate. I have become enamored with so many styles ranging from great tasting session beers to Belgians of all varieties to over the top barleywines and IIPA's that I am happy brewing a tasty version of each style and keep seeking inspiration to better my recipes.

Congrats on surpassing your favorite commercial brew, but don't forget to enjoy the journey

 

[Rev2010]

Congrats on surpassing your favorite commercial brew, but don't forget to enjoy the journey

Thanks man, your post was very kind natured and encouraging! Definitely the attitude that lends a refreshing air.

In regard to your mention of how you're always impressed by Freetail's brews - I've never had their beer but I know what you're referring to. About a week ago I almost created a thread about how amazing Ommegang is. I've been drinking their beer since I first started beer connoisseuring 12 years ago and there's not a bottle I open that I am not amazed by. That week I'd bought a collector/gift set, whatever you wanna call it, that had two bottles I've had many times before as well as their Belgian Pale Ale which I've never tried. It was amazing! Even the wife, that is not into that style of beer, tasted it and said, "God damn... is everything Ommegang does amazing??? I love this beer". I hope that one day I can come 1/10th within their awesomeness.


Rev.

 

[Seamus]

The point of home brewing is brewing what you like right so that's great. As long as you enjoy your beer over whatever is available to you then you're doing it right.

However... you enjoying your beer more is different than it being better. There might be some things that a more experienced brewer or even a supertaster can pickup on that you can't. Entering competitions is a great way to find out how good your palette/beer is.

 

[gdev]

I think in evaluating my own beer I'm tougher on myself than anyone else is. I've brewed beers that I think are good but don't live up the commercial beer they are suppose to be copying only to have my friends tell me they like mine better. I think when you invest so much into the beer you also know what you could have done differently and that drives you to keep trying to make it "perfect"

 

[FromZwolle]

Come to think of it, looking at the duration it's about 6 posts a day - not much for an active user. I suppose you could also make fun of Revvy.


Rev.

You could try, but he's poised and ready to control + v just about anything.


And as for the hefe that beats franzinzkznaner, how about you post the recipe? i'm still trying to nail down a final recipe for my first hefe and that's the only hefe that i've really loved.

 

[Northcalais40]

To answer the OP: No, because I never have. No offense, but probably same with you.

 

[Rev2010]

To answer the OP: No, because I never have. No offense, but probably same with you.

None taken. I guess I should've stated several times instead of once that it's solely my opinion. I in no way meant to say that everyone, or anyone for that matter, would agree with me. This is purely my subjective opinion. I also agree that entering it into a competition would probably lend to criticisms that I haven't noticed, of course, I would expect that. Again, not saying I've got award winning beer here by any means whatsoever. I just find I like the taste better. Maybe I shouldn't have used the simple term "bested". I can see how many would misinterpret my point.


Rev.

 

[rico567]

The day I am able to brew a beer better than Two Brothers' Cane & Ebel, or Founders' Red's Rye, you will hear it in Bayonne, NJ.

 

[Rev2010]

The day I am able to brew a beer better than Two Brothers' Cane & Ebel, or Founders' Red's Rye, you will hear it in Bayonne, NJ.

I think one of the key things here though is hefeweizen's are relatively simple beers. And in regard to the Amber I only had two as my favorites, I'm in nooo way very experienced with the various amber's out there so my palate is quite narrow there.

Kinda why I mentioned Ommegang. They have such complex and amazing brews. I wouldn't even dream of the day I can come anywhere 1/10th as close. So I guess the issue here could be simplicity in the style. Plus, Revvy makes an excellent point about freshness. I'm pretty sure tasting the beer right inside the brewery is still more amazing than after it's went to distributors and such even within the closest of cities.


Rev.

 

[Rev2010]

Here are two pics of the beer, just figured I'd share:

 

[ReefkprZ]

for some reasons I almost always like my own brews better than stuff I buy. with a few exceptions where I'm like "I actually brewed that horse piss?"

 

[bighand]

I have definitely brewed some bad beers but I tend to prefer my homebrew to any commercial beers. Not sure if just because I brewed it I am willing to overlook the problems or what but I would prefer one of my beers over commercial beers 90% of the time.