From the bustling metrop of Derby, Kansas

[PintOfBitter]

I'm a little over a year into the brewing hobby, done about a dozen batches between various beers and the usual forays into mead and cider. For me, the fact that I've stuck with this hobby so long and have invested in so much equipment says that I'll probably stick with it.

I'm also into cooking - mostly natural and from-scratch, which I'm assuming is a pretty big crossover interest around here?

I bought 1 lb of prime Madagascar bourbon vanilla beans recently, and my first exposure to this forum was from searching for a suitable recipe to use some vanilla in a beer. Based upon many of your comments, I'll definitely be brewing Cheesefood's Vanilla Carmel Cream Ale as soon as I start another batch.

Well, glad to have found this group - Cheers!

 

[fifelee]

Welcome. Always good to see people from the heartland.

 

[PintOfBitter]

I just did a google search and coincidentally this very old post of mine was returned as one of the results.

I haven't frequented this forum in years, and I miss these early days. Kinda funny thinking back to this period, not realizing then what a huge role this hobby would play in my life.

Great hobby, great community.

 

[MaxStout]

Welcome back! I assume you are still brewing? A few things have changed in the world of homebrewing, but we're still here if you want to share some experiences or pick our brains.

 

[T Murph]

Welcome back @PintOfBitter. So I see you have been brewing now for about 18 years or so. Have you finally realized it's more of an addiction than a hobby? Glad you are still brewing.

 

[PintOfBitter]

I have had seasons of frequent brewing and seasons of infrequent brewing. Won prizes and dumped batches. Even started a homebrewer-centric business that supported my family for several years. HBT was instrumental in that (moderate) success. Everything was new and exciting and it was all happening here.

My oldest (who was very little when I wrote the OP) is now married and recently brewed a batch of Joe's Ancient Orange Mead with her husband.

Currently I'm about to dust off the equipment and get brewing again, with a buddy who was a brewer at a craft brewery in town. Together we'll relive the glory days

It seems that interest in homebrewing is currently on the decline, which is sad. There's no LHBS in my area any longer.
I'll do my part to bolster interest in the art and science of brewing.

Time to get acclimated to what's trending these days in the community.

 

[Kickass]

I miss my time spent living in Wichita. Welcome back.

I left in 2010. Is that little LHBS still there in town?

 

[PintOfBitter]

I miss my time spent living in Wichita. Welcome back.

I left in 2010. Is that little LHBS still there in town?

No, Jenny passed away and her daughter didn't keep the shop open.

 

[Kickass]

That’s a bummer. Even in my early extract days I remember it in need of some major modernization. Nonetheless, it was instrumental in my start to homebrewing almost 20 years ago.

 

[scrap iron]

Welcome back fellow person of the South Wind.