I have noticed in Canada homebrew stores are closing shop. This has been going on in the US for a few years now. I brewed way more during covid than I ever did. Nothing else to do, no where to go. Maybe it is the cost of equipment and ingredients that is the cause of it. Shipping is very expensive here in Canada. Like double what it used to be. I can drive 90 minutes to the closest homebrew store and drive home way cheaper than what they charge for shipping. Times have definitely changed. Started in 1979.
Head count of active homebrewers
- Thread starter Boalmjpd
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beren
Well-Known Member
Ah that sucks. Here in south Jersey I’ve only been going to meetings the last 3 months but it seems like 30-50 people easily. Lots of brews to taste and get advice on
I started in 15 or 16. Got started in the hobby by another brewer. He has gone pro and no longer brews at home.
After the first few years of learning and trying new things i pretty much stick to the same 5 or 6 recipies each year, and maybe try 1 new recipie or style each year.
When i started had 3 LHBS.
Now down to just one.
After the first few years of learning and trying new things i pretty much stick to the same 5 or 6 recipies each year, and maybe try 1 new recipie or style each year.
When i started had 3 LHBS.
Now down to just one.
DuncB
Well-Known Member
In answer to the thread title.
One head only on this active homebrewer.
One head only on this active homebrewer.
Schroedinger's Brew Pot.
My journey started back in the '90's with a Mr. Beer 6-gallon tank kit received as a father's day gift. Came with hopped LME, yeast and 6 PET bottles. Got a conical for Christmas one year, so I sold the Mr. Beer fermenter. After a job change and couple of moves, we finally unpacked all the beer stuff, and I was going to crank up the conical again when I spied another 6-gallon Mr Beer tank at a church charity sale.
Naturally, I bought it and still use it for about 5 batches a year. But I've graduated to BIAB, a 44-quart brewpot, and mixed 22- and 12-oz bottle sessions. I'm blessed with two LHBSs, so I generally can find what I'm looking for.
I walk the talk on buying local -- I'll only mail order if I can't find it here in town.
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Same here... this is me before homebrewing:
..And (a picture with my mentor..I'm the one on the left) After becoming a Homebrewer;
Marvellously put! Can I borrow the name for my own?
![Craft A Brew - Safale BE-256 Yeast - Fermentis - Belgian Ale Dry Yeast - For Belgian & Strong Ales - Ingredients for Home Brewing - Beer Making Supplies - [3 Pack]](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51bcKEwQmWL._SL500_.jpg)
DuncB
Well-Known Member
" If you can keep your head whilst all around are losing theirs" why not.
Another aspect is to look at used gear prices now vs in the past. I have been brewing since 08 and enjoy looking online, craigslist and now facebook, at used stuff for sale. It used to be that homebrew equipment held resale value. Now it is hard to give it away. Many people quit brewing and want the space that their gear takes. Hopefully the hobby comes back, so we have ingredient suppliers, equipment manufacturers, and places to buy both from.
Really? Most of what I see on Craigslist is people claiming that their rusty old crap is "like new" and wanting 90% of retail for it. Of course, that doesn't mean they're getting it.
Yes, or at least in Pennsylvania on facebook marketplace.
I think some people (myself included) might be switching from bulky three tier systems to all in one electric systems and are happy to give stuff away just to get it out of the house.
OP
OP
Boalmjpd
Member
Yep, my 3 tier in the picture has been replaced with an Anvil 10.5 and I love it.
kadozen
Well-Known Member
I never got to brew on one. I went from a single vessel biab to a Brewzilla 35l. Wouldn't mind going through a brew day on one just to see what it's like, but I wouldn't want to deal with the logistics of having it in my house. AiO is so convenient
For $999, find out, neighbor.
https://www.homebrewtalk.com/thread...ech-rims-pump-chiller-stainless-glory.726292/
kadozen
Well-Known Member
Why are you trying make me a liar? Lmao
Btw, is it raining down there yet? Can you send some this way if it is? I'm trying to get out of yardwork
Not yet. Got some heavy stuff last night though.
I wish I was nearby (for multiple reasons lol). Your sale is a great deal.
If anyone's interested in homebrewing popularity, The graph below is a barometer of that. This graph only has 30 points, so with more data it'll smooth out a lot. I might add some more data later.
- To make the graph, I got the forum member count at various times and plotted the derivative of that series. That is, the rate of change of the enrollment indicates the change in popularity.
- I got each datapoint by looking at a bunch of random member join dates and their member number. The member numbers are sequential and are equivalent with member count (I think).
- The large peak circa 2022 might have been due to talkbeer.com and HBT-Brazil membership being combined with HBT US at the end of that year.
Based solely on my local homebrew club over the last 12 years, we saw a sharp decline with COVID but membership has been increasing rapidly over the last year. Activity is near a record high. When I first started, we were happy to take 2-4 beer to a brewfest but now take 10-16. I have also noticed over the last year that more of the people at beerfests have homebrewing experience. I'll see if the club keeps records of paid memberships and report back.
Velnerj
Simul justus et potator
I got hooked on homebrewing through a book. But I have to say it was the second book that hooked me in.
Mind you I'm not an avid reader by no means. I'll do 2-3 books a year tops. One birthday my wife gave me a book on homebrewing. She knew I liked beer and I liked to cook so she was encouraging me to try it out...
I flipped through the book and was pretty much turned off immediately. The first section of the book was all about cleaning and sanitation and how if not done very well you could end up with a terrible concoction that would need to poured down the drain.
I am not a neat freak so I immediately assumed this hobby was not for me. I would be one of those losers pouring a months worth of work down my bathtub drain. No thanks.
A few years later a friend of mine gives me another book on brewing. It was pretty old and outdated. But nonetheless the author had a passion for brewing (and writing) that was instantly contagious. I couldn't put the book down, and I kept thinking, hey I could do this. Which soon turned into I WILL do this!
The book? The big book of brewing by David Line. This book was published in 1974. I was reading it in 2015!
I am not sure I would recommend this book to too many people, but I would say that there is a need for a modern book that has this sort of enthusiasm. I have since read Palmers book, Charlie's book, Ray Daniel's book etc. All are great in their own way, but to me none of them had the excitement that line's book had... I certainly haven't read all the books out there so perhaps there is a modern book on the shelves that could be used to hook new brewers?
Mind you I'm not an avid reader by no means. I'll do 2-3 books a year tops. One birthday my wife gave me a book on homebrewing. She knew I liked beer and I liked to cook so she was encouraging me to try it out...
I flipped through the book and was pretty much turned off immediately. The first section of the book was all about cleaning and sanitation and how if not done very well you could end up with a terrible concoction that would need to poured down the drain.
I am not a neat freak so I immediately assumed this hobby was not for me. I would be one of those losers pouring a months worth of work down my bathtub drain. No thanks.
A few years later a friend of mine gives me another book on brewing. It was pretty old and outdated. But nonetheless the author had a passion for brewing (and writing) that was instantly contagious. I couldn't put the book down, and I kept thinking, hey I could do this. Which soon turned into I WILL do this!
The book? The big book of brewing by David Line. This book was published in 1974. I was reading it in 2015!
I am not sure I would recommend this book to too many people, but I would say that there is a need for a modern book that has this sort of enthusiasm. I have since read Palmers book, Charlie's book, Ray Daniel's book etc. All are great in their own way, but to me none of them had the excitement that line's book had... I certainly haven't read all the books out there so perhaps there is a modern book on the shelves that could be used to hook new brewers?
DuncB
Well-Known Member
I'd self-report restarting the hobby during pandemic. I'd been living in tiny apartments where I just didn't have the space, but when my apartment building went up for sale during the housing boom/bubble/whatever I ended up having to leave. Thankfully I had been saving cash and found a nice place I didn't overpay too much for (at least relevant to other properties). I had some cash left over and restarted the journey.
Welcome back! 
HBYOB and Listermann's? Maybe Jungle Jim's? Any others?
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When I lived in Cincinnati 15 years ago, The Party Source had a decent homebrewing selection.
That was a great Ale! I tried to find it here locally in the states about a year ago and sadly it was no longer available! A
colleague of mine from the UK gave me my 1st bottle, I beleive it was made with black treacle.
Vinny D
DuncB
Well-Known Member
You are right, it's the best malt extract brew I made, must must remake it. Maybe with a bit of an all grain tweak. But I'm sure that black treacle was the key to it.
DuncB
Well-Known Member
I wonder what yeast I'd use these days? I think back in the 80's it was just a foil packet of brewers yeast. There wasn't any real selection I don't think. Maybe there was a named yeast from Youngs or someone else. But it's a real stretch for my memory.
Franktalk
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I began homebrewing in the 90s. The yeast that was available at the time was Edme's. It is still around under the guises of Lalbrew Windsor and ESB/London, Munton's classic, and Safale S-33. Eventually I moved on to Safale 04, which was a quantum leap in quality. And, believe it or not, it's still a pretty good choice for English Ales.
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