OK...so I went to the class last night with my SO. I believe she shares much my same thoughts overall on the experience, but I'm going to run on from my POV only.
I honestly was not that impressed with it.
There were a few reasons I guess.
One was over the past couple weeks, I've read/studied a bunch via this site and other means. So, most of the discussion was a bit rehash and I guess I expected that to occur in a way. It was reassuring though that at least what I've dug into, I've retained a good amount.
Importantly though, it was not as hands on as I would have thought/preferred.
The class was just us and another couple, so it was only 2 batches being made.
We did not get to sanitize anything as everything was put together before we got there.
We did not get to put the grains/hops into the muslin sacks so I did not get to see that process as they were made before we arrived.
There was only one brew kettle used to boil water and that was shared between both batches. It made not a bunch of sense to me where the other couple had their sack simmering first...then took a couple gallons of the hot wort they needed for their bucket and then we put our bag in the same pot for a bit to simmer before transferring to ours. I would have preferred to have done both batches separate for that experience.
No wort chiller etc. used....just cold water from a separate tank after we both used a couple gallons of the wort.
We added the extra hops pellets to the bucket, added liquid yeast, capped the bucket, put in the bubbler (which was filed with star san) and then that was that.
The instructor was not as personable as the other folks I chatted with on my first visit there and I think he only looked us in the eye maybe a few times over the course of 2 hours with him. He didn't seem too comfortable instructing, but did seem very knowledgeable and had a great love for brewing.
Outside of that arena I bet hes much more personable and look forward to knowing him more casually.
The pros that I felt of the class were for one, since I'm new to this, it kinda solidified that its not "rocket science" to make a simple brew. I was not quite sure of that by reading alone.
Some of the hands on was interesting including using the hydrometer as I never used one before.
The best part overall was sampling some brews and mead lol...
First time I tried mead and it was lovely!
Of course, I am looking forward to getting back there in a few weeks to prime/bottle.
Regardless, I'm WAY psyched to be involved and am happy to have started my first batch. This weekend I'll probably start the Apfelwein I bought supplies for last week.
I've already been running around plans in my mind for making a home brew space and how this is going to be an amusing hobby and potentially a passion down the line.
:rockin:
:rockin:
