Hello old homebrewer returning to brewing again

[Hazy Cognition]

Hello,
My name is Tony and I am returning back to homebrew after about a 15 year absence. It got to be difficult to brew when your children need you and you are coaching their sports etc. Anyhow...I am back and brewing with my eldest son now, in fact he was the one encouraging me to get back into it as he wanted to learn how to brew. So here I am back at it. My oh my how things have changed. We both enjoy NEIPA and we just brewed up a batch and it's currently in my old school fermenter, 15.5 gallon beer keg with a welded on corny keg lid and ball lock post. The dip tub has been cut about 2 inches short for cleaner transfers.
I bought my son a BiAb system (not sure if I am allowed to say the name on here or not). Our SG was 1.082 and pitched Imperial A-38.
Anyhow...I have been lurking these threads for assistance and I am leaning so much new stuff, techniques as well. I look forward to posting and contributing. Thanks in advance and I hope to converse with you in the future.
Cheers

 

[user 246304]

Hello,
My name is Tony and I am returning back to homebrew after about a 15 year absence. It got to be difficult to brew when your children need you and you are coaching their sports etc. Anyhow...I am back and brewing with my eldest son now, in fact he was the one encouraging me to get back into it as he wanted to learn how to brew. So here I am back at it. My oh my how things have changed. We both enjoy NEIPA and we just brewed up a batch and it's currently in my old school fermenter, 15.5 gallon beer keg with a welded on corny keg lid and ball lock post. The dip tub has been cut about 2 inches short for cleaner transfers.
I bought my son a BiAb system (not sure if I am allowed to say the name on here or not). Our SG was 1.082 and pitched Imperial A-38.
Anyhow...I have been lurking these threads for assistance and I am leaning so much new stuff, techniques as well. I look forward to posting and contributing. Thanks in advance and I hope to converse with you in the future.
Cheers

Welcome back! In many ways in a similar boat - health demanded I change up my life entirely, so I was also on a multi-year break but back at it and agree - I wasn't gone that many years but even so, man, so much to learn. Have fun.

 

[Hazy Cognition]

Welcome back! In many ways in a similar boat - health demanded I change up my life entirely, so I was also on a multi-year break but back at it and agree - I wasn't gone that many years but even so, man, so much to learn. Have fun.

Thanks for the welcome! Hope you are healthy and are taking care of yourself. Yes, the hobby has advanced a lot since the old days, so many questions arise and I’m getting the feeling that I need to rejoin my local home brew club again and reestablish some home brew friends so that I can see the new techniques and gadgets.

 

[wallyLOZ]

Welcome back to the fold!

 

[corncob]

A house full of children caused me to take a decade off as well. Welcome back.

And things have changed a bit while we were out of the loop. For the better. Equipment and processes are cheaper and simpler. Brewdays are shorter.

....ingredients are more expensive

 

[Hazy Cognition]

Welcome back to the fold!

Thanks Wally

A house full of children caused me to take a decade off as well. Welcome back.

And things have changed a bit while we were out of the loop. For the better. Equipment and processes are cheaper and simpler. Brewdays are shorter.

....ingredients are more expensive

Thanks corncob, you are correct with everything you stated! BIAB was cool and a lot easier and shorter and I hit a higher OG than I targeted impressive to say the least.
Anyhow thanks for the welcome back to the hobby.

 

[OakIslandBrewery]

Welcome to the gang!

After your break you should do well getting back into the saddle. Lots has changed but the knowledge you gained years ago still apply. The basics of brewing are still the same.

I started brewing around 1984 and have made lots of changes, equipment and different ingredients, but the basic process is still the same.

 

[user 345769]

Welcome Back, I too came back from a small hiatus only 3yrs nothing like 10-15.

 

[Cameronl]

Welcome back! I too had taken a long sabbatical to raise my kids, and things have really advanced in our absence!

I bought my son a BiAb system (not sure if I am allowed to say the name on here or not).

BIAB is not a bad word at all. It seems to have become a prefered brewing technique. If I was to start over, I'd seriously consider going in that direction. But I've built a sweet eHERM setup that I'm much too invested in.

 

[mashdar]

Things to read up on:

1. Floating dip tubes (applies to both fermenting and serving)
2. EVAbarrier / PTC fittings (duotight)
3. Closed transfers (probably not new if you were already fermenting in a modified keg)
4. LoDO, Low Dissolved Oxygen. Important: Grab some popcorn. (Tempers have cooled, but this used to be a hot topic. Opinions are still mixed, but the yelling has stopped.)
5. Hop creep

You probably were brewing past the death of secondaries?

Oh, and rinsing yeast is no longer A Thing.

PS I believe you can say what brand AIO you got and how you like it. Just keep it constructive