House Rules for Brewing

[ICWiener]

One rule: Try not to get too drunk during brew sessions. I succeed about 50% of the time.

 

[ICWiener]

I wish I could implement a rule of "Don't bother me the last 15 minutes of the boil" but it always seems that's the time my neighbors drop by to see what I'm brewing and start asking me questions.

Oh man. Seriously. I can set my watch to it. The 10 minute mark is when my son, without fail, will either A) freak out and throw a tantrum or B) come looking for me to play. Every single time.

 

[Crito]

My personal rules. Does not apply to anyone else.


1. Prepare all equipment before brew day or don't brew (less stress and makes brewing fun for me)

2. Sample previous batches of brew only when in cool down stage.

3. Next day : Talk about the brew day with coworkers till they ignore me.

 

[KyGooglenerd]

It is not bad, maybe a touch sweet for me, same with rum. i need to try some Rye next time, that might be tasty.

Try Woodford Reserve...and poobah on the Bourbonie...rocks only!

 

[devils4ever]

1. Always "sample' a previous batch to christen the current one!
2. Setup the night before (drag out pots, measure and crush grains, measure water and plop in Campden tablet, etc)
3. Start early (~8 AM) to finish before 1-2 PM.
4. Clean up as you go!
5. Don't start "sampling" until it's safe (boil started).

 

[TangoHotel]

Brew early in the morning, or don't bother at all. This one thing eliminates a host of problems. I like to be done and cleaning up before everyone wakes up.

Good God man, what time do you start? 3 am?

 

[blacksailj]

I have a page that I created to record all aspect of brewing such as volumes, temperatures, gravities, pH and such. As long as I follow this and fill it out I will have all the info I need to look back at the full process for mistakes or to make any calibrations needed.

If I filling this paper out and follow normal brewing practices Im good.

 

[passedpawn]

Good God man, what time do you start? 3 am?

I hit the switch to start heating water at 4am. By 8am I've pitched yeast and beginning the cleanup (unless I am doing a double batch).

I brew outdoors under a covered patio. I turn on Turner Classic Movies and catch two oldies during my brew session. It's a very relaxing morning, and typically runs like clockwork.

 

[NathPowe]

I hit the switch to start heating water at 4am. By 8am I've pitched yeast and beginning the cleanup (unless I am doing a double batch).

I brew outdoors under a covered patio. I turn on Turner Classic Movies and catch two oldies during my brew session. It's a very relaxing morning, and typically runs like clockwork.

^^ This sounds glorious. Nice work man.

 

[ICWiener]

I hit the switch to start heating water at 4am. By 8am I've pitched yeast and beginning the cleanup

That's cool that you're able to get up at 4:00 am willingly. I'm jealous that your brewday is that smooth. However...I don't care if it's for brewing or not, I'd rather have someone hit me in the head with a hammer than get up at 4 on the weekend. I get up at 5:30 everyday for work and I hate it more than anything.

 

[ghosthef]

Brew day starts at 7AM. Prep, clean, then during the mash, pork belly and eggs with a nice Bloody Mary (I make mine with bourbon). Back to brew, clean as I go, no beer until the last 30 minutes of the boil. Chill to ferment temperature, transfer to primary, pitch yeast, clean clean clean,...drink drink drink...nap, mountain bike ride,...more beer. Water,...BBQ....more beer...wake up on couch at 4 AM...move to bed...try not to wake the wife as I climb in...

 

[TangoHotel]

I hit the switch to start heating water at 4am. By 8am I've pitched yeast and beginning the cleanup (unless I am doing a double batch).

I brew outdoors under a covered patio. I turn on Turner Classic Movies and catch two oldies during my brew session. It's a very relaxing morning, and typically runs like clockwork.

That's impressive.

 

[djt17]

2 beers during the mash & 2 during the boil; it's worked for 62 batches.

 

[brewmcq]

Rule #1:

No rules.

Although, the SWMBO does engage in and thoroughly enjoy every aspect (including cleaning!!) of brewing. I find that I really like that.


If others come over (the kids, whatever), they know that I'm not going to be the most social creature in the world. Worst case scenario, I can lock the cellar door.

(I should point out that "the kids" are all in their 20's..)

 

[stpug]

NO vacuuming during a brew session; after yeast is pitched and airlocked is fine, but not before.

 

[Jon73]

1. Don't get drunk while brewing. I try not to have one before the boil starts. 1 leads to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to "Eff it, cold enough. Throw in the yeast"

2. Try really hard to remember rule 1

3. Clean as you go. I brew on a rims system of all stainless and copper and it takes no effort to soak it for 15 in some pbw and hose it out while your boiling. Takes quite a bit of effort if you sluff it off for a week. And it smells bad.

Funny after 3 years of doing this I only have 3 rules. Maybe I'll add 1 rule per year.

 

[BreezyBrew]

AC off when pitching yeast.

 

[Xpertskir]

My only major rule is don't crack a beer until the boil starts and I'd say 95% of the time it gets followed. Its a make sense time to start drinking. If you start when you mash in, thats a lot of drinking before you beer gets put into a fermenter...


Clean as you go is more of a practice than a rule, but I work pretty hard during brew day and generally "bang it out" pretty quickly.

 

[NewJersey]

a lot of you guys seem to have a less than ideal brew space. i have plenty of room and things are all kept out. organized, but in plain view.
i kinda find it funny that so many of my fellow homebrewers only drink 1 or 2 beers. why brew beer if you dont like drinking it??
also, i wholeheartedly agree with everyone else about cleaning as you go. i didnt my first couple brews then i started doing it this way and realized that i was just making it harder on myself not cleaning as you go

 

[pjj2ba]

I must wear some beer related shirt

No beers until chilling (occasionally broken)- either way - sometimes no beer (rushing to go somewhere) or a beer during the boil.

I'm always doing something else while brewing. Sometimes it is beer related (ie kegging), sometimes not

 

[TangoHotel]

1. Don't get drunk while brewing. I try not to have one before the boil starts. 1 leads to 2, 2 to 3, 3 to 4, 4 to "Eff it, cold enough. Throw in the yeast"

2. Try really hard to remember rule 1

3. Clean as you go. I brew on a rims system of all stainless and copper and it takes no effort to soak it for 15 in some pbw and hose it out while your boiling. Takes quite a bit of effort if you sluff it off for a week. And it smells bad.

Funny after 3 years of doing this I only have 3 rules. Maybe I'll add 1 rule per year.

I like that rule # 2 is try to remember rule #1. So really only two rules.

 

[LowNotes]

I don't have "rules" per se...but over the course of two years and 18 batches there are definite patterns.

-Brew in the morning, if you can't be mashing by 8:00, consider pushing the brew day back 24 hours.
-No other cooking allowed while there is brewing in the kitchen (toast is the only real exception)
-Even if it appears that I am not busy at points during my 5 hour brew-process, I am not finished, and reserve the right to deny any SWMBO requests until things are completely wrapped up.
-Don't leave a running faucet unattended. Ever.

 

[Monster Mash]

#1 for me is to tell my wife a week in advance so there is no schedule conflict.
#2 Clean as you go or it is more work in the end when you are tired.

I don't have a beer until the first hop addition, it's not really a rule because it gets broken when people come by to brew. If I'm alone I usually stick to coffee in the morning anyways.

 

[TangoHotel]

#1 for me is to tell my wife a week in advance so there is no schedule conflict.
#2 Clean as you go or it is more work in the end when you are tired.

I don't have a beer until the first hop addition, it's not really a rule because it gets broken when people come by to brew. If I'm alone I usually stick to coffee in the morning anyways.

Rule #1 is a good one. I do this too but it is not really a rule. Its more for my sanity so that I don't get the "aren't you done yet? ", " I thought we were doing this" , or "I need to go somewhere, you watch the kids" requests on brewday. Oh I also put it on a calendar so that it is in writing. :-D I then also remember what day I brewed it in case I forget to put it in the brewlog, which is almost always.

 

[Thunder_Chicken]

I like that rule # 2 is try to remember rule #1. So really only two rules.

So you haven't awoken on your kitchen floor to about 3 oz. of "wort" bubbling (burning) away in your kettle, with the hops still safely in the freezer, with you dog licking your face? Good man! Carry on.

 

[TangoHotel]

So you haven't awoken on your kitchen floor to about 3 oz. of "wort" bubbling (burning) away in your kettle, with the hops still safely in the freezer, with you dog licking your face? Good man! Carry on.

I cannot say that this scenario has played out...I did freak out the day after a brew thinking that I didn't add the yeast to the cooled wort. It turns out that my brew buddy did.

 

[beaksnbeer]

Rule #1 This is "BREW DAY" nothing gets done til AFTER yeast is pitched. I Biab so clean up is super simple, 2-3 cups coffee as water is heating. Start time is 4:00-5:00 am unless I am hosting then it's 9:00am everything is laid out and timer set recipe is decided during the week. Scotchies sounds good maybe a bit with Shine? Wife keeps track of the timer and hops, she can do that while reading. Yeast is started at least 48 hours prior, grain is milled while water is heating, my mill is pretty quite. Beer flows as it wants, I stick to mostly saisons on brew day so # is not a real problem. Grill is started at first hop addition food is ready for cool down.

 

[Darkness]

Camo shorts
Tunes
Have friends over
Spill something early
NEVER LET YOU GLASS RUN EMPTY!!!

 

[roger617]

I wouldn't say that I have rules, but I certainly try to follow a routine. I have to make sure to plan the day in advance so as not to spring a brew day on SWMBO out of nowhere. I want the recipe nailed down at least a few days in advance. And I try to get started early to mid morning. And I don't drink during brew day until after pitching... anymore.

 

[newbies13]

You brew alone don't you? LOL jkjkjk!

Hahah the GF laughs at me when I try to tell her the rule, but it's still on the sheet of paper I typed and printed. One day...