How do I make a guy listen to reason?

[GPP33]

Why do you care? Who's he hurting by selling home brew? The gov overloaded? Liquor laws are stupid, stupid laws get changed by people protesting them. He's taking a stand, good for him. Relax, it's not like he's selling crack to elementary kids. You warned him as a friend would do, he chose not to listen, why give a rats ass beyond that?

As for going 1bbl AG, good for him. He'll hopefully learn quick enough (a) how to make really good beer and (b) that he'll need a bigger system to make any real money. Some people make excellent beer after batch #2, some people never do.

Quit being a buzz kill.

 

[Moose_MI]

Just tell his wife he found something that makes him happy....problem solved...you are welcome

 

[RevKev]

Wow. Have all you read through all the responses given? Abstract from the BS I hate guv'ment yeehaw to actual advice and har hars.

It will be interesting to see how it plays out but if he's as stubborn as I am and he is close to you in proximity and you still feel a need to try and protect him from this mistake... go setup a volunteer day at a local 1-10bbl brewhouse for a day (usually the ones near me do not mind and welcome the help) and show him what it's like to be a pro-brewer. I'm sure after unloading his 50th 50lb bag and cleaning a mash tun he'll be done.. or invite him to brew a beer or talk about recipe design that you could brew together¿

Or you could offer him constructive advice, NYS has a program for grain to glass NYS farm breweries to have discounted taxes and liquor licenses. Maybe your state does the same

 

[soccerdad]

Where I live you could claim Stand Your Ground and shoot him

 

[Morrey]

go setup a volunteer day at a local 1-10bbl brewhouse for a day (usually the ones near me do not mind and welcome the help) and show him what it's like to be a pro-brewer. I'm sure after unloading his 50th 50lb bag and cleaning a mash tun he'll be done.. or invite him to brew a beer or talk about recipe design that you could brew together¿

If his limited experience is based on extract only, he has not really brewed yet. Like RevKev said, he needs to clean out a large commercial mash tun. I volunteered to do this since the owner said he'd credit me with some free beers for the help. I did it one time and decided I'd rather pay for my beer.

 

[triethylborane]

Where I live you could claim Stand Your Ground and shoot him

Colt 45, it works every time.

 

[Trail]

Switching to AG with bad water plus a new system?
Yeah, that's definitely going to work out well
Should be mildly entertaining...

Cheers!

There's a brewery out here in the New Hampshire/Vermont area with truly awful beer. Gritty mouthfeel, oogy cloying sweetness, poorly attenuated, hazy as hell. I ran into the dude at a couple brewfests in a row and finally sacked up enough to ask him about his process.

Fella tells me proudly that he can't afford cooling during fermentation, so he just lets 'er rip. Claims he's using some special yeast that doesn't mind the heat. I know the lads at Brulosophy have shown that fermentation temp isn't very impactful at homebrew scales, so I don't know if it simply matters more at commercial scale, or if he's got other process issues.

But it hasn't stopped him, I guess, since he's been in business for well over a year. Maybe this guy's friend can tap into the same "disgusting swill" market!

 

[seatazzz]

We're seeing a lot of that out here as well. Seems like everyone and his brother is opening a nano. Most are serving good beer and have solid processes as well as business acumen...but then you get the guys who have just enough money and not enough brewing smarts to think they can compete. There are two around here that come to mind - one has good beer in theory, but it's weak. I was chatting with someone who knows the owner, he asked about his process and the brewer uses waaaay too much water so his beers reflect it. I shouldn't comment on the other since I've only tried one of their beers, but it was awful. Like many homebrewers, I want to see my fellows succeed, because it raises awareness and brings more business...but some of them are having a negative effect on the whole industry. We've had coffee snobs for years out here, and now we have our fair share of beer snobs...someday they will focus their snobbiness on something else and these nano guys who count on them will be left out in the rain. Speaking of which we need some of that right now.

 

[canehdianman]

Are you his mother? Who cares what he is doing....

 

[skidmark]

If I were in this situation, I would do everything I could to encourage him. Help him pick out all of the equipment he will need (don't skimp!), from reputable vendors. Some basic lab equipment would be helpful, and maybe some sixtels to allow for draft accounts.

Then, when he's discouraged and in despair (maybe after a few of his beers), you could be a pal and take it off his hands for a dime on the dollar.

 

[Trail]

one has good beer in theory, but it's weak. I was chatting with someone who knows the owner, he asked about his process and the brewer uses waaaay too much water so his beers reflect it.

Too much.... water?

So the beers are low gravity and you don't like it?