If you brew beer, you're an alcoholic. If you make wine, you're intriguing

[mysteryberto]

I've heard the whole if you brew your own beer you must be an alcoholic thing before. If we follow that train of thought how about if you cook your own food you're obese?

Oh wait neither of those make any sense...

 

[Boerderij_Kabouter]

Deus is $29, Utiopias ~$100. There's 2.
How many 1000's of wines can you buy in that price range?

BTW: I said pretentious. I don't consider either of them pretentious.

Good point... I am not complaining though, I am happy with the small mark-up on beer.

 

[HBHoss]

A few things as I see it:

In a few weeks, you’ll be able to walk into virtually any retail store and see the “beer in a box” kits for the Christmas season. In a few months, Christmas wrappings will be waiting at the curbside while hundreds of thousands of “new brewers” are boiling away their new home made beer. The sheer availability of homebrew kits compared to wine kits lends itself to a sh!tload more beginner homebrew being brewed in neighborhoods and shared with friends and family.

There is a vast difference between beer that comes out of a Mr. Beer kit from a first time brewer and an all grain batch that has just been brewed by someone who has 30+ batches under their belt. In the last three decades (since Homebrewing was re-legalized back in 1978), most Homebrewing has been done in the form of kits and liquid extract…and a vast portion was brewed by new brewers who dabbled in the hobby, shared their product, then got out of the hobby.

I consider my beer servable to any audience…but it wasn’t always that way.

Certainly high quality homebrew has been the exception rather than the rule the last 30 years.

Plus, there is just a different public perception between beer drinkers and wine drinkers. (Wrong though it may be)

I live in a very small town (pop. 1700). It takes .8 miles to drive from one end to the other. Big hoopla lately was the opening of a chain retail drug store (Rite Aide). I finally decided to check it out and went down the first isle and there were 2 Mr. Beer kits there. I was shocked. We don't have a LHBS. It's definitely getting more recognition.

 

[olllllo]

Good point... I am not complaining though, I am happy with the small mark-up on beer.

And you sir, make a fine Beer Ambassador.

 

[Homercidal]

Strange. I've seen this subject come up a few times before, and I honestly have never gotten any comments about it. I know a guy at work who brews a bit with a friend, and we chat about beermaking, but generally I find that people aren't that interested one way or the other. Or maybe they are scared I'll push some nasty homebrew on them and expect compliments about it.

At this point in my game, I'm quite happy to hear all the negativity, and hopefully it's constructive. I think people's perceptions are changing, and a Mr. Beer kits isn't necessarily going to do it on it's own, but maybe a few of those that try it will enjoy the process enough to look into it more and become full-fledged homebrewers.

 

[njnear76]

It used to annoy me when people would be condescending, elitist, or all out jerkish. Now I just find it amusing and somewhat sad.

It's a big world, and I think it pays to be intellectually curious in both people and new ideas. Unfortunately most people like to drown in their ignorance. Their loss, not mine.

 

[homebrewer_99]

No one wants to see my old kegs. Trust me.

You know, if you attached some quick disconnects to them then added say maybe 30-40 psi I bet those girls would just perk right on up there...

Then you can post the pics...:rockin:

 

[TexLaw]

I don't know if it's the change in the times or my age, but I get far more positive comments about brewing than I used to.


TL

 

[cheeseshark]

people are stupid... generally.

Truer words have never been spoken.

 

[loopmd]

No one wants to see my old kegs. Trust me.

Yes, we do.





Loop

 

[Homercidal]

Yes, we do.





Loop

Cannot access...

Really, this is a dead end street. I've played this game before in other forums, and I can honestly say that unless you get them drunk, these ladies will never show you their goodies.

 

[rabidgerbil]

Plus, there is just a different public perception between beer drinkers and wine drinkers. (Wrong though it may be)

This from the guy who turned a garbage can into a kegerator

sorry, couldn't help myself on the cheap shot...

Seriously though, I don't think that I have ever run into anyone that looks down on me for brewing, but I think that part of it has to do with the passion that I show about beer in general. I am not some college kid running around screaming "BEER!!! WHOO HOOO!!!". I show them a knowledge of the history, the science, and the art of brewing.

The fact that they like the taste of my beer only helps the situation that much more.

 

[TexLaw]

Seriously though, I don't think that I have ever run into anyone that looks down on me for brewing, but I think that part of it has to do with the passion that I show about beer in general. I am not some college kid running around screaming "BEER!!! WHOO HOOO!!!". I show them a knowledge of the history, the science, and the art of brewing.

I agree, but you have to get them to that point and then hope it takes. I've met a number of folks who just have their minds made up and could not care less about beer or brewing. I don't worry about those people too much, although they are part of the problem for biased treatment under the law (e.g., vineyards and wineries can do direct sales in Texas, but breweries cannot (except for brewpubs, which may sell only on premises); brewing licenses cost far more than winemaking licenses; etc.) Yes, mega-breweries lobbying have much to do with it, too, but their lobbying efforts would not succeed if the voters cared enough about the issue.

Times are changing. In fact, they are snowballing, but we aren't there, yet.


TL

 

[GreenwoodRover]

I was recently out to dinner at an Indian food place entertaining a client with our CEO, SVP of Acquisitions, and SVP of Asset Management. Me I'm just the lowly Construction/Development guy. As the red vs white discussion was starting regarding a wine for the table, and I boldly mentioned that the Avery IPA they have would probably complement the food better than any wine on the list, and that if bitterness wasn't their thing the London Pride would go well too. Client was very impressed and mentioned that he and his son just started dabbling in homebrew, needless to say I ran the conversation for the rest of the dinner and drink orders pre-meal looked like this: 3 averys, 1 london pride, 1 club soda.
The next day people that were not at the dinner mentioned that they heard I was into making my own beer....
Yes perceptions are changing, and for the better.

 

[Saccharomyces]

Hmm, everybody who finds out I make beer suddenly wants to be my friend.

 

[fat x nub]

I get it sometimes...but most of the time its, "how the f*ck do you make beer?" Almost as if they think its like water you just pull out of a lake. But then they are interested after i explain

 

[cclloyd]

I get mixed reactions or the most part - until they taste it. Then it's usually "you made this?" Feels good every time.

 

[cshort]

Living in a dry country, surrounded by dry counties, home brewing generally doesn't come up for discussion in most social circles. I remember when I bought my house our new neighbors where talking about how it was so wrong that the previous owners had converted the garage into a game room with a bar while I just stood there thinking that's half the reason I bought the house.

 

[Homercidal]

Living in a dry country, surrounded by dry counties, home brewing generally doesn't come up for discussion in most social circles. I remember when I bought my house our new neighbors where talking about how it was so wrong that the previous owners had converted the garage into a game room with a bar while I just stood there thinking that's half the reason I bought the house.

Sorry for you. While the others here are brewing and sharing right out in the open, you have to hide yourself and pretend you are a 1920's ridgerunner, hooch brewing, law-breaker.

I wonder how you are going to find others who want to drink your beer.

 

[cshort]

Sorry for you. While the others here are brewing and sharing right out in the open, you have to hide yourself and pretend you are a 1920's ridgerunner, hooch brewing, law-breaker.

I wonder how you are going to find others who want to drink your beer.

Who says I want to share my beer?

Seriously though, I have a few friends and my wife's extended family are happy to partake in anything I make. No one except SWMBO wants to help make it though. The biggest pain is having to drive over an hour to get to the closest HBS or paying shipping to have supplies delivered.

 

[Homercidal]

Man, I'd love to have been able to brew with someone who knew what they were doing when I first started. A friend's dad got me started, but he was a wine guy, so we were both basically starting from scratch. The directions on the can got beer made though.

I remember the time that I "didn't" attend a HUGE party at a certain gathering in a dry county in KY. We were "NOT" told to behave and nobody will bother you, but if the police have to come out, there is going to be some HUGE trouble. I did "NOT" get totally wasted and have to have an escort back to my camper and spend the next day recovering.

Is Somerset anywhere near Rockcastle county by chance?

EDIT: Ha, I looked it up and see that is is very close! Nice area down there. I used to go caving there quite often. Cost of gas ans familial responsibilities have curtailed my caving activities for the most part anymore.

 

[uglygoat]

missed this one... only wanted to confirm that:

yoops kegs are of impeccable quality. she is a serious brewer after all.

on topic: i stopped worrying about folks who don't like 'good' beer' much in the same way i stopped worrying about eac's trashing the pleebs who enjoy bmc and those who don't orgasim over a vintage bottle of wine. even the pissiest of macro swill(beer or wine) is better than bottled water, and potable to boot!

 

[Laughing_Gnome_Invisible]

I like beer.