I'm Creating a Reality Show about Home Brewing

[Solidsnake]

I guess since no one else wants to you can use me to film the Pilot episode. But you have to have the intro like the original Real World however instead of multiple people just me and bags of ingredients just sitting on random objects.

 

[agrazela]

whatever you do...make sure there's no millennials with skinny jeans, scarfs, fedoras ...etc

If it's these guys getting punked by fat old bald guys, that'd be good. I could relate.

(But if you want to include hipster chicks, that'd be good, too. Hipster chicks can be quite hot )

 

[Ghostrider513]

They all have possibilities. I would certainly watch an episode to see how interesting it is. I do feel that #3 is a developing story, one that many homebrewers dream of. And it could keep the viewer's attention, wondering how it will end. I agree with the comment that having several different attempts to open might be more interesting. Of course it will be more interesting to find homebrewers who have to build up from a small start as opposed to guys with a wealthy father in law. The challenge in creating this is that you have to find people who are in the process, and much of the story will be retrospect. Good luck, keep us posted.

I agree. I've had some negative comments but I think 3 is what I'd like to do, maybe with the people having several recipies, marketing tasting and so on. It would be great to see the failures and the struggles to recover. I will be showing real brewers, not the "Ken aND Barbies" but the average guy going for it hard core.

 

[Ghostrider513]

Wow! What a response. I didn't think I'd have so many comments so fast. Let me say thank you. Even for some of the negative stuff. I've had positive feedback and some non constructive comments. To answer several questions about it being faked or kept real, I'm keeping it 100% real.

Number 3 is the direction I'm going to go. I think I'll have some of 1 and 2 but the real story is regular guys making the dream come true, and their failing too. How they come up with recipes and the hoops they have to jump through with the state and feds.

One slant I'm bringing to the show is the federal laws prohibiting brewing and all of the restrictions. By exposing the fed and state laws, maybe the show can help make changes through our viewers representatives.

Another facet is the science behind brewing. It's really fascinating. I brew my own beer and it's a lot of work. Make a mistake and the batch is ruined, unless you really know your stuff. I'd also like to do the show like Anthony Boudain's format. A lot of one on one about the process over a couple of pints. Visiting places where they get hops etc. would add a real twist. Along the way maybe some local impromptu competitions at local pubs, bars and restaurants. Let the public decide if they like a particular brew.

The best part is all of the free publicity a hopeful brewer gets for allowing us to follow along. The people will already be emotionally attached to the brand. Nice way to start a brewery. What do you fellas think?

 

[Qhrumphf]

If you're looking to be able to film throughout the whole opening process, your production time will be massive for limited content. So much legal red tape and waiting over what is often a several year process.

 

[PlexVector]

I write reality shows and I'm a home brewer. I've been wanting to do a show on home brewing but I need the members opinions of what to create. I just need to know what they think is going to create the best story and exemplify home brewers to the public at large. I HAVE to tell a story.

Here are the choices:

1. A home brewers competition where different areas of the country are visited and locals compete for bragging rights etc.
   
2. or a lifestyle of hardcore home brewers and how they prepare for competitions. How they make their batch and the like.
   
3. or going from hobby brewer to opening a brewery and navigating all of the barriers the fed and states throw at you in addition to making the dream come true.

I've seen some one-offs on Netflix I believe; especially #3. Just do a search: "beer".

 

[treacheroustexan]

I've seen some one-offs on Netflix I believe; especially #3. Just do a search: "beer".

Crafting a nation and blood sweat and beer.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

I've seen some one-offs on Netflix I believe; especially #3. Just do a search: "beer".

Shhhh. You're gonna crush his dreams.

 

[k1ngl1ves]

Wow! What a response. I didn't think I'd have so many comments so fast. Let me say thank you. Even for some of the negative stuff. I've had positive feedback and some non constructive comments. To answer several questions about it being faked or kept real, I'm keeping it 100% real.

Number 3 is the direction I'm going to go. I think I'll have some of 1 and 2 but the real story is regular guys making the dream come true, and their failing too. How they come up with recipes and the hoops they have to jump through with the state and feds.

One slant I'm bringing to the show is the federal laws prohibiting brewing and all of the restrictions. By exposing the fed and state laws, maybe the show can help make changes through our viewers representatives.

Another facet is the science behind brewing. It's really fascinating. I brew my own beer and it's a lot of work. Make a mistake and the batch is ruined, unless you really know your stuff. I'd also like to do the show like Anthony Boudain's format. A lot of one on one about the process over a couple of pints. Visiting places where they get hops etc. would add a real twist. Along the way maybe some local impromptu competitions at local pubs, bars and restaurants. Let the public decide if they like a particular brew.

The best part is all of the free publicity a hopeful brewer gets for allowing us to follow along. The people will already be emotionally attached to the brand. Nice way to start a brewery. What do you fellas think?

I kinda like the Bourdain idea. He likes to see local people and how they do stuff...


I wouldn't necessarily like to watch a show about brewers in different states trying to open their own breweries constantly. But what would be intriguing imo would be breaks in the story where you go check out local homebrewers (of the area where your newest brewery story is taking place) and see where/how they brew. Kinda like when Anthony goes into people's houses to eat.

Take my brew day for example. I brew in my garage, constantly kicking the kids yard toys across the garage, complaining that they never clean their crap up, and constantly worrying that the wife is gonna complain that I'm taking too long.

Then I dump a pound of hops into my whirlpool, pour a beer, and be satisfied with another successful brew day... while I wait for the wife to come down and ask if I'm done yet. Chill and transfer. Then I get the kids to come help clean up. Lol!


Really though, I just wanna see other small time homebrewer's setups (brewer porn) and the way they may brew differently than others... and when their brew days go bad and why.

Just a thought. I figured I might as well be helpful.

 

[mongoose33]

If you're looking to be able to film throughout the whole opening process, your production time will be massive for limited content. So much legal red tape and waiting over what is often a several year process.

I think that's the case for most of these reality shows--with the possible exception of Pawn Stars. Deadliest Catch has cameras going virtually all the time, in the hope of catching something quite worthy of broadcast. In this day when video is stored digitally, not that costly to film everything and let the editor sort it out.

I'm usually loathe to say something can't work. Who, in their right mind, thought Antique Roadshow would be a hit? Some of this stuff you just cannot predict, and in other cases, producers tweak the format to reflect the good stuff, cutting the bad stuff.

 

[applescrap]

One thing all reality shows have in common is drama, created or otherwise.

Deadliest Catch: Are they going to get their quota in time? Will people die?

Counting Cars: Can we finish the build on time? Will the customer like it?

Alaska Bush People: Will we solve the problem in time? Get stocked up in time for winter? Build the house before the snow flies?

Bar Rescue: can we fix this, given the terribly inept owners and sometimes employees? We only have a few days!

American Pickers: Will this pick work out? Will we break even? Is the item we bought worth a lot or nothing?

Pawn Stars: Is the item real? Will the expert validate it? How will negotiations go?

*****************

I'm sure you know this, so the question is, how will you create drama? New recipes that we don't know will work out correctly? Brewing on a deadline? Equipment breakdowns? The competition part is useful, but in the end, you need to build drama.

Maybe in each episode you follow 3 brewers: A newbie, an experienced craft brewer w/ a tap room from which they sell, and a brewer creating brews for competition.

Newbie: will he forget to amend his/her water? Forget to sanitize something? Boil too short a time? Screw up the mash? Will friends like the resulting brew? Bottling or kegging?

Experienced w/ Taproom: Can he develop a new recipe that will make money? is he keeping fermenters full? What about mistakes?

Competition brewer: What's he brewing and why? What mistakes has he made in the past he's trying to correct now? How is he tweaking a recipe to get him past the hump to a win?

In each case, you have an outcome to address whether the brewer succeeded or not, and plenty of possible mistakes (OMG, I dropped my unsanitized yeast packet into the chilled wort!).

Think of the infections you could show!

This is good stuff, I agree. The question, why invest our time? Great ideas so far.....drama, competition (like brewers getting ready for big comps, and 3 vs 3 like chopped), educational, brew masters, etc. Kind of like a podcast but more engaging with video.

Ill create some drama for you with my brew philosophies . Best of luck I'll watch.

 

[akthor]

#3 I don't care about competitions of any sort when it comes to food and drink. To subjective, everyone's taste buds are different. Known a lot of home brewers throughout the years never known one to enter competitions.

 

[Ghostrider513]

This is good stuff, I agree. The question, why invest our time? Great ideas so far.....drama, competition (like brewers getting ready for big comps, and 3 vs 3 like chopped), educational, brew masters, etc. Kind of like a podcast but more engaging with video.

Ill create some drama for you with my brew philosophies . Best of luck I'll watch.

I've decided to go with option three. Building a show on people trying to get their dream brewery open.

By following people getting all their permits, and showing their stories, those people get a lot of great publicity and the public's product recognition. That helps them brand and market their brew.

I also want to bring attention to the stupid Federal and state laws preventing brewers from opening a brewery or a someone starting a professional distillery. It's time for a change. These antique laws need changing. Pot can be legally grown and sold and still alcoholic beverages can't be made.

I think the show will showcase brewers of all levels with the people trying to get their brewery going as the framework/ skeleton on the show.

Mostly I I'll run the show like Andrew Bourdain. Talk about recipes, techniques and the like. Maybe impromptu local competitions for fun. And all things like the who, what, when, where, why and how people get into home brewing.

I'm very excited about doing this. A lot of good people out there deserve recognition. The science of brewing is very important. Let's make science fun!

Hope that answers most questions. Thanks again for asking.

 

[akthor]

Great choice!

 

[Ghostrider513]

Thanks for the support.

 

[Mystikty]

I like it! Can't wait! It would be cool to have a "Newbie" segment that highlights the most common rookie mistakes and what we can do to avoid them. I also like to know what type of beer pairs well with what food. Anyway, anything you come up with, I'm sure it would be great! Good luck!

 

[davisc1513]

Also even on top of a reality type show, a documentary. I know there were some guys in the works doing a pipe smoking documentary called father the flame that looks great! It's an art just as much as homebrewing. But like others have said there are so many ways this could work and captivate an audience! I can't wait to see how it progresses. Keep us updated!

 

[Ghostrider513]

Mystikty,
I think so too.These are some great ideas to consider for the show. Thanks.
Mike

I like it! Can't wait! It would be cool to have a "Newbie" segment that highlights the most common rookie mistakes and what we can do to avoid them. I also like to know what type of beer pairs well with what food. Anyway, anything you come up with, I'm sure it would be great! Good luck!

 

[Ghostrider513]

davisc1513, I can do a documentary quicker than waiting on a network. Average of two years for a network to bring a show to market. I think maybe a mini series with a mix of documentary and reality show put together would be excellent. Get it completed and to market fast while having a completed project for the networks. That helped me shake out the cobwebs of the brain and get me excited about the project. Thanks brother.
Mike

Also even on top of a reality type show, a documentary. I know there were some guys in the works doing a pipe smoking documentary called father the flame that looks great! It's an art just as much as homebrewing. But like others have said there are so many ways this could work and captivate an audience! I can't wait to see how it progresses. Keep us updated!

 

[treacheroustexan]

Any updates on this?

 

[soccerdad]

. I have never watched a reality show and prob never will. Even one about brewing and I really like brewing. I have read about reality shows here and there. I would read about your show if this thread stays active. You guys really should consider blowing up your TV's. Unless Barca is playing R Madrid

 

[HoppyDaze]

Thanks for your unsolicited judgement.

 

[SteveH aka shetc]

How about a version of The Bachelor where the women try to win his heart by brewing beers each week. The worst brewerette gets thrown out until there is a winner.

 

[treacheroustexan]

How about a version of The Bachelor where the women try to win his heart by brewing beers each week. The worst brewerette gets thrown out until there is a winner.

This I could get into haha.

 

[bkboiler]

Hmm...i mean, i'd watch a sitcom about several bachelors living in an apartment in new york, one of whom happens to be a homebrewer. i think the only part of that idea that hasnt been done is the homebrewing part, :9 best of luck!

 

[Lefou]

I've only been interested in one reality show on TV so far ... the others, well ... I seem to think some of the personal drama was contrived.
The ONLY "reality" show I bothered to sit and watch episode for episode was "Forged in Fire".
No so-called celebrities on there, just hard-working steelsmiths in creative timed competitions making craft weapons by hand.

 

[CGVT]

. I have never watched a reality show and prob never will. Even one about brewing and I really like brewing. I have read about reality shows here and there. I would read about your show if this thread stays active. You guys really should consider blowing up your TV's. Unless Barca is playing R Madrid

Thanks for your unsolicited judgement.

And...soccer sucks

 

[madscientist451]

I used to work in TV, but now I can't stand to watch TV shows. Most "reality" TV has absolutely nothing to do with reality at all.
Homebrewing is a somewhat nerdy topic, similar to computer nerds.
Is there a mass market for a TV show about homebrewing? I doubt it.
Any "drama" about home brewing competitions will be totally fake, and I just don't think there aren't enough people interested in what you can brew with a surprise basket of ingredients. Most TV viewers don't even know what malt is.
But I didn't think a fake show about of clan Louisiana swamp rednecks would last either. I'm also astonished that a no-talent like Kim Kardashian or Paris Hilton can be an actual celebrity.
So I'm usually wrong about what people like.
But go ahead and make a pilot to illustrate your concept and shop it around. But instead of watching TV, I'll probably be doing my own brewing or something outside. Good Luck.

 

[Steveruch]

I used to work in TV, but now I can't stand to watch TV shows. Most "reality" TV has absolutely nothing to do with reality at all.

It can't be reality once the people being filmed know that the cameras are there.

 

[Savagejair]

And...soccer sucks

[emoji460]️ is awesome