Is the Chief Brewer in your home brew operation male or female?

[Morrey]

My wife works with me when I brew, but in a supporting role as she is multi-tasking with other chores while I stay focused on the boil, etc. She asked me how many women on HBT are the Chief Brewers and make all the beer brewing decisions in the home. Told her I have no clue but maybe this will give us an idea:

 

[TexasDroughtBrewery]

@yooper maybe you can chime in here so the women don't get shut out in this poll.

 

[Pappers_]

@yooper maybe you can chime in here so the women don't get shut out in this poll.

We have a lot of women members here, they're just not voting. Three of my closest out-of-town IRL brewing friends are women - Yooper, a BJCP Grand Master in Indy, and a National judge in Lafayette.

 

[TexasDroughtBrewery]

Hm, I guess I just don't see many around but then again...you can't really tell when your looking at avatars and handles online...

 

[Morrey]

Yeah it can be hard to tell male from female by handles or avatars. I think my wife wants to balk at being involved since she feels it is a male dominated hobby. Personally, I don't think gender should have a big role in brewing. It's like saying only men should be chefs. I had hoped this poll would be more balanced so I could show my wife this is a gender balanced hobby which I think it is. But the poll results so far are not in my favor.

 

[mongoose33]

Yeah it can be hard to tell male from female by handles or avatars. I think my wife wants to balk at being involved since she feels it is a male dominated hobby. Personally, I don't think gender should have a big role in brewing. It's like saying only men should be chefs. I had hoped this poll would be more balanced so I could show my wife this is a gender balanced hobby which I think it is. But the poll results so far are not in my favor.

Does she like cooking? That's the analog I've used. My wife isn't involved, but she will drink the odd beer here and there, and she's been supportive.

I'm not sure having her involved would help much; having an extra set of hands would be less work for me, but I don't think I'd save much time. On the other hand, it would be nice to do it together.

I think part of what has made her supportive is that I handle all the cleanup involved w/ brewing. Other than small bits that go in the dishwasher, she doesn't touch any of the equipment for cleaning. Not that she can't, it just was my sense that if I was going to pursue this then whatever negatives were involved would be my responsibility.

I'm a little surprised she hasn't shown more interest just from a curiosity point of view. She likes to cook, to try new recipes, and certainly likes to explore things in cooking. But not so much interest in brewing.

[Funny story: I brewed an ESB with some new elements of the recipe and as of a week ago, I was very disappointed in it. Well. Saturday I tried it again after another week conditioning and Wowzer! It went from a beer that did nothing well to....a beer of which I had several refills. Her comment: "You've sure learned a lot about brewing, but the one thing you still haven't learned is patience."]

 

[mongoose33]

@yooper maybe you can chime in here so the women don't get shut out in this poll.

And @maryb

 

[kev211]

My wife usually likes to be part of the brewing process. If shes not helping shes at least sitting outside with me while I brew and its good couple time. But she is definitely my assistant when it comes to doughing in, and scooping the spent grains out of the mash tun.

I think homebrewing is definitely male dominated, but it doesnt mean there arent women homebrewers out there. I can think of at least 10 on this site. In the HB club I used to attend it was about 60% male 40% female.

 

[seatazzz]

My husband doesn't get involved in the actual process, but he loves to help me think of recipes and be a sounding board for ideas. I work part-time for a brewery as an assistant (unpaid right now, kinda, unless you count the equipment I've gotten from his old-stuff shed) with two guys. I may not be able to heave the grain bags up over the mash tun, but I can put together everything else and run the system pretty much by myself now.

 

[Morrey]

Does she like cooking? That's the analog I've used. My wife isn't involved, but she will drink the odd beer here and there, and she's been supportive.

I'm not sure having her involved would help much; having an extra set of hands would be less work for me, but I don't think I'd save much time. On the other hand, it would be nice to do it together.

I think part of what has made her supportive is that I handle all the cleanup involved w/ brewing. Other than small bits that go in the dishwasher, she doesn't touch any of the equipment for cleaning. Not that she can't, it just was my sense that if I was going to pursue this then whatever negatives were involved would be my responsibility.

I'm a little surprised she hasn't shown more interest just from a curiosity point of view. She likes to cook, to try new recipes, and certainly likes to explore things in cooking. But not so much interest in brewing.

[Funny story: I brewed an ESB with some new elements of the recipe and as of a week ago, I was very disappointed in it. Well. Saturday I tried it again after another week conditioning and Wowzer! It went from a beer that did nothing well to....a beer of which I had several refills. Her comment: "You've sure learned a lot about brewing, but the one thing you still haven't learned is patience."]

I guess we'll have to learn the art of patience while still striving for perfection

I solicit wife's involvement based largely on the fact this would give us quality time doing together projects. I know what you mean about needing a dishwasher, but I'd rather do that myself anyway.

I handed her a catalog and asked her to select a recipe that looked good, and she picked a Brick Warmer Red. We took the ingredient list to a LHBS and put together the recipe. She had a good discussion with the owner telling how she had selected this recipe, plus she showed good knowledge of the brewing process. The beer turned out fantastic and she bragged to her GF's at a party she made this beer and they all raved about it. So I know she can do it. She still thinks this is a man's sport, but I try to get her involved for quality time together.

 

[Rockit]

I voted male because it's my equipment/house.
Depending on the brew day my daughter is the boss. Her beer...she runs the show.

 

[Morrey]

My husband doesn't get involved in the actual process, but he loves to help me think of recipes and be a sounding board for ideas. I work part-time for a brewery as an assistant (unpaid right now, kinda, unless you count the equipment I've gotten from his old-stuff shed) with two guys. I may not be able to heave the grain bags up over the mash tun, but I can put together everything else and run the system pretty much by myself now.

The way you and your husband are working together brewing is an identical mirror image of my wife working with me.

 

[max384]

My wife and I brew together, but I'm definitely the one running the brew sessions. Of course, that makes sense, since I had started brewing years before we met, and I was her introduction into brewing.

 

[UglySister]

My wife and I started brewing in part to have a mutual hobby. I'm definitely the lead but she is fully involved in every aspect. We love brewing together! When I get a week day off and we can brew while the kids are gone to school, it even more fun. 😜
She picked the name "ugly sister brewery".

 

[kev211]

One thing I would like to note, though, even though my wife is my "assistant", she was the (unwise) one who bought me my first brew kit (brooklyn brew shop, 1 gal) and more or less got me going down the rabbit hole. So she gets a partial vote for making a big (costly) mistake

 

[TexasDroughtBrewery]

+1 on my wife will come to the LHBS and at least sit out there with me and listen to the radio and have some good conversation when I brew. Not every time, but several times at least. She also helps with a few odd and end tasks but thinks its more for guys. Hell, shes even gotten to know the guys at the cigar shop b/c she will go pick some out and surprise me with a good stick. She still thinks all of that is more "guy hobbies" but I applaud the wives that at least support us and our hobbies its always nice.

 

[Pappers_]

Yeah it can be hard to tell male from female by handles or avatars. . .

My husband doesn't get involved in the actual process . . .

Perfect example.

 

[Yooper]

There are other women brewers on the forum, and they can "out" themselves if they want to, but I won't do it for them. I love that we are gender-less here. We are all brewers.

I remember the first National Homebrewer's Conference I went to- there were like 800 people and about 5 of attending the seminars were female. Things have changed- there are quite a few women at the seminars these days although it is still predominantly male and white.

My best friend brews, and I met her here on this forum as a matter of fact. I know some women who brew alone (as I do), and others that brew with a partner or spouse. My husband knows nothing about brewing, and doesn't care to learn. He's told me before "It's YOUR hobby!" when I mentioned that it would be nice to share it with him. He's just not interested in brewing, and I'm not interested in vegetable gardening so we have our own hobbies but enjoy the fruits of each others' labors!

 

[kev211]

I'm not interested in vegetable gardening so we have our own hobbies but enjoy the fruits of each others' labors!

What about hops? Can those be considered vegetables? Cuz if so, Im into veggie gardening.

 

[dryboroughbrewing]

He's just not interested in brewing, and I'm not interested in vegetable gardening so we have our own hobbies but enjoy the fruits of each others' labors!

Just sort of curious what sort of growing season do you folks get in the UP, also what commonly grows for Bob?


And then not to derail, my wife bought me my initial brewing rig, and supports my hobby, but espouses no interest in participating. That being said she's got one of the more discerning palates of anyone I know and I can always count on her for an honest (if sometimes depressing) evaluation of my beer.

 

[kev211]

That being said she's got one of the more discerning palates of anyone I know and I can always count on her for an honest (if sometimes depressing) evaluation of my beer.

This is the truth. I had my wife try my new IPA yesterday, which admittedly is slightly undercarbed (back at 26psi right now) and she says "Meh, its alright. Flavor is there, needs more carbonation."

 

[pshankstar]

My wife hates the smell when I am brewing, that's why I brew outdoors. When I do small batches inside on the stove top, I get an ear full of how awful it smells which carries over to the following morning. Plus my oldest daughter doesn't like it when I do my small batches indoors. With that being said, it's my hobby, I brew alone and my wife thinks I'm obsessed with it (and pokes fun at me).

 

[Brownalemikie]

I'm the only only brewer in my house. My wife is just happy that I have something to do during my retirement.

Phew, I thought maybe you were going to tell me I had to use a different bathroom or something

 

[PADave]

My wife doesn't drink beer and has nothing to do with my brewing.

 

[Morrey]

In that case, Dave, I can see her hands off attitude. Heck, my wife drinks more of certain beers than I do! I need to rethink my strategy here.

 

[Yooper]

Just sort of curious what sort of growing season do you folks get in the UP, also what commonly grows for Bob?


And then not to derail, my wife bought me my initial brewing rig, and supports my hobby, but espouses no interest in participating. That being said she's got one of the more discerning palates of anyone I know and I can always count on her for an honest (if sometimes depressing) evaluation of my beer.

It's a very short growing season! We have all sorts of things, from herbs to veggies. No peppers (season is too short), but most other veggies that we enjoy. We get greens in May, and brussel sprouts through October, so we have something most of those months. We have frost up until early June sometimes, and sometimes a frost at Labor Day, so some years are better than others!

Bob also has a great palate, and he really helps me tweak some beers. He'll say, "This is good, but I'd like a bit more citrus on the nose, and a bit of a biscuity flavor to the malt".....and then I can make it better because of his suggestions.

 

[MaryB]

I brew solo being single(no guys, I am not interested at my age, don't ask!) but friends sometimes sit in and help with the heavy lifting since I have a bad back and shoulders. But I have done a lot of "men only" things in my life, I have rebuilt houses with my dad including doing plumbing and wiring, raced a drag car on weekends at our local fun track(2 mile strip of road the sheriff shut down for us to use on Saturdays and Sundays, I had a Gremlin X with the 401 V8 and a 4 speed, very much a sleeper that surprised out of towners), I hunt, fish, shoot and build guns...

 

[Morrey]

I had expected a slant toward male brewers but not a 96% landslide as the poll showed. In the fairness of disclosure I showed the thread to my wife who immediately gloated saying I told you this was a male dominated activity. However, the biggest point we saw is how many men want their wives involved in brewing as a together activity. I also pointed out that the ladies often have objective taste profiles and can offer honest opinions about the product. A good example is when I am adding tinctures at kegging or when deciding to pull a dry hop bag, she can offer spot on advice that I value.

So we felt good about this and she laughed and said, "Shall we consider vacuuming a together activity?

 

[GPP33]

About the only involvement my wife has in the process is to open the door every hour or so to tell me I'm making the house stink.

 

[Brewjangle]

The decision to start brewing was mine and I, by far, am the main motivation in doing so. With that said, my wife loves to brew with me when both of us are able! Having a kid that is involved in several activities which means that often we have to share duties so we don't always get to enjoy the process from start to finish together, but she loves it as a hobby and all the great tasting experiments we get to enjoy!