Is your brew day like a work day?

[AmandaK]

Nah, once I got a system down, it's more like a set of mundane tasks spaced far apart. I've started doing Insanity during my mash, actually.

 

[barneygumble]

Depends. If I'm on the three tier in the garage, and its zero out it feels worse than work. My job is very inflexible pertaining to hours and days off. So I brew when I have the day off. Sometimes that can suck. I lost brew buddies when I moved too, so its a solo gig now too. For these reasons and others, I quit for a couple of years and just this winter got back into it. The three tier still hasn't seen action yet and I dont know if it will. 5 gallon BIAB inside feels much more relaxed and enjoyable, with a brew in hand and tv on, than in a cold garage with windchills, dressed like I'm going ice fishing, and too cold to have a brew.

 

[TheBrewinator]

It all depends for me, if I have some guys over and we are brewing, drinking, and tossing bags in the back yard, its definitely not like work. If I'm brewing a double brew day (two 6 gallons, a 12 and 6, or my next brew day, two 12's) then its on like donkey kong and its nothing but work and focus to get everything done in the most efficient and timely manner without errors.

 

[MMachi]

BTW: I like brewing for the same reason I like smoking cigars. Once you light up, you are committed to the cigar the next hour or so. Very relaxing.

Well said...

 

[DrPhunk]

all great replies! I havent had much chance to check in on the forum since I posted this on Friday. I guess I was just really kind of frustrated with my buddy when I had posted this. When we brew at his house its just extremely disorganized and I still end up doing most of the "work" but dont get to improve the setup because its not my place. I think im going to keep brewing a few batches a month on my own and just brew some longer finish beers at his place to cut back on the frustration and hopefully not strain the friendship too much.
I do appreciate slowing down and really enjoying the process, but I work >50 hrs a week, have a 10 month old daughter, and have a constantly evolving honey-do list... So unfortunately brew day is more of a means to the end most times and I just need to get it done to keep the beer flowing

 

[tonyc318]

I'm still an extract brewer and it's super relaxing. I was a nervous wreck the first time. Im a minister and I love my job. Sometimes brewing is like work because the cool part about my job is that building relationship is part of my job. Some pretty good relationship get built on brew day or while enjoying the brew.

 

[rico567]

I have the process worked out to my satisfaction, but it's never possible to put a realistic time on it from start to finish, given the way I brew. I have the preheat water in my mash tun between 0530 and 0600, but then I go into town, and don't start mashing until about 0800.....since I'm generally done by noon, even with a 90 min. boil and cleanup, I suppose it's more realistic to say about 4 hours. And, no, it's not work. I'm retired; I don't do that.

Retirement: "Best job I've ever had."

 

[TheMan]

I feel that when i rush it and go as quickly as possible it is more exhausting and thus felt like "hard work"...when i take my time and let things go their course I feel less exhausted and happier while brewing, not to mention the time difference is only about an hour

 

[danorocks17]

I don't rush it, but I definitely don't make it longer than it needs to be. If brewing felt like a job I wouldn't do it, too much stress lol

 

[Pilgarlic]

I work as quickly and efficiently as I can. My purpose in brewing isn't to escape or sink time into a hobby, but to try new things, improve my knowledge and techniques and become a better brewer. If I can efficiently complete a brew in 3.5 vs 4.5 hours I'll jump at it because there are other things I enjoy doing, too. I don't drink while brewing. I don't feel as competent BUI. The cleaning up is the only part that feels like work.

 

[tennesseean_87]

I try to get done as quickly as I can, usually because my wife is waiting on me to finish. It's all fun until the clean-up, though, so I try to get as much of that done as I can while it's still brewing. I clean the mash tun during the boil, etc. I also like to do other brewing things will I'm mashing, like bottling a batch and washing the yeast for the current batch--that's keeping the pipeline full!