JetSmooth
Well-Known Member
I'm not a "new" member by any stretch of the imagination.
In fact, I checked out my account and I first joined HBT in February of 2010..
But I also haven't been on in well over a decade, probably.
I started brewing in the college dorm in 1996 and slowly built up a cobbled-together DIY keggle system over many years. Always more interested in the hobby and researching than brewing.
In fact, the brew days always became a pain, and my wife even pointed out once that I would refer to brewing as more of an obligation than something I enjoyed.
So, one day, after joining a cybersecurity startup, I decided that I would no longer have the time for the six- to eight-hour brew day. And I sold all my stuff (circa 2015ish) with the idea that I would parlay my startup riches into buying a turnkey system (or a whole brewery with my millions) some day.
That day never came.
During COVID, I built keezers and bought sixtels from the local breweries (We have several around) and that was fun for a little while. But I also realized ... I went through them VERY quickly.
So back to bottles and cans.
The keezer and draft system gathered dust in the carport for a few more years, and I considered just junking it or parting it out.
But today, my wife asked if I would be interested in picking up a "soda carbonation" kit from a neighborhood swap forum. I remembered that I had the draft system, but I figured a newer tank couldn't hurt and I could probably flip it on Craigslist.
I went to pick it up from the poster's house and it turned out to be a SWEET 20# tank, regulator and a carb cap for 2-liter bottles.
Sooooooo, now I'm re-researching small (2.5-5-gallon) brew setups and considering getting back into it again. I know a lot of things have changed in the hobby in the past few years and will be looking for the absolute smallest footprint possible. I lost my "office/brew room" to a guest room renovation a few years ago. So I'm literally looking at a closet.
Wish me luck, and I'm glad to be back!!
In fact, I checked out my account and I first joined HBT in February of 2010..
But I also haven't been on in well over a decade, probably.
I started brewing in the college dorm in 1996 and slowly built up a cobbled-together DIY keggle system over many years. Always more interested in the hobby and researching than brewing.
In fact, the brew days always became a pain, and my wife even pointed out once that I would refer to brewing as more of an obligation than something I enjoyed.
So, one day, after joining a cybersecurity startup, I decided that I would no longer have the time for the six- to eight-hour brew day. And I sold all my stuff (circa 2015ish) with the idea that I would parlay my startup riches into buying a turnkey system (or a whole brewery with my millions) some day.
That day never came.
During COVID, I built keezers and bought sixtels from the local breweries (We have several around) and that was fun for a little while. But I also realized ... I went through them VERY quickly.
So back to bottles and cans.
The keezer and draft system gathered dust in the carport for a few more years, and I considered just junking it or parting it out.
But today, my wife asked if I would be interested in picking up a "soda carbonation" kit from a neighborhood swap forum. I remembered that I had the draft system, but I figured a newer tank couldn't hurt and I could probably flip it on Craigslist.
I went to pick it up from the poster's house and it turned out to be a SWEET 20# tank, regulator and a carb cap for 2-liter bottles.
Sooooooo, now I'm re-researching small (2.5-5-gallon) brew setups and considering getting back into it again. I know a lot of things have changed in the hobby in the past few years and will be looking for the absolute smallest footprint possible. I lost my "office/brew room" to a guest room renovation a few years ago. So I'm literally looking at a closet.
Wish me luck, and I'm glad to be back!!
