National Homebrew Day Giveaway!

[Singletrack]

How have I advanced home brewing. I have not advanced the art/science of home brewing. However, I have advanced as a home brewer, so I hope that counts.

I started with a few batches of disappointing extract, then decided I needed to brew AG to make better beer. Probably that was wrong, but no matter. I enjoy AG.

I came up with a very low cost "brew stand" to try out AG until I could build a nice stand. It turns out I like manual brewing and never saw a need to upgrade my setup. I've posted it a couple times on here before, and everyone has politely decided not to say anything if they couldn't say anything nice. I have thick skin, so I will risk another picture.

 

[hio3791]

Woohoo, after a beautiful Pittsburgh day, spent with my family, I squeezed in 10 gal batch of my cream ale after getting the kids off to bed. Happy National Homebrew Day!

Oh yeah, I got a coworker into home brewing and another coworker and I spend our daily rants about brewing beer, sharing homebrews and all around making a great friendship.

 

[chisena]

View attachment ImageUploadedByHome Brew1430629157.441966.jpgGrain Mill

 

[popgunandy]

Here's what I do to promote home brewing - I give away beer...today I'm brewing 10 gallons for a wedding - I'm hoping at least a few of the guests will take up the hobby.

 

[rupert130]

I brew in dry countries.

 

[Dorimo]

I have learned that the best tool you can ever have as a home brewer is patients. Just relax, don't worry and have a home brew. If you did your job right crafting the wort and pitching the yeast, the yeast will work happily and healthily creating a rewarding ale.

 

[Carlscan26]

I hear we will soon be getting Ruination v. 3.0 soon - the lady at the LBS said it was more "user friendly." Sounds like it will be a downgrade...

More layers of flavor. Smoother. The citrus note is there but it's second to a tropical mix of pineapple and mango. The flavor goes the same way and while the citrus rind bitterness is there it's smoother. Interestingly after 15 mins and the aroma had burned off instant oaky, the 2.0 tastes harsher than the original. It's a worthy replacement IMO.

 

[unionrdr]

After a series of unfortunate events yesterday, I saw a burst of bubbles about 5:21AM today. Great cold break on this one. Funny how you can get knowledgeable enough to not worry about the process enough to be comfortable with it. There's where mistakes lurk. I must've spilled a pint or so of wort when the colander slipped into the kettle & the stool slipped out from under me. Too much back pain to sleep any longer. But, at least it's starting to ferment & the color looks to be a reddish-amber so far. So it'll be beer...

 

[smokinop]

I have learned that the best tool you can ever have as a home brewer is patients. Just relax, don't worry and have a home brew. If you did your job right crafting the wort and pitching the yeast, the yeast will work happily and healthily creating a rewarding ale.

That's exactly my advice to people who ask me about homebrewing & what it takes. Patience is always my answer; if you don't have you will not enjoy the experience as much as possible. At least that's my opinion.

I spent the early part of yesterday brewing an IPA with a mix of Columbus, Mosiac, Cascade & Amarillo hops!

Cheers!!!

 

[fries]

I love the whole process of home brewing and share that passion with anyone that asks me about my beer they are drinking. So far I have helped several family and friends embark on their own journeys into home brewing...
Share a beer and quench their thirst for the moment... Teach them how to brew and spark a thirst for understanding.

 

[brewkinger]

This year marked my 3rd year as a homebrewer and yesterday marked the 15th time that I have tried to arrange a brew day / demo to get people interested in the craft.
Last year Big Brew Day... 2 of us brewed a total of 13 gallons.

Last November / Learn to Homebrew Day... Friend drove 3 hours to come and visit to watch me make an extract batch and then we drove to Hill Farmstead to sample the deliciousness.

Yesterday.... Better success.
AHA Big Brew Day
8 attendees (interested ones at least) 3 supporting wives, 6 supporting children and several passers-by (who were intrigued that we were making beer but less intrigued that the finished product was NOT immediately available)
8.5# of pulled pork
10 split chicken halves
Chili beans
Assorted salads
Brownies

Most of all.... 11 gallons of beer

Tons of leftover food

Sunburns.....

WHAT AN AWESOME DAY!!!!

 

[unionrdr]

Four years in for me. A couple years ago, around tax return time, my wife asked to go into the lhbs with me. Being surprised by this, I said yes. They had a big new batch of Brewer's Best kits, which she started perusing intently. She took quite naturally to brewing. The group that used to cut our grass got to liking having some of my home brews after they finished. A couple were interested in homebrewing, but never came back. So Idk if they ever started or not. But it's been one heck of journey these past four years brewing beer, with generations of wine making & distilling behind me. Nothin' like family traditions!...

 

[Otis1031]

Was brewing in my garage one day when neighbor stopped by, after smelling the grains and hops he was enticed to being a home brewer. Three months later, we were sitting on his porch enjoying his first home brew. Enough said.

 

[hirschb]

in

 

[TXCrash]

Went to a ren faire all set to teach the poor folk to brew, yet this wonderful drink had already been discovered.

 

[TXCrash]

And was quite disappointed to see, that despite my good intentions, to teach to brew, the fairies would not grant my wish.

Maybe I got confused.

 

[ChrisRyan]

Got a Mr. Beer kit about 5 years ago that came out so bad that I didn't bother trying again, until this Christmas my girlfriend bought me a Brooklyn Beershop 1 gallon all grain kit.

I enjoyed this much more than my first time around... so much so that I went online and ordered an 11G pot, built a MLT with a false bottom from a 10 gallon home depot cooler and there was a lot more money tossed at fermenters, fittings, tubes, ect.

Well that escalated quickly.

Here's a picture of batches 3 and 4 (I consider the 1 gallon #1... the Mr. beer brew is dead to me)

Left is a Pliney the Elder Clone, both on the right are an Arrogant Bastard Clone
View attachment 275451

 

[BSD_Glass]

I'm in


BSD

 

[masonsjax]

Last night I described to a group of friends the basics of malting and how the mash process works. This group is always fascinated by brewing but none have made the leap yet. I've been trying to get them to come help with a brewday so they can see how easy it is. Soon I hope.

 

[pointcity-homebrew]

My approach to home brewing can be compared to the life cycle of humans.

I started out as a home brewing "baby". I started with extract kits, and couldn't be bothered with things like taking gravity readings or taking notes. When asked "what is the alcohol content?" I would respond "Try and guess what it is." Everyone , within reason, was a winner, the prize another home brew. Despite my lack of brewing maturity, I made some good beers, a BJCP judge was surprised one was an extract..

I have now grown into the juvenile stage in my brewing adventure. I primarily brew Partial Mash and take gravity readings. I have started taking notes and paying a lot more attention to fermentation temps. Now when asked about the ABV, I can confidently give the correct answer. My beers have gotten better.

I will grow, as experience progresses, and eventually hit my adult stage in brewing. I have most of the equipment to start all grain, by that time I want my process dialed in.

 

[MarshmallowBlue]

I write a blog

 

[MarshmallowBlue]

I give homebrew to colleagues and convert them to craft beer enthusiasts

 

[dvonrick]

Active member of local homebrew club, answered questions during big brew.

 

[lawbadger]

Always nice to brew with friends interested in craft beer trying to get them hooked on homebrewing.

 

[allclene]

love free stuff! I give out free home brew to strangers who show an interest in craft brewing and let them see how easy it is to do it themselves and how good it tastes!

 

[allclene]

I have gotten at least 4 people into home brewing by having them come over to see my automated rig run and showing them how easy it is to brew at home. I also have given old equipment to people to start them on their brewing quest. In the process I show them this forum so they have somewhere to look up any answers they need to questions.

 

[unionrdr]

This may seem a bit odd, but it seems a bit gratifying cleaning up the day after a brew day, seeing the airlock merrily bubbling away like a machine pistol. God must be smiling on us after such an auspicious day that quite often is also family related. My wife & sons pitch in here & there too. She still asks questions in a way that tells me she really is interested in what something's for, what I'm trying to accomplish, whatever. Salud' de familia & NHBD!

 

[tnorman93638]

I've learned how to advance my brewing technics here on HomeBrewTalk by building several pieces of equipment.

 

[skunkboy]

I make 4.5 gallons of mead during bigbrew and shared a bunch of bottled mead to show people what it is and that it isn't as exotic as most people thing...

 

[jeffhills]

Since my beginning days of brewing in January of 2014, I have advanced brewing in several ways. Because I was brewing enough beer to give away to friends, they became more interested in brewing their own beers and enjoying the fruits of their own labors as well. After talking them through the process and what equipment they should look at, they set about on their way to brewing success. Having tasted some of their beers, I can easily tell that they know what they are doing now and will possibly soon surpass my own prowess. I have also placed in homebrew competitions consistently in the top 5. Things are looking good and I have finally selected the right hobby for me.