Need clarification on "No brew before the boil."

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

So, as I brew today this question came up again. We've all heard the "no brew before the boil" guideline, and I've seen where it matters for calculating IBUs, boil times, pre-boil gravity and so on.

But does that mean "before the boil starts?," "before rolling boil reached," "before thinking really hard about waiting for boil???"

Asking for a friend - thanks

 

[Qhrumphf]

We've all heard the what now? That's a new one to me.

 

[Hammy71]

Like most "rules" that one is made for breaking. Wait for the boil? Not sure that's ever happened here.....

 

[Qhrumphf]

Is this before hopping or something? I've never heard that phrase. And not like first wort hops are anything new. And there's no reason not to hop a little before boil as long as you account for it.

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

Is this before hopping or something? I've never heard that phrase. And not like first wort hops are anything new. And there's no reason not to hop a little before boil as long as you account for it.

No, it was not supposed to be anything seriously affecting the beer like that - just meaning don't enjoy too much brew too early in the brew day . Maybe the "broken hydrometer count" people started it.

 

[Dr_Jeff]

For me, it's no brew until the cleanup is complete, otherwise one ends up getting hurt.

Now after everything is clean and put away, I'll usually know down several, before I get my shower

 

[Qhrumphf]

Oh. No BEER before the boil. I was reading "brew" as a verb and was quite confused.

If you're not drinking a hot scotchy you're doing it wrong. Which is not beer, I suppose. Comply with the letter but not the intent.

 

[jrgtr42]

LOL!!! That's how I always took it - don't drink while brewing. |There's a lot of hot stuff going on, and burns, spills or mistakes are more likely as blood alcohol increases. I'll usually pop my first as I'm running into the fermenter. I don;'t drink fast enough for it to make a difference in the few minutes that takes, including checking gravity then pitching yeast and sealing. Having a cold one does help in the cleaning up phase, though.

 

[Jayjay1976]

Drinking beer while brewing is the right and natural thing to do.

I also enjoy chewing on a horsemeat sammich when I'm out riding, I sip antifreeze while driving, talk about Alexander Graham Bell while I'm on the phone, I read about toilets when I'm pooing, and I watch the Godfather while eating meatballs.

Don't ask me about my romantic practices, but yes I do announce what I'm doing loudly before the Lady Chatterley crisis.

 

[grampamark]

According to Charlie P “...it takes homebrew to make homebrew”.

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

Drinking beer while brewing is the right and natural thing to do.

I also enjoy chewing on a horsemeat sammich when I'm out riding, I sip antifreeze while driving, talk about Alexander Graham Bell while I'm on the phone, I read about toilets when I'm pooing, and I watch the Godfather while eating meatballs.

Don't ask me about my romantic practices, but yes I do announce what I'm doing loudly before the Lady Chatterley crisis.

Horsemeat sammich sounds amazing right now. Too bad I don't have a horse

 

[Toy4Rick]

The only thing that concerns me about drinking while brewing is how it affects the length of the brew day

Start at 8:00am, done by 12:30 and can get other stuff done, start at 12:00 don't get done til 6 and then I'm smashed

No different than BBQ'ng, always have something to enjoy

 

[Mr. Vern]

For me, it's no brew until the cleanup is complete, otherwise one ends up getting hurt.

Imperial Stout brewed on Winter Solstice this year, whilst drinking imperial stout... I burnt the s*** out of my hand taking a sample.

Naming this one "2nd degree stout", added vanilla / bourbon tincture when bottling.. it will be hot.

Lesson learned.... wear a glove when taking samples from the boiling kettle ball valve

 

[firerat]

But drinking while I brew is the only way i can justify having beer at 8AM to my wife.

 

[Barbarossa]

I brewed late one time. Forgot to close the fermenter's valve before transfering the wort. My daughter saved me on that one. Then I forgot to pitch in the yeast. And then I pitched without aerating.

I'm also inexperienced so that didn't help. Now I wait for the yeast to be pitched before pouring myself a reward.

 

[cmac62]

I usually start fairly early (8:00 a.m. or so), I do like to get the strike water on before I have a nice Michelada with my burrito. After that I will likely have a pour or two as the rest of the day moves forward. Then the neighbors show up and all bets are off. I have ended the day sh*t faced and put off clean up till tomorrow, but that doesn't happen often.

 

[madscientist451]

No brew before the boil starts, but that means that cider/mead (which isn't brewed) is OK....

 

[day_trippr]

I have never mixed drinking with brewing. Can't trust myself to not eff-something-up
As it is there's almost always one screw-up on brew days. Most are quite benign, but every once in awhile I throw myself a metaphorical eephus pitch and it's scramble time to recover

Cheers!

 

[SMD]

I like to get started early, there’s something relaxing about mashing in with my morning cups of joe. The house is quiet, child and wife sleeping, I can enjoy my morning coffee before my wife starts complaining of the heavenly smell of boiling wort. Then I switch to beer.

 

[FleEsq]

Wait, your not supposed to drink while brewing, then you would only have yourself to blame for screwups..........and that's not happening.

 

[bracconiere]

hmm, i like to pace myself. being my boils take 3 hours for some reason, i like to drink just enough so that when i'm done sparging, it's time for a afternoon nap during the boil.

i have missed my tempo before and ended up with a few 2-3 hour mashes though

 

[bracconiere]

my own meme....lol

 

[firerat]

I'm 3 deep and 10 minutes left on my mash.

I'm a rule breaker lol

 

[bracconiere]

I'm a rule breaker lol

hopefully @HB2 HughBHomeBrew realizes it's an unenforceable law, and cuts you some slack! otherwise he's going make you do 30 minutes of sit-ups to work it off!

 

[HB2 HughBHomeBrew]

hopefully @HB2 HughBHomeBrew realizes it's an unenforceable law, and cuts you some slack! otherwise he's going make you do 30 minutes of sit-ups to work it off!

It's strictly enforced with optional penalties!