Neighbor says my rig looks like a Meth Lab

[RmikeVT]

My buddy and I were brewing outside and he lives in a town home community, so everyone could see what we were doing. An older gentleman walks by (and he was extremely nice) and asks, "What are you guys doing?" To which I replied, "Oh we are just brewing some beer," he points to my mashtun (10g orange cooler) and asked, "what is that for?" I tell him it's my mashtun were I put the grain. He starts asking me about the malt I use, two row or six row and starts going on. I am confused how this guy knows so much about malt but doesn't know what beer brewing looks like. So I ask, "How do you know so much about malted barley?" He responds,"I was a Brewmaster for Anheuser Busch before they got bought out by InBev." I just laughed, but was thinking to myself that is was funny how a brewmaster from AB didn't recognize what beer making looked like.

 

[Homercidal]

My buddy and I were brewing outside and he lives in a town home community, so everyone could see what we were doing. An older gentleman walks by (and he was extremely nice) and asks, "What are you guys doing?" To which I replied, "Oh we are just brewing some beer," he points to my mashtun (10g orange cooler) and asked, "what is that for?" I tell him it's my mashtun were I put the grain. He starts asking me about the malt I use, two row or six row and starts going on. I am confused how this guy knows so much about malt but doesn't know what beer brewing looks like. So I ask, "How do you know so much about malted barley?" He responds,"I was a Brewmaster for Anheuser Busch before they got bought out by InBev." I just laughed, but was thinking to myself that is was funny how a brewmaster from AB didn't recognize what beer making looked like.

AB probably had a very different Mash Tun than most homebrewers have.

Or he was BSing you. I bet he was the janitor and got let go when the new owners discovered he wasn't peeing in the bright tank like a good employee.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Or, he was doing that insipid thing people do to try to impress you. "Where did you go to school, Spondo?" "Oh, I went to a little school just outside Boston... maybe you have heard of it.... .... .... ..... Harvard."

If so, you should have run him over with the spinning blades of a lawnmower.

 

[RmikeVT]

AB probably had a very different Mash Tun than most homebrewers have.

Or he was BSing you. I bet he was the janitor and got let go when the new owners discovered he wasn't peeing in the bright tank like a good employee.

I bet there aren't too many micro's/craft brewers that don't know what a basic homebrew set up looks like.

 

[asidrane]

I bet there aren't too many micro's/craft brewers that don't know what a basic homebrew set up looks like.

AB isn't exactly a micro/craft brewery

 

[JonnyJumpUp]

I'm waiting for my nosy neighbor to call the cops. He's already called them on two of my other neighbors for no good reason... and I have caught him peaking in neigbors windows and whatnot when they arent home..

 

[amandabab]

no one's ever confused my brewing for a methlab.

But I'm in eastern WA. Almost everyone knows a brew rig looks like, almost everyone knows what a meth lab looks like, the those that don't are too stoned to care either way.

 

[Jukas]

However, I would take any and all possible legal action against whomever put a camera in my window.

Which would be exactly none. You have no reasonable expectation of privacy in your garage with the door open, nor if you are inside your house with no blinds and people can see you from the street.

Now if they climbed a tree, or put up a ladder to see over your fence, or opened your window stuck in a camera, or hid a camera in your bathroom then you would have grounds.

 

[Stauffbier]

Considering the neighborhood I live in I'd probably have more friends if they thought I was indeed making meth!

 

[a_hard]

Reading this reminds me of my worries when I started a few months ago. My landlord takes my deliveries and I knew he would see Midwest brewing on the label. Told him I was going to start home brewing. I feared eviction, wound up with him so excited I got a grand of kitchen renovations so I could brew easier. Now every time we chat its over a beer, brewed or bought. Had to be late last month and told him in advance.... said I was a model tenant, can take my time...by the way, is the trappist ale ready yet? Bit worries he was more concerned about the beer than the rent

 

[ReddHead]

Not a uncommen question. The feds and states make things that shouldt be illegal all the time, im from Illinois and we need a FOID card to buy guns and even ammo ( fire owners indentification card FOID). Took me 4 months to get my card from State LEO's. Also I think were the only state now that doesnt promite CCW (concealed carry)

NJ is just as bad.

 

[landshark]

Most of my neighbors just think I am constantly frying turkeys. They see the boil pot and that's it. It's like they ignore everything else. He walked over a few months ago while I was working on my car and asked "Why do you deep fry so many turkeys? Do you eat turkey that much?"

Another one and his wife know I brew and love it. In fact his wife gets mad at me if I walk over to visit and don't bring a glass of beer with me for her.

 

[Husher]

The neighbor across the street came out and started taking pictures of me but didn't say anything and no cops showed up so I'm not really sure what that was about.

Wow that's just creepy.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Which would be exactly none. You have no reasonable expectation of privacy in your garage with the door open, nor if you are inside your house with no blinds and people can see you from the street.

Now if they climbed a tree, or put up a ladder to see over your fence, or opened your window stuck in a camera, or hid a camera in your bathroom then you would have grounds.

In which case a serious country-style all-you-can-eat asskicking would be in order.

 

[nasty_rabbit]

In which case a serious country-style all-you-can-eat asskicking would be in order.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Husher]

Which would be exactly none. You have no reasonable expectation of privacy in your garage with the door open, nor if you are inside your house with no blinds and people can see you from the street.

It's still creepy to have some guy take photos of you and run away! Perhaps it's within the Dude's legal rights to take photos of the nosy photographer.

 

[GoodDogShelby]

I am amazed at some of these stories. I live in Northern KY which is basically a suburb of Cincinnati. I know all my neighbors for 10 houses in either direction and about 40% of the ~150 houses in the subdivision. Heck, I bet I have at least six sets of house keys and at least four garage door codes of neighbors. Some are good friends and some are just good neighbors.

They put up with me because, 1) I always have beer on hand; 2) I have a pool; 3) I have a bunch of tools and know how to use them; 3) I have a 32' ladder; 4) I am not afraid of heights. I feel bad for you guys that don't have close neighbors.

 

[stat]

I am amazed at some of these stories. I live in Northern KY which is basically a suburb of Cincinnati. I know all my neighbors for 10 houses in either direction and about 40% of the ~150 houses in the subdivision. Heck, I bet I have at least six sets of house keys and at least four garage door codes of neighbors. Some are good friends and some are just good neighbors.

They put up with me because, 1) I always have beer on hand; 2) I have a pool; 3) I have a bunch of tools and know how to use them; 3) I have a 32' ladder; 4) I am not afraid of heights. I feel bad for you guys that don't have close neighbors.

I feel bad for you. I've got enough crap to take care of at my own house and not enough time to do it. I couldn't imagine being the neighborhood handyman and beer supplier.

 

[AussieBrewerInColorado]

I hate when people just show up on my driveway when I'm brewing, or anytime really. If I want you over I'll invite you.

I don't mind, I like to talk homebrew.

 

[nasty_rabbit]

I am amazed at some of these stories. I live in Northern KY which is basically a suburb of Cincinnati. I know all my neighbors for 10 houses in either direction and about 40% of the ~150 houses in the subdivision. Heck, I bet I have at least six sets of house keys and at least four garage door codes of neighbors. Some are good friends and some are just good neighbors.

They put up with me because, 1) I always have beer on hand; 2) I have a pool; 3) I have a bunch of tools and know how to use them; 3) I have a 32' ladder; 4) I am not afraid of heights. I feel bad for you guys that don't have close neighbors.

You could live in my neighborhood. I'm the guy with the beer, tools and knowledge and truly enjoy sharing all of this. My neighbors never expect me to go it alone. They are always at my side for any project be it mine or theirs. All of our kids are relatively the same age, paired up ranging from 10 to 21 and have grown up together as that we all have lived here for about 25 years. Hell if it weren't for individual mortgages this could have been a commune.

 

[Jukas]

It's still creepy to have some guy take photos of you and run away! Perhaps it's within the Dude's legal rights to take photos of the nosy photographer.

Oh trust me, I don't disagree, it's highly creepy. Unfortunately it's still legal.

 

[Jukas]

I am amazed at some of these stories. I live in Northern KY which is basically a suburb of Cincinnati. I know all my neighbors for 10 houses in either direction and about 40% of the ~150 houses in the subdivision. Heck, I bet I have at least six sets of house keys and at least four garage door codes of neighbors. Some are good friends and some are just good neighbors.

They put up with me because, 1) I always have beer on hand; 2) I have a pool; 3) I have a bunch of tools and know how to use them; 3) I have a 32' ladder; 4) I am not afraid of heights. I feel bad for you guys that don't have close neighbors.

I wish my neighbors were like yours. I've tried to make friends with most of the neighbors and most seem to just want to keep to themselves.

Really I think it's just a cultural shift that's happening. People are less outgoing, more introverted and more secluded. I've also noticed younger people (12-25+) have an almost habitual addition to electronics, and prefer to "interact" with their friends via facebook, or sms than actually go outside and do something.

 

[jerrodm]

I've also noticed younger people (12-25+) have an almost habitual addition to electronics, and prefer to "interact" with their friends via facebook, or sms than actually go outside and do something.

He says, on an internet forum...

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

funny thing my neighbor thinks that my meth lab looks like a brew rig

GMTA! Well played, you!

I wish my neighbors were like yours. I've tried to make friends with most of the neighbors and most seem to just want to keep to themselves..

My neighbors think we're crazy anyway, so I really couldn't care less if they think I'm cooking meth. I actually know that one of them is.

One of my next door neighbors is a photag/musician and has been very interested in my homebrewing since they moved in. I've always taken them some beer from each batch, and recently he's started helping out on brew days because he wants to start brewing.

My other next doors are just weird. They call my home brew "homemade beer" and they don't like it. They like Keith Stone, and more than one can is "heavy drinking". They stare at me anytime I'm brewing, carrying brew equip outside or even unloading beer from the trunk. Come to think of it, my sons both keep their blinds closed because the neighbors will sit in their window, staring across our driveway into their windows. Creeps.

Across the street we have a house full of college kids, they prefer keg stands and swag to home brew.

I actually do have a neighbor that is obviously dealing something more than grass, which keeps the LE focus down the road a ways. I did have a cop slow down and scope me and a buddy out while we were doughing in one day, I waved, he waved back and went on down the road. I always figured, if a LEO came by inquiring about my activities, I'd offer him some brews.

 

[hautlle]

I wish my neighbors were like yours. I've tried to make friends with most of the neighbors and most seem to just want to keep to themselves.

Really I think it's just a cultural shift that's happening. People are less outgoing, more introverted and more secluded. I've also noticed younger people (12-25+) have an almost habitual addition to electronics, and prefer to "interact" with their friends via facebook, or sms than actually go outside and do something.

This is exactly how my neighborhood is. People walk by and stare at me brewing, I wave and say hi, they just keep on walking, don't ask questions or anything. I grew up in the country, and despite having some distance between us, we knew our neighbors. Now I live in a suburb and people don't even wave or say hi or anything. It's weird...

 

[TheZymurgist]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009210/posts

You guys think that's bad, anyone in the saltwater hobby can relate to this. With all of the bright lights, chemicals, test kits, buckets of salt, and people coming and going with coolers and bags for trading coral, it can definitely look like a person is growing/cooking drugs.

 

[GarageDweller]

I don't always brew meth, but when i do, i do it in my own driveway for all the world to see. - the worlds most interesting man

 

[NordeastBrewer77]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/2009210/posts

You guys think that's bad, anyone in the saltwater hobby can relate to this. With all of the bright lights, chemicals, test kits, buckets of salt, and people coming and going with coolers and bags for trading coral, it can definitely look like a person is growing/cooking drugs.

I hear that. I don't do marine anymore, but I could easily see how someone could mistake that if they weren't familiar with the hobby. Great link too, I remember that story every time we've had a cable guy or other utility contractor in the house. They obviously see things like fermenters and such, so I tell 'em about home brewing even if they don't ask.

 

[Homercidal]

I had a friend who grew unusual plants in his basement. He had the police come out one day to ask him if they could see what he's got going on downstairs. He let them look and they apologized and were on their way. Apparently one of the neighbors noticed the flourescent lights were on 24/7 and called him in.

He was just glad the police didn't know that many of the plants he had were not legal to move from their origins.

 

[CreamyGoodness]

Honestly, I wouldnt suggest letting a police officer into your house to "take a look" with nothing more than "please." "I have nothing to hide" is a stance that seldom ends well.

That's why we have search and seizure laws. Now, if florescent lights count as probable cause, I've truly missed my guess.