This is a little strange and Im not here to discuss the details of it. I am an alcoholic who hasnt drank in 2 years and 2 months. I simply do not do well with consuming alcohol. End of story. I have never stopped making wine. I use cheap recipes and give it away to my neighbors, friends, and family members. I have wanted to brew for quite some time but the interest got put on the back burner because I no longer drink. Well I was recently gifted a kit and have full intentions on using it. Im just curious are there any other brewers here who do not drink alcohol for any reason other than me?
The 13th step to recovery - Homebrewing.
- Thread starter BenVanned
- Start date
Help Support Homebrew Talk:
sudsmcgee
Well-Known Member
It seems like torture to me! I brew because I drink. If I gave up drinking, I would probably have to stop brewing. How am I going to refine a brew if I don't know how it tastes?
JoeyChopps
Well-Known Member
Maybe u should take up making cheese or brewing ethanol for fuel. Something that u can enjoy without starting up another addiction
I would still brew if I couldn't drink. I enjoy the process and at that point, I would enjoy making something that others could enjoy.
BTW, what kind of person would give an alcoholic a kit to make his own beer?
BTW, what kind of person would give an alcoholic a kit to make his own beer?
I really enjoy brewing my beers, but I will also say that I really love giving my beers to friends when they really enjoy it. I like the challenge of trying to make a beer for a specific person with very picky tastes, and seeing the surprise on their faces.
Not drinking any of it would be pretty damn hard though!
Not drinking any of it would be pretty damn hard though!
That's really cool!!!! And generous! 
broadbill
Well-Known Member
Does your sponsor know that you make wine, and want to make beer?
What do they think about it?
What do they think about it?
For what it's worth, there are many crafts and hobbies that you might enjoy similarly to brewing, and would enjoy the results. Breadmaking, for example, is a lot like brewing in that it can be simple (like extract brewing) to very complex.
I would probably brew for others if I couldn't drink. I don't see myself ever being an alcoholic, but it would be harder to brew in that instance, as opposed to brewing and not drinking because your on some strange meds or something. I just like doing stuff for people.
Do you ever taste your product??
Do you ever taste your product??
If I couldn't drink I'd stop brewing and turn all my attention and free time to a hobby I could fully enjoy. Homebrewing has taken a lot of time from hunting for me. I'd go from being a mad homebrewer to a mad hunter again like I was 5-6 years ago.
Insomniac
Well-Known Member
I know that a friend's dad brews (mostly wines I think) but does not drink, and also just does it because he enjoys the process and gives the results to others.
OP
OP
BenVanned
Well-Known Member
No my sponsor does not know that I make wine or that I will be making beer. Not disclosing this fact has not affected my recovery in any way so I do not feel the need. Just because I can not drink does not mean I can't be around beer. Its unavoidable. Besides. May as well work with something I love.
OP
OP
BenVanned
Well-Known Member
No I do not taste my wine. But as I said. Ive been making wine for years so I pretty much know how its going to taste by how its made. I did make a batch out of cucumbers recently that's completely alien to me though.
I think it's great that you still enjoy the hobby enough to keep doing it, even if you can't enjoy the first level of satisfaction (with making others happy a close second, IMO).
I don't think it would be a stretch for someone with a lot of experience to make wine just going by feedback from others. I know I couldn't do it for beer. I'm not that good yet.
I don't think it would be a stretch for someone with a lot of experience to make wine just going by feedback from others. I know I couldn't do it for beer. I'm not that good yet.
Call me a dick, but you aren't making any effort to avoid alcohol in a context where it can be completely eliminated. If you are indeed an alcoholic and are producing alcohol in your home it's not a matter of if, rather it is a matter of when you will relapse. At the very least you should talk to your sponsor about this issue... I'm sure he can provide insight into the issue that someone who hasn't been through it can.
I think it's totally the opposite.. He has two choices: eliminate everything he does where he might see a drop of alcohol, or learn to f'ing deal with being around it and not partaking. Now it takes a damn strong will to homebrew and not taste the results, but if he's been doing exactly that already, then I doubt it will do him harm. Willpower is like a muscle, it gets stronger the more it's used.
OP
OP
BenVanned
Well-Known Member
Once again. I'm not here to discuss the details of alcoholism. There are 1000 other forums for that around the internet. I was posting this thread out of curiosity. But I will state that I find your statement untrue. I can indeed drink anytime I want. It really is a choice not to do so. Having it in my home is not going to affect me what so ever. Hell If all else failed, I could chug the mouthwash or rubbing alcohol... or the wine.... or the little bottle of vodka the misses has in the freezer... but I havn't.
HoppyDaze
Well-Known Member
dick post
It's maybe like the 2 candy bars I have on my desk. I am foregoing sugar (to a major extent) and these candy bars are a reminder that I made a promise to myself not to indulge.
Yes, it's on a MUCH lesser scale, but I haven't touched them. Then again, I know that it's only a matter of time. Because one is a Butterfinger...
I'm with you man. There is temptation all over. Living with it is probably better than avoiding it completely. I know a bartender that quit drinking many years ago.
Good luck with your brewing!
Yes, it's on a MUCH lesser scale, but I haven't touched them. Then again, I know that it's only a matter of time. Because one is a Butterfinger...
I'm with you man. There is temptation all over. Living with it is probably better than avoiding it completely. I know a bartender that quit drinking many years ago.
Good luck with your brewing!
What kind of a-hole gifts a recovering alcoholic a beer kit? That's just cruel.
Maybe it was someone that knows him and knows how much he enjoys winemaking and thought he would enjoy the brewing process.
or someone that has had his wine and wants beer!
JoeyChopps
Well-Known Member
IffyG said:
I don't think your a dick I do agree with you on the information given. Idk the op so I can't give him a character dession in this one.
That's pretty cool. I find that I enjoy making beer more than I do drinking it. I mean, I do like beer a lot, but I REALLY like making it. If I had unlimited free time/money I would brew a *lot* more and probably give it away (we're just about at our saturation point, I think, with two fermenters going).
OP
OP
BenVanned
Well-Known Member
Yes someone who has had my wine and wants me to try my hand at beer. Which is cool because I have always wanted to try my hand at brewing.
Also the gift was from my girlfriends mother. Her husband owned the kit, it was given to him in 95. He has a refined taste for beer. Now her mother on the other hand is the stumbling blithering angry variety of beer drinker who assumes shes going to get a ton of free beer out of this. Speaking of, she just ordered a ton of bottles. 2 cases of 12ozers and 12 clear wire bottles. WIN.
LVBen
Well-Known Member
If I didn't drink, I would not brew. That'd be like painting with your eyes closed and then giving away your paintings without ever seeing them.
you need someone that is honest in the their assessment of your brews. Also a plus if they can taste/discern a lot of the off flavors or bad phenols. Could also enter stuff into comps for more feedback. just not someone that will say it tastes ok, even if it's not.
Most of the beer i make is consumed by friends/family during big parties and the like, so I can see how just brewing for other people might not be a big deal as far as temptation. It's much easier to go to the store if you are going to cheat than wait 4 weeks for a home brew.
Most of the beer i make is consumed by friends/family during big parties and the like, so I can see how just brewing for other people might not be a big deal as far as temptation. It's much easier to go to the store if you are going to cheat than wait 4 weeks for a home brew.
bigbeergeek
Well-Known Member
It's difficult for us (hopefully non-alcoholic) brewers who drink our wares to imagine the brewing/drinking processes uncoupled. I truly respect your years of sobriety. Congratulations for taking control of your life and facing your addiction! Happy brewing, best of luck in your new adventures in brewing, and please feel free to use these forums for advice and support in your new endeavors.
Oh, if you ever need an official "taster" to help with the evaluation process, I'm sure you won't have much difficulty finding a volunteer or two, either.
Oh, if you ever need an official "taster" to help with the evaluation process, I'm sure you won't have much difficulty finding a volunteer or two, either.
jtakacs
Well-Known Member
there are recovering bartenders so i don't think it's crazy if you have the ability and tools to not consume, but making it? how do you now how it comes out? you could drink the pre-fermented wort and get an idea, but i would think it would be hard.
Remember the old TV show Cheers? The owner, an ex-pro baseball star was an alcoholic. He was once asked if it was ironic an that an alcoholic was the owner of a bar. Or maybe he made that statement, I don't remember. It was a TV show, whether it portrayed real life or not, I'm no sure.
If I was on a road to alcoholic recovery I believe I would probably stay away from making beer or wine and find something else to put my creative efforts into. Best of luck to you, God bless.
If I was on a road to alcoholic recovery I believe I would probably stay away from making beer or wine and find something else to put my creative efforts into. Best of luck to you, God bless.
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