The brewing network - BrewStrong

[mrduna01]

Does anyone else listen to this and find it's hard not to fall asleep?

 

[biestie]

Some of it is a bit dry... but I really like the show. They're not radio personalities, they're brewers. I'd say I pick up one nugget of info that I didn't know already in every show.

 

[mrduna01]

"dry" may be a better way of putting it. Sometimes I feel though as if they make stuff up on the spot like they try to sound as if they know the answer but really don't.

 

[barroomhero1234]

love it!

 

[Chase22]

I just started listening to it, but yea, it is pretty dry. I prefer the Sunday session. More like radio, and I still learn a lot.

 

[jfowler1]

The original idea for Brewstrong was awesome. It puts two of the biggest names in homebrewing in front of the mic for an hour to completely break down a single aspect of brewing. Whatever they were covering, the information was great. They had some great shows - an hour of fermentation temp control, an hour with Five-Star Chemicals, attenuation, etc.

Then the wheels fell off.

I hate Q&A shows. Sure, I have questions. I just don't really want to spend an hour listening to other people's questions. Especially when they are not really ground-shaking questions. Most things can simply be researched in one of the host's books. It seems like 9/10 of the past shows are Q&A.

Again, I really liked the original concept of going really deep into a topic that may be covered in a homebrew book by a paragraph or two. It kind of dedicated time to good topics that a chapter in a book does not afford enough space for.

I don't know if they ran into a snag because of the host's changing schedules, or if they just ran out of topics, but I kind of lost interest in Brewstrong since the format change.

On a side note - I just started listening to BBR, and absolutely love it. It does not have the fanfare of rock music or off color humor, but the host, James, simply produces 35-60 minutes of great, commercial free information.

I highly suggest you check it out if you were a fan of Brewstrong's concept, but like me, have become dissapointed in its production.

Joe

 

[Malticulous]

Some of it is a bit dry... but I really like the show. They're not radio personalities, they're brewers. I'd say I pick up one nugget of info that I didn't know already in every show.

I listened a few times and never found a nugget worth torchering myself that much for.

 

[DrawTap88]

Yeah, I've listened and agree that the Q&A shows stink.

 

[mabrungard]

I just started listening and find that there are many shows that were pretty good. I have to admit that I'd prefer a well researched answer, so a Q&A show format does not appeal to me. Fortunately, they do have themed shows and guests that have been great. Those are worth listening to.

 

[bigbeergeek]

Agree with the above posts. The show has had moments of greatness, but the Q&A episodes aren't worth listening to.

 

[Beerrific]

I think they should institute a new rule: if you can find the answer in How to Brew? then they don't answer.

I liked it when they have on guests: Glenn Tinseth, Charlie Bamforth, AJ DeLange (there are others I am forgetting). John and Jamil know a lot of stuff but it is good to hear new stuff or a new point of view.

 

[jkarp]

I dunno, some of the Q&A has been very good - especially when Internet myths get addressed. Loved the one where Palmer killed hard and dead the myth that wort gravity alters hop utilization. No less than a couple thousand threads here on HBT beat that horse over the years.

Oh, and Sunday Session blows. Hard. I'd rather pick belly button lint than listen to those a**hats get drunk for 4 solid hours.

 

[jfowler1]

I dunno, some of the Q&A has been very good - especially when Internet myths get addressed.

That is a good point. I am going to retract/rephrase.

Brewstrong Q&A > Nothing

Brewstrong w/ topics > Brewstrong Q&A

There will always be some great information when you put Jamil and Palmer together. I just really hate to see the Q&A format becoming the norm. First of all, the questions are going to be hit or miss. I guess your experience level dictates what you get out of it - however, Brewstrong was never supposed to be targeted to new brewers; slight disconnect there.

Secondly, if I want to brush up on dry-hopping, I download the dry hopping show. It is really tough to try to revisit something something you heard when shows are labeled Q&A _(insert date here). Finally, the BN has become a pretty well know outlet. They have access to brewers, manufacturers, authors, professors....and yet they keep producing Q&A shows? Come on.

I agree the Sunday Session is not for everyone, but as a whole, I have learned more about brewing from BN programming than any other outlet. The Jamil Show/ CYBI series is incredible, and even the Session can be informative if it gets and stays on topic. That said, the repeated Q&A format on Brewstrong is the most dissapointing thing I have seen from them, and I think the idea has gotten abused more than the perennial "Brewing for Competition" episode of the Session.

Joe