This is such an awful hobby

[schatzke]

And you haven't even built a kegerator....yet
Welcome to the obsession!

 

[Redpappy]

I bought my SB 10 gal Kettle. Designed for EBIAB. I will be doing my first 5 gal batch AG Friday. Can’t wait. Plus I have a 5.1 Q foot freezer headed my way. Which I am thinking of turning into a Ferm chamber for now, but may turn into a keezer later on down the road.

 

[GoeHaarden]

I bought my SB 10 gal Kettle. Designed for EBIAB. I will be doing my first 5 gal batch AG Friday. Can’t wait. Plus I have a 5.1 Q foot freezer headed my way. Which I am thinking of turning into a Ferm chamber for now, but may turn into a keezer later on down the road.

LOL....it never ends. It's so easy to catch the bug. IMO, ferm chamber is one of those "essentials" to making consistently good beers. Good luck on the AG, it's a lot of fun! What brew is on deck?

 

[Redpappy]

I will doing my Boston ale clone ( house beer). So of course I will be saving a few of my my extract brews to compare with.

 

[Inkleg]

IMO, ferm chamber is one of those "essentials" to making consistently good beers. Good luck on the AG, it's a lot of fun! What brew is on deck?

^^This^^ One of my biggest turn arounds came from controlling fermentation temperatures.

I started with MrBeer too and well....lets just say it might have gotten out of control.
You'll enjoy EBIAB and you will produce great beers.
I recommend some kind of brewing software if you don't already have something. I started with BeerSmith and after brewing two beers and keeping good notes I got my equipment profile down and hit my numbers every time now.
Be aware that this will also branch you out into brewing beer styles you hadn't even tried before starting this hobby. But hey, it sure beats the heck out of stamp collecting!

 

[Redpappy]

I started playing with BrewSmith a little over a week ago. I figure it will take a few brews to get it dialed in, but so far I have checked my boil off rate .. the rest I took a guess at, but will change them after I brew.
As far as styles, well, I’m trying all. The only brew that I have brewed more than once is my Boston ale. I am even Going to brew things I did not care for... IPAs.

 

[ismellweird]

What was I thinking? And it’s only been 3 months.

Hi Redpappy, first of all I want to say welcome to the hobby and please don't give us so soon. I started brewing late last year with some equipment I inherited from a relative. Literally in week 1 I had some of the worst brewing experience imaginable. People told me to quit, idiot, all the worst names and at 3 months I was starting to turn things around and now I am just 6 months in but never happier and the future is very bright. I have developed so many original recipes and techniques, I never considered myself a brewer but now I am ahead of many people even on this bulletin board. It's true. Maybe you will be too. Hang in there and don't give up and don't listen to any responses on here especially the ones who are likely to call you names and try to drive you out. It's jealousy! Good luck my friend. Someday I will visit your brewery.

is_mell_weird

 

[Jayjay1976]

I BIAB indoors on a DIY electric setup, and went from a single carboy to keeping 4 constantly full in my first 3 months of brewing, just to expand my pipeline capacity. Now whenever I bottle a batch and one of the fermenters sits empty for more than a few days I get the itch to brew. I've worked up recipes in brewer's friend to keep me busy for the next 12 months and now I'm getting the hang of brewing seasonally.

 

[DeeEnvy]

I have to agree. This IS a horrible hobby.
Just wait until you get into kegging. It becomes REALLY addicting. LOL

 

[MaxStout]

This IS a horrible hobby. And I do horrible things. I brew. And I drink. Then I brew. And I drink again...

I'm a horrible person. I think I'll have another beer.

 

[bleme]

^^This^^ One of my biggest turn arounds came from controlling fermentation temperatures.

I can't say my beer has gotten any better with a ferm chamber, but before I was controlling temperature with water and ice and wind. Checking on it every 15 minutes was driving me crazy. Now I can forget my ferm chamber for days, go on vacation, whatever! That ferm chamber probably saved my marriage!

 

[jimmayhugh]

ahh guns and limitless alkyholl, a match made in heaven!

My avatar says it all...

 

[Blazinlow86]

I started brewing 1.5 years ago. I stopped keeping track when I hit about 5-6 grand........ Lol

 

[LuckyBeagleBrewing]

They just need to stop making such cool stuff for brewing and I will stop brewing.

Started with the infamous deluxe homebrew kit and now running a RIMS system and minimum 10 gallon batches.

Horrible, horrible hobby...

Now I must go quick carb the Helles that I just took out of the fermenter. 10 beautiful gallons of malty goodness.

 

[Redpappy]

I have to agree. This IS a horrible hobby.
Just wait until you get into kegging. It becomes REALLY addicting. LOL

I’m looking, but not sure about kegging. I look at all my bottles, which are growing in numbers, and wonder what i would do with them all if/ when I start Kegging. I have several questions on kegging, but waiting till i get to that point.

I started brewing 1.5 years ago. I stopped keeping track when I hit about 5-6 grand........ Lol

I keep seeing the $$... A few weeks ago, my wife asked on how much I have spent so far. After a few min of thought, I think I’m up to about 700. And it’s just the begging. I need to figure a way to not think about the cost, but a way to keep it in check. I’m already cringing, but that is because I hate spending money..(inner Demond’s) When I start looking at what I want, the $$ go up crazy.

 

[Beewrangler63]

Oh your story sounds so familiar. I brewed off and on for the last 3 yrs in kit forms and really started to take my brewing seriously about the same time you started in November. Let me show you what one Mr Beer kit has led to:




This was when 1 gallon BIAB batches were scratching my brewing itch. I know this is small peanuts compared to a lot of set ups on here, but I have plans for a keezer and kegs by the beginning of summer. My ham radio workbench has now turned into a place to shelve my fermenters, and before the addition of the chest freezer for a fermentation chamber, I had meticulously surveyed my basement for optimal areas to lager. Fortunately my SWMBO was working when it seemed like USPS, UPS and FEDEX were stopping by on daily basis LOL. My oldest son also brews, and there is now talk of either a Robobrew or Grainfather in the air. Ah yes what an awful hobby.

 

[MaxStout]

 

[Inkleg]

I keep seeing the $$... A few weeks ago, my wife asked on how much I have spent so far. After a few min of thought, I think I’m up to about 700. And it’s just the begging. I need to figure a way to not think about the cost, but a way to keep it in check. I’m already cringing, but that is because I hate spending money..(inner Demond’s) When I start looking at what I want, the $$ go up crazy.

Keep in mind that this is a hobby. Hobbies are designed to waste your time and money and this one sure beats stamp collecting.

 

[GilaMinumBeer]

It is a horrible hobby.

But it's still cheaper than Golf, Fishing, or Cocaine and Hookers.

 

[Inkleg]

It's the disposing of the dead Hooker bodies is where it get expensive.

 

[Blazinlow86]

I’m looking, but not sure about kegging. I look at all my bottles, which are growing in numbers, and wonder what i would do with them all if/ when I start Kegging. I have several questions on kegging, but waiting till i get to that point.



I keep seeing the $$... A few weeks ago, my wife asked on how much I have spent so far. After a few min of thought, I think I’m up to about 700. And it’s just the begging. I need to figure a way to not think about the cost, but a way to keep it in check. I’m already cringing, but that is because I hate spending money..(inner Demond’s) When I start looking at what I want, the $$ go up crazy.

It doesn't have to cost that much. I think it depends on your goals and resources. Great beer *can* be made using the most basic equipment. It can be easier/ more enjoyable/consistent with better equipment however. When I started my goal was 1/2 barrel batches of top quality beer made in my basement brew house. Im fortunate that my wife is VERY supportive of my hobby and I have alot more coming in than going out. Again majority of the expensive stuff was more about convenience than requirement. My point is you definitely don't have to spend a fortune to make great beer. Cheers

 

[Redpappy]

It’s brew day for me, my new SB kettle and doing my first 5 Gal BIAB...as well as using Beersmith. So far everything is looking good.

It doesn't have to cost that much. I think it depends on your goals and resources. Great beer *can* be made using the most basic equipment. It can be easier/ more enjoyable/consistent with better equipment however. When I started my goal was 1/2 barrel batches of top quality beer made in my basement brew house. Im fortunate that my wife is VERY supportive of my hobby and I have alot more coming in than going out. Again majority of the expensive stuff was more about convenience than requirement. My point is you definitely don't have to spend a fortune to make great beer. Cheers

my wife kept bugging me to get a hobby. I am surprised that she is being very supportive.

 

[Blazinlow86]

It’s brew day for me, my new SB kettle and doing my first 5 Gal BIAB...as well as using Beersmith. So far everything is looking good.

my wife kept bugging me to get a hobby. I am surprised that she is being very supportive.

Nice kettle have a great time. I'm stuck at work today but doing a chase my tail pale ale clone this weekend. Cheers

 

[seatazzz]

I got lucky, got most of my equipment as used or hand-me-downs. Sure, I'll drool over the shiny new stuff advertised here, but I'm happy with what I've got, which is pretty basic (mash tun fashioned from an extract barrel with bazooka and fancy $65 false bottom, keggle with ball valve for HLT, 12 gallon costco kettle, that's the big stuff). In equipment I'm probably in this about $500, spent over 2.5 years. About to embark on making my own mash bags since the one I have will probably only last until this summer, even with very careful use (not a wilserbrewer, just a cheap one from the LHBS).

Our bowling league has it's banquet & payout this Thursday (second place, whoohoo!) and I'm already trying to figure out how much grain & hops I can buy with my winnings...who needs groceries...or clothes...ooo maybe a 20lb co2 tank....shut up conscience.

 

[Desert_Sky]

ive forgotten html.....awesome

 

[LuckyBeagleBrewing]

One other thing I like yet hate is there are so many things you can build yourself for this hobby. If you like building stuff then you can imagine and make things to suite your needs. This is only one of many projects.

Such an awful hobby it is...

 

[wyowolf]

As far as hobbies go, i'm finding this pretty cheap to get into also scales quite well when you want to move up and still very affordable.
At least my wife is happy i stopped adding to my gun collection

You stopped admitting you buy guns...just like me.

 

[NeoBrew]

It is a horrible hobby.

But it's still cheaper than [...] Cocaine and Hookers.

Wait, Was this an option?

 

[Redpappy]

One other thing I like yet hate is there are so many things you can build yourself for this hobby. If you like building stuff then you can imagine and make things to suite your needs. This is only one of many projects.

Such an awful hobby it is...

View attachment 566540

I like your keezer. Have you ever ran into 2 or more taps empty and nothing to put in its place?

 

[Redpappy]

I just received a 5.1 ft freezer, for free. I’m going to transform it into a fermentor chamber ( attempt to). Once I have it completed I will post a pic of it. I’m also thinking that later on I could turn it into a keezer if/when I decide to start Kegging.