Treating Homebrewing Seriously

[day_trippr]

fwiw, I've been using BeerSmith since the 1.something days and exploit the heck out of the Notes section to record pertinent brew day datapoints. For each recipe I make a template version with the data entries set up so I just have to bang in the numbers. I then clone the template recipe to dated brew sheets for each batch, print out the day's brew sheet, pencil in the data as the brew day progresses, then that evening or the next day transfer the numbers back to the digital brew sheet for my records...

Cheers!

 

[MaxStout]

I use BeerSmith for creating recipes, but on brew day, I like to go old-school and take notes with pen and paper. I made up some "brew day log" sheets in Word, and print one up on brew day. It has fields for every step of the way and I just fill in the data as I go.

After the brew is done I spend a few minutes to write up comments on the back while it's fresh in my mind. What went right or wrong, general observations, things I'd do differently next time, etc.

Then time to clean up gear!

 

[Willy]

I use brewfather for my software now. Back in the day, I kept a notebook because computers could just play pong and collect dust.

 

[kevin58]

This was not a conversation about about enjoyment or no longer finding joy. It was not about wearing latex gloves and treating brewing like a science lab. It was not about repeatability or improvement. It was not about which software is used.

33 responses only ONE person tried to offer a direct response to the question.

 

[DonT]

Dude, I count three folks trying to help. If you could give us some more clues as to where you saw it... was it online or in print?

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

This was not a conversation about about enjoyment or no longer finding joy. It was not about wearing latex gloves and treating brewing like a science lab. It was not about repeatability or improvement. It was not about which software is used.

33 responses only ONE person tried to offer a direct response to the question.

Welcome to the Internet!

 

[Jonakr]

Dude, I count three folks trying to help. If you could give us some more clues as to where you saw it... was it online or in print?

I'd say that even some of the folks not looking for the exact answer were trying to help.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

https://www.33books.com/blogs/news/...Hy5Sgm2HIWLYRHumwfC5kSROiaORTAD04xdXOEU2XQy1B

https://byo.com/article/go-pro/

https://www.asianbeernetwork.com/how-to-brew-like-a-pro-5-pro-brewing-tips/

 

[ExpatPete]

Kevin, In the wise words of Charlie P., relax, don't worry, have a home brew. 4 or 5 responders did reply to your original question.

But I do have to say (well, I don't HAVE to, but I will) that IMHO your response (#34 in this string) was unnecessary. Your question stimulated a very interesting discussion on how this group of home brewers approaches their craft. You should be pleased you started the discussion, not be negative on the discussion and responders.

Just my two cents worth of opinion. Let us know if you find the article you are looking for. If / when you do, post a link to it for us.

 

[Broken Crow]

It was not about wearing latex gloves and treating brewing like a science lab. It was not about repeatability or improvement.

Thanks for the clarity! Now it sounds like something I'd be interested to read too. In fairness; you did say you vaguely remembered it, but as it read, most of us took it to suggest 'treating it like a job' to which my first response would have been; "I'd rather treat Seriousness with Homebrewing"... This extra context you provides makes it interesting. I'm searching again to try and find it as it sounds like actually taking a "Clean Room" approach... I'd love to see any improvements I can make to improve the details and sanitation of my own process.
Is there any chance it was an article behind a paywall? If you find it outside this thread, Please come back and post it.

 

[CodyRonan]

I could not agree more.

I used to be one of those foolish people who cooked things without recipes, relying on the force or something to get it right every time. So many cooks brag about not using recipes. It's really dumb and arrogant. If you want to repeat your successes and improve your dishes, you really need to write things down. And you can't share dishes with other people if you don't have records. A friend of mine was telling me how to make pizza dough, and he said the dough had to be about the color of a manila envelope. That was about as useful as it sounds.

Each to their own. Some people are more paint by numbers than others. Personally, I've found recipes can help teach you to cook. But once you can, you can cook what's at the market, without a recipe. Most natural and traditional cooks are the same.

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I AM a natural cook.

 

[mac_1103]

I think that what most people mean when they talk about cooking without recipes is that they're cooking from memory. I used to be able to perform a lot of fairly intricate molecular biology procedures without having to look at the protocols because I had long since committed the protocols to memory. Same thing, except that there are no "season to taste" steps in molecular biology. Of course, everything is kits now so these kids today don't even have to learn the basics in the first place. Now get off my lawn dammit.

Sorry, what was the question?

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Bread is a great example of a food that benefits from measurement and notes. There is a huge difference between a pizza (a type of bread) made with 60% hydration and one made with 65% hydration. Using 1% salt gives you one result, and 1.5% gives you another.

 

[DonT]

So I would like to respond to the question that was not asked but everyone is responding to....lol.
Homebrewing is most def a hobby, but I tend to obsess over my hobbies. I don't think of it as a job, that would just ruin it for me. I tend to want to do well and I'm a competitive guy... my other obsession was car racing. I sold the race car back in 2015 so it's just making good beer now.

 

[505-Brewer]

I seem to recall reading an article once-upon-a-time that advocated treating your homebrew routine with more seriousness... more like a job. I may be using the wrong descriptors here but the one thing I remember about this vaguely remembered article saying was to schedule a regular brew day. Whether you were actually brewing or just setting aside that day (or days) for brew related chores...cleaning, organizing, etc. Does anyone recall this article and where was it? a

Care enough to give an estimated timeline and format? When was this and was it electronic, an article or book chapter etc? There are lots of articles about brewing with intent. They use to come in the mail, now mostly online.

My first thought was the old publication “Brewing Techniques” which I used to receive in the mail. If I recall MoreBeer (?) bought up the old printed issues and used to sell them off. Not sure if they are digitally archived. Theres one article/perspective from that mag I distinctly recall (related to yours but likely not it).

My second thought was maybe this was in Zymurgy - possibly published in one way or another/more than once in different issues over the years.

Also what is in the article are you seeking - likely where many of the responses you received were aiming. They could have just said “No” and moved on. Would that have been more useful to you?

Here’s another link to go with those above.

https://www.morebeer.com/articles/Brewing_for_Competitions

Best

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

I don't know about this thread. We got scolded like naughty children, and no one has been thanked.

These days, I try to remind myself that it's ugly to be hostile to people who give me free advice. I try to show gratitude for the effort.

 

[mac_1103]

Care enough to give an estimated timeline and format?

Apparently not. Or maybe he just doesn't recall, but he could have said that since several versions of this question have been asked already. OP is frustrated that he didn't get the help he was looking for and his thread got hijacked, but people who actually would like to help are frustrated that OP hasn't really given us a whole lot to go on.

I try to remind myself that it's ugly to be hostile to people who give me free advice.

Again we have to ask, are you new to this whole internet thing?

 

[Clint Yeastwood]

Apparently not. Or maybe he just doesn't recall, but he could have said that since several versions of this question have been asked already. OP is frustrated that he didn't get the help he was looking for and his thread got hijacked, but people who actually would like to help are frustrated that OP hasn't really given us a whole lot to go on.

Again we have to ask, are you new to this whole internet thing?

I think I'm getting a lot better!

 

[mac_1103]

We strive for continuous improvement.

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

My first thought was the old publication “Brewing Techniques” which I used to receive in the mail. If I recall MoreBeer (?) bought up the old printed issues and used to sell them off. Not sure if they are digitally archived.

A couple of years ago, the "WayBack Machine" had archives for the magazine web site. IIRC, there were TOCs for each magazine issue and selected articles were available for free. I didn't see a Zymurgy-like magazine archive.

 

[Bassman2003]

@kevin58 , I think the answer is pretty clear - no. People do not recall this article. That is basically the extent of the original question. Beyond that is just discussion offered in lieu of knowing how to find the article. Frustrating but it is hard to stop that on a forum. Were you looking for something in particular that was in the article? Maybe that would jar some memories?

 

[kevin58]

I gave all the information I can recall. Apologies for frustrating everyone including myself. Maybe the mods can just shut this thread down.

 

[Broken Crow]

I gave all the information I can recall. Apologies for frustrating everyone including myself. Maybe the mods can just shut this thread down.

Please no..we have plenty of goats already. Since you've expanded the criteria, some of us are sincerely interested and want to read this ourselves. I'm pretty sure I still haven't fully understood it, but I'm using homebrewing to assist in axonal-regrowth with familiar portable skill-sets and I for one would really find an organizational-model for homebrewing, or at least some more perspectives on a process approach to be quite useful or at least worth reading as food-for-thought.
Is there any more you remember? Any details that were maybe irrelevant to you, but might still help us find it?

 

[505-Brewer]

A couple of years ago, the "WayBack Machine" had archives for the magazine web site. IIRC, there were TOCs for each magazine issue and selected articles were available for free. I didn't see a Zymurgy-like magazine archive.

I remember scrolling through that back in the day but could no longer find that page. Brewingtechniques.com takes you to a defunct more beer page. And life goes on……..

 

[duncan_disorderly]

Was it this?

https://byo.com/article/continual-improvements/

Or this ..

https://byo.com/article/improve-quality-and-consistency/

 

[BrewnWKopperKat]

Brewingtechniques.com

It's in the internet archives: https://web.archive.org/

Back issues page is here: https://web.archive.org/web/20030211011427/http://www.brewingtechniques.com/library/backissues.html