What should we really call ourselves

[Edcculus]

I'm almost positive there has been a thread about this, but I can't find it. After several people called me out in the Craft vs Real beer thread about my "beef with the term HOMEBREWER", I thought I'd go ahead and start the thread.

So, what do you like better: Craft Brewer, or Homebrewer? I know this is kind of a strange debate, since our namesake here is "homebrewtalk". In my mind, "Homebrewer" gives images of someone fermenting sketchy beer in the bathtub. On the other hand, Craft Brewer denotes someone who takes time to create a quality product.

If you listen to Craft Brewer Radio, you have heard Graham talk about this a lot. He brings up a good point. A lot of us can brew as good, if not better than the "pros". Why short change ourselves? Do you really need to make a living from brewing to be a Craft Brewer?

 

[blowmax10]

To me the term Craft brewer means a professional - and me brewing 5 gallons of beer in my garage has nothing professional about it

 

[boo boo]

I voted craft brewer, but I really don't care that much to split hairs between homebrewer and craftbrewer. I guess when it comes down to it, I've passed what I call the homebrewer stage and am doing craft beer that is homebrewed.

 

[carnevoodoo]

I'm almost positive there has been a thread about this, but I can't find it. After several people called me out in the Craft vs Real beer thread about my "beef with the term HOMEBREWER", I thought I'd go ahead and start the thread.

So, what do you like better: Craft Brewer, or Homebrewer? I know this is kind of a strange debate, since our namesake here is "homebrewtalk". In my mind, "Homebrewer" gives images of someone fermenting sketchy beer in the bathtub. On the other hand, Craft Brewer denotes someone who takes time to create a quality product.

If you listen to Craft Brewer Radio, you have heard Graham talk about this a lot. He brings up a good point. A lot of us can brew as good, if not better than the "pros". Why short change ourselves? Do you really need to make a living from brewing to be a Craft Brewer?

I will stick with homebrewer. We brew at home, and while some of us make good beer, there's a LOT of homebrewers who make crap. By calling yourself a craft brewer, you're just raising yourself above the rest of the people, and that to me sounds really elitist and silly. And honestly, if you're talking to someone, do you say, "I'm a craft brewer" or "I'm a homebrewer"? I say, "I make beer."

It is just a label, but I'll stick with what I am, what people like Charlie P. and Jamil are, and what we really do. If its good enough for them, its good enough for me. If you find there's a negative connotation, change it. I hope you're really not that worried about a label. Just do what you do and enjoy it.

 

[mrk305]

I voted don't care. I typically call my stuff homebrew. I, too, save the term craft brewers for the micro-breweries. I have a cooler and a turkey frier and I brew at home. It is real good beer, but it is homebrew.

 

[avaserfi]

As in the other thread I prefer the term Artisan. It sounds fancier . Aside from that, I do far more than just brew.

 

[Edcculus]

As in the other thread I prefer the term Artisan. It sounds fancier . Aside from that, I do far more than just brew.

Hey, I like that!

I'm going to play devil's advocate here:

I've brewed some pretty damn fine beers. I've brewed some absolutely horrid beers. I'm sure all of you have done the same. It seems like you are discounting yourself and your skill. "I'll dally in this hobby, but I'll leave it to the pros to make the beer I actually want to drink". I'm not saying I want to stop buying commercial beer. Just because I mash in an Igloo cooler, boil on a turkey fryer and ferment in a bucket doesn't make my beer worse than someone with an "system".

 

[ChshreCat]

Brewcrafter

 

[EdWort]

Crafty Brewer At Home.

 

[boo boo]

if you're talking to someone, do you say, "I'm a craft brewer" or "I'm a homebrewer"? I say, "I make beer."
.

Touche. I say the same. I make beer.

 

[Cheeto]

Brewer, that is all......

 

[olllllo]

I am a Homebrewer. As an AHA member I am part of the Brewer's Association.

Want a title?
Wort Boiler
Yeast Pitcher




Sanitation Engineer.

 

[wildwest450]

Brewer, that is all......

Yup. For some reason "craft brewer" sounds uppity and snooty. Me no likey those two things.

 

[carnevoodoo]

Hey, I like that!

I'm going to play devil's advocate here:

I've brewed some pretty damn fine beers. I've brewed some absolutely horrid beers. I'm sure all of you have done the same. It seems like you are discounting yourself and your skill. "I'll dally in this hobby, but I'll leave it to the pros to make the beer I actually want to drink". I'm not saying I want to stop buying commercial beer. Just because I mash in an Igloo cooler, boil on a turkey fryer and ferment in a bucket doesn't make my beer worse than someone with an "system".

On the contrary, I would not be brewing if I were not trying to make the best beer possible. System or picnic cooler makes no difference at all. I wouldn't bother making beer if I wasn't trying to strive for the best beer possible. I still brew at home. I think that the breweries who are identifying with the term "craft beer" are doing so because it makes more sense than "micro brew" and it sounds fancy. Again, it is just a label, and just as much about marketing as anything. I am not marketing myself, I am making beer that I want to drink.

 

[avaserfi]

Malt monkeys is another one of my ideas. I like it.

 

[SourHopHead]

Pilot Brewer

 

[nebben]

Trub tosser? wait.....

 

[arturo7]

Homebrew is a term that is near and dear to my heart.

I often use it outside of the beer context, interchanging it with DIY.


EDIT: malt monkey is a good one

 

[Bernie Brewer]

Do you really need to make a living from brewing to be a Craft Brewer?

In short, yes, IMHO.

 

[polecreek]

********* that likes too brew also.

 

[Trubadour]

I'm a trubadour

 

[Shake]

Call me gyno, because we all deal with yeast infections.

 

[ben_j8mmin]

In my brewery I'm lead bottle washer

 

[JPicasso]

I think the term craftbrewer implies a certain seriousness to it. For me, that won't do.

I like hackbrewer. This implies a flying by the seat of my pants type of activity, with little or no reason for some of the things I do. That sounds about right.

 

[TommyBoy]

Trub tosser? wait.....

That's awesome! Ha!

I just go with what my mooching neighbors call me. "The Man"

 

[AnOldUR]

Ego trips, kind of like people who always use "Doctor" before their name. Me, I'm a machinist, not a toolmaker. A homebrewer, not at craftbrewer.





Just don't call me a jogger!

 

[blackwaterbrewer]

relax, don't worry, and have a craftbrew? i vote malt monkey!!

 

[Homercidal]

You can call me a homebrewer. Consider that professional brewers don't use different titles depending on how good their product is. They are "Brewers", Microbrewers, CraftBrewers, etc. Their name generally comes from their size, not the product. And as we all know, there are varying degrees of quality out there even in the microbrew world!

Although it would be nice if when I told someone that I was a homebrewer, they didn't give me "that look"...

I do like the term artisan brewer. Makes me almost think I lived upstate in the hoity-toity tourist areas.

 

[brian_g]

So, what do you like better: Craft Brewer, or Homebrewer? I know this is kind of a strange debate, since our namesake here is "homebrewtalk". In my mind, "Homebrewer" gives images of someone fermenting sketchy beer in the bathtub. On the other hand, Craft Brewer denotes someone who takes time to create a quality product.

I keep hearing about this brewing in a bathtub stereotype. Who really runs into this problem? Most of my friends like my homebrew. I've do remember one girl who was thought it was good and was surprised that it actually tasted like beer. (It was my cream stout, and I wasn't sure if she'd like it). But I never gotten anyone who was scared about trying it fearing I used some sketchy practices. I think most people are surprised that it can be made at home, as brewing is somewhat of a mystery to most people.

 

[LooyvilleLarry]

I vote zythumologist.