Where's Kaiser?

[1Mainebrew]

I've not seen a new post by Kaiser in months. Anyone know if he's alright?

 

[Nateo]

He's a moderator over at the AHA forum. I think I remember in his interview on the Brewing Network that he doesn't use HBT anymore.

 

[1Mainebrew]

Oh cool thanks

 

[Airborneguy]

If that is true, that's a shame. It's surprising that some of the bigger "names" don't post more frequently on this forum considering its size. I guess trying to beef up their forums is more important.

 

[Nateo]

If that is true, that's a shame. It's surprising that some of the bigger "names" don't post more frequently on this forum considering its size. I guess trying to beef up their forums is more important.

Obviously I like and use HBT, but I support the AHA forum a lot more. HBT is part of Group Builder, which is a media company who own a lot of forums and their goal is to make money.

The AHA does a lot of advocacy and competitions, they have a pub discount program, a magazine, book discounts, scholarships, etc. You get all that stuff for $38 a year.

At HBT a premium membership is $25, and it goes to support what exactly? Group Builder? If Group Builder does any sort of advocacy programs, I am not aware of them, but I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong if someone can point me to them.

 

[the_bird]

I've met Kai several times, gotten stupid-drunk with he and a bunch of other local folks, been out to brew at his house several times (just a couple months ago, in fact). He'd a really nice guy, and certainly one of the smartest homebrewers you could ever meet.

If he's not spending a lot of time on HBT these days, I certainly wouldn't read any nefarious intent into that. People are busy, he's got a young family, and sometimes you fall out of the habit of posting a lot. If he's busy on another site, he's probably finding a good audience for the more hardcore scientific stuff he's been working on. You can only do so much.

 

[1Mainebrew]

Agree, no nefarious intent meant, simply concern for his welfare. Thats all. Thanks everybody.

 

[passedpawn]

Obviously I like and use HBT, but I support the AHA forum a lot more. HBT is part of Group Builder, which is a media company who own a lot of forums and their goal is to make money.

The AHA does a lot of advocacy and competitions, they have a pub discount program, a magazine, book discounts, scholarships, etc. You get all that stuff for $38 a year.

At HBT a premium membership is $25, and it goes to support what exactly? Group Builder? If Group Builder does any sort of advocacy programs, I am not aware of them, but I'll be the first to admit I'm wrong if someone can point me to them.

When you ask exactly what a membership here supports, perhaps you've overlooked the fact that it's the greatest knowledge base of homebrewing information in the world. That must count for something. I would assume that if there were no paying members, this site would go away; so, ostensibly, some of the membership fees keep it alive.

But your point is good: if all the forums and blogs are free (they are), then any money spent is a donation. Why not donate to the AHA, an organization that sows the money back into the homebrewing community? I do admire the noble intent of the AHA, and I'm a former member.

But consider also the contribution this site has made to your brewing.

I think either is worth the donation. I choose both!

 

[Airborneguy]

it's the greatest knowledge base of homebrewing information in the world.

This was my point. I doubt Kai has any alterior motives; that wasn't my implication. I just find it a shame that this is the biggest homebrewing forum in the world and none of the big names choose to spend amuch time here. To me, that makes me think that they lean towards the for-profit venues for obvious reasons.

 

[SpanishCastleAle]

To me, that makes me think that they lean towards the for-profit venues for obvious reasons.

This is a for-profit venue. FWIW, I visit the AHA forum fairly regularly and I rarely see Kaiser post there either, I didn't even know he was a mod there. Between Braukaiser.com, his blog, his career, his family, and any brewing-related lectures/appearances/etc I can imagine he doesn't have a lot of time to post on forums.

 

[the_bird]

Kai's also never been one to post *just* to post. You look at what he talks about, it's almost always something extremely technical. He's not posting about the NFL lockout, or in the debate forum, or in the Tap Room. Just not his thing, from what I can see.

 

[bob1852]

This is a for-profit venue. FWIW, I visit the AHA forum fairly regularly and I rarely see Kaiser post there either, I didn't even know he was a mod there. Between Braukaiser.com, his blog, his career, his family, and any brewing-related lectures/appearances/etc I can imagine he doesn't have a lot of time to post on forums.

^^ this.

I've e-mailed him thread links a couple times for topics I know he'd find interesting and he usually pops in to post in them.

 

[Shooter]

He seems to come and go on here from what I've seen. He doesn't post for a few months and then gets really active for a couple of weeks and then we don't hear from him for awhile, just seems like his standard operating procedure.

 

[Pappers_]

Hey, I was gone for two weeks . . . . 14 days . . . . . not a single one of you SOBs started a 'Where's Pappers?' thread. Or called 911.

 

[Shooter]

Hey, I was gone for two weeks . . . . 14 days . . . . . not a single one of you SOBs started a 'Where's Pappers?' thread. Or called 911.

I'm sorry...who are you again?!!?

 

[Bedlam]

Hey, I was gone for two weeks . . . . 14 days . . . . . not a single one of you SOBs started a 'Where's Pappers?' thread. Or called 911.

We were waiting until the cats began eating your corpse. Makes for better discussion.

 

[Houblon]

When you ask exactly what a membership here supports, perhaps you've overlooked the fact that it's the greatest knowledge base of homebrewing information in the world.

OMFG talk about hubris defined.

 

[passedpawn]

OMFG talk about hubris defined.

yea, maybe over the top?

 

[Nateo]

OMFG talk about hubris defined.

I was thinking that pretty hard, but I didn't say it. Thanks Houblon.

 

[Pappers_]

yea, maybe over the top?

I don't know, its certainly arguable. Given the length of time, the number of posts, and the breadth of topics, I wouldn't call the claim hubris.

Other nominations for the 'greatest knowledge base of homebrewing information'?

 

[Nateo]

Other nominations for the 'greatest knowledge base of homebrewing information'?

Can it be a single person? Three-way tie between Revvy, Kaiser, and Mabrungard. By volume, HBT wins. By consistent quality of content, HBT leaves a lot to be desired. There is a ton of good stuff on here, if you dig for it, but HBT is also the greatest base of "is my beer fermenting?" content. Disclaimer, I know that's really snobby and HBT helped me a bunch when I was a noobie, and I obviously use HBT all the time or I wouldn't be typing this right now. I guess I just like griping.

 

[Airborneguy]

There is a ton of good stuff on here, if you dig for it, but HBT is also the greatest base of "is my beer fermenting?" content.

I admit I have to catch myself at times with this thinking also. I didn't bring this hobby online until long after I had moved out of "newbiness", so I catch myself being annoyed by the multitude of beginner questions also. BUT, start answering a few and you will be shocked by the appreciation some of the new guys express when you help them out. That usually keeps my annoyance in check

 

[jeffmeh]

Everything on the internet suffers from a low signal-to-noise ratio, so critical thinking skills and a good BS detector remain valuable assets, like in real life. I find that HBT is no exception regarding the ratio, but there is certainly some valuable signal.

I do remember what it was like trying to figure out how to brew (or weld, or fix a leaky faucet, or grow roses, etc.) before the internet. I have only been brewing for a few years, and the wealth of knowledge available, conventional and unconventional, is incredible. In the "old days" one would have had to choose from a few books at the library, perhaps a few periodicals, and the advice of the guy who ran the local shop.

Without the information explosion, I would probably believe:
1) Get the beer of the yeast as soon as possible or risk autolysis
2) Full-volume, no-sparge BIAB cannot possibly be efficient or make good beer
3) One must chill quickly or infection will cause ruination or death

Seriously, though, it is a great time to be alive if one loves to learn.

 

[Pappers_]

If you needed information about something brew-related that was new to you, where would you search first?

And breadth is certainly a factor. I don't know much about electric brewing, kegging, automation in brewing, decoction mashes, fly sparging, malting my own grain, mead making, and the list goes on and on. If I decided to get more info about any of these, or any other brewing-related area, HBT would be on my short list of places to look, even if it was a way to find other, authoritative sources.

 

[Airborneguy]

Hell, HBT even got me into smoking BBQ!

 

[Revvy]

We're ALWAYS the first google link whenever someone searches for brewing info. I'm not talking that paid for top search. But if you type in a brewing related term or question the top hits are links to threads here.

I got an offer from a publisher to write a brewing book because of that. Evidently from the person that messaged me, the vast majority of those threads show up they're postings by me, or I'm in the thread.

So I don't think it's too far off base to think this place has contributed in a big way to the knowledge base of homebrewing, despite what Houblon might think.

 

[Nateo]

I would buy Revvy's book and give it to my friends who want to start brewing. I'd probably read through it myself first though.

 

[Homercidal]

... HBT is also the greatest base of "is my beer fermenting?" content.

IMO this is one reason why it works so well. Obviously there are a lot of new brewers coming here and (hopefully) getting good information. And there are a lot of people here who are willing to give said good information. People keep coming back, so maybe that's why the site is so large, even though it's not related to the AHA or a podcast.

There is large amount of "extraneous" posting going on, but the forums are clearly defined and it's very easy to go right to the place you need to be. I could only wish the search feature worked better. I've been on here for years and STILL can't get the search to find stuff that I KNOW is on the site.

 

[Yuri_Rage]

I've been on here for years and STILL can't get the search to find stuff that I KNOW is on the site.

n00b

 

[remilard]

Other nominations for the 'greatest knowledge base of homebrewing information'?

New Brewing Lager Beer by Greg Noonan.