Do you consider this Home Brewing?

[terrym]

Before I started brewing tidy, my mum and girlfriend bought me alcoshots kits**. Instead of using the plastic buckets I brewed them in a golden pot with tinsel round the rim. And declared "Je suis un brasseur à domicile!!" and even though then I thought "hurry up and brew, you blue grog so I can puke up a Smurf!!" I knew right there I was a home brewer.

** this part is true - the rest of the journey may feature mild teasing and a genuine need for a keyboard that features a breathaliser.

We all have a story of how we got here. Mine involves a large black plastic dustbin and Boots the Chemist.

 

[Drunkula]

We all have a story of how we got here. Mine involves a large black plastic dustbin and Boots the Chemist.

And we've kept each others' secrets ever since.

 

[-Bezza-]

I look forward to the first person who has this equipment signing up to this forum.

I think you can only say it's homebrewing based on a technical definition. It's not in the spirit of what homebrewing is, nor is it the reason most people take it up. Or to put it another way, I don't think anyone would call themselves as homebrewer just because they have this equipment.

I make coffee with my Nespresso machine but it doth not make me a barista.

 

[Braufather]

My definition of when something is a hobby is when a man cleans something without his wife nagging him to do it. This machine cleans itself, too.

haha. My wife never fails with her mock surprise everytime she sees me cleaning my brew gear! i tried to involve her by making her director of sanitation but she was having none of it!

 

[John Holgreaves]

Initially I thought it might spark off some interest in someone to look further into home brewing, then I think after they taste it the taste would probably put the "brewer" off homebrew for life, if not beer for life

 

[chthon]

Before I started brewing tidy, my mum and girlfriend bought me alcoshots kits**. Instead of using the plastic buckets I brewed them in a golden pot with tinsel round the rim. And declared "Je suis un brasseur à domicile!!" and even though then I thought "hurry up and brew, you blue grog so I can puke up a Smurf!!" I knew right there I was a home brewer.

** this part is true - the rest of the journey may feature mild teasing and a genuine need for a keyboard that features a breathaliser.

The Flemish homebrew forum features smilies for likes, why not this one ROFL

 

[DavidDetroit]

Among other statements made, I object to the article saying "frequently disastrous" in reference to brewing as it creates bias and I have not seen that to be true from reading here or from my own experience. Also I don't think they really understand homebrewers if they think they don't want to be hands-on.

I voted "no" because there wasn't a better choice for me and something like this method is a matter of degree. A lot of the reward of brewing is the journey.

 

[-Bezza-]

I object to the article saying "frequently disastrous" in reference to brewing as it creates bias

This.

Me: "Here's some homebrew I made"
Recipient: "Is it safe or am I going to go blind? Bet I get a massive hangover from this.

 

[terrym]

C'mon you lot.
Answer the question, which is either 'Yes, its brewing at home" , or "No, it certainly is not".
If you are brewing beer at home irrespective of how its done, the answer must be yes. Its not about semantics.
By extension, is the bloke who makes up the occasional kit and a kilo (and enjoys what he does) not a homebrewer?
Or is it only the exclusive preserve of those who spend £££s on AG equipment and spend most of their weekend in their brewshed?

 

[Clint]

The opinion on homebrew is still stuck in the 1970s...almost everyone I mention homebrew to do lots of teeth sucking and eye rolling at the prospect of getting (obviously) totally spangled on two pints. When I try to point out I can brew 10% stuff if I want but there's not much point for me personally almost all are transfixed with the prospect of 10% ale and getting battered...
I think the lg thing will be like all those bread machines...

 

[MickDundee]

The opinion on homebrew is still stuck in the 1970s...almost everyone I mention homebrew to do lots of teeth sucking and eye rolling at the prospect of getting (obviously) totally spangled on two pints. When I try to point out I can brew 10% stuff if I want but there's not much point for me personally almost all are transfixed with the prospect of 10% ale and getting battered...
I think the lg thing will be like all those bread machines...

It’ll be worse than bread machines - eventually the pods will be discontinued and they will be completely useless.

 

[terrym]

I think the lg thing will be like all those bread machines...

In the main you are right.
But the 3 loaves or so that we bake in our breadmaker every week are far far better than anything we can buy in Tesco or wherever.

 

[Portreath]

I stick a few cafe con leche pods in my Nescafe coffee machine in the morning, but I sure as hell aint no barista. So I give it a big fat No!

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The poll question was "Do you consider this Home Brewing" and as it is brewing at home (however removed from brewing members do here) the answer has to be yes.

Playing devils advocate do the members who voted no have the same view on members who use all in one systems like the Grainfather?

Do you consider this Home Brewing?

Yes, it's brewing at home.

No, it certainly is not

 

[Drunkula]

Playing devils advocate do the members who voted no have the same view on members who use all in one systems like the Grainfather?

Depends if they're learning from it. If they're not then nope.

is the bloke who makes up the occasional kit and a kilo (and enjoys what he does) not a homebrewer?

If I run for the bus twice a week does that make me a runner?

 

[MickDundee]

The poll question was "Do you consider this Home Brewing" and as it is brewing at home (however removed from brewing members do here) the answer has to be yes.

Playing devils advocate do the members who voted no have the same view on members who use all in one systems like the Grainfather?

The Grainfather is much more than “insert a capsule and wait 2 weeks” though. You have to bring together your ingredients, set and monitor the mash, add your hop additions, chill, clean, properly aerate your wort, pitch the yeast, monitor fermentation temps, package your beer at the end, carbonate it etc etc. It’s completely different.

I’d even argue that machines like the Peco Brew are also home brewing because there’s the programming, bringing together the ingredients, aeration, yeast pitching etc.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

If I run for the bus twice a week does that make me a runner?

I think that's a little harsh, I imagine most home brewers start making kits then learn about the process and then either pimp kits or move on to AG but in my view even if they don't they are making beer at home so are home brewing.


Maybe the poll question should have been -

Do these automated systems take the creativity out of home brewing. (this doesn't include all in ones where you still use a recipe)

.

 

[Chippy_Tea]

The Grainfather is much more than “insert a capsule and wait 2 weeks” though. You have to bring together your ingredients, set and monitor the mash, add your hop additions, chill, clean, properly aerate your wort, pitch the yeast, monitor fermentation temps, package your beer at the end, carbonate it etc etc. It’s completely different.

I’d even argue that machines like the Peco Brew are also home brewing because there’s the programming, bringing together the ingredients, aeration, yeast pitching etc.

I agree MD see post 37.

.

 

[terrym]

If I run for the bus twice a week does that make me a runner?

Yes. Technically speaking when you run for the bus.
Just like the bloke who brews an occasional kit and a kilo is still classed as a homebrewer. If he's not then a few on here are in the wrong forum.

 

[Drunkula]

If he's not then a few on here are in the wrong forum.

If they're here they're wanting to learn so they are a home brewer.