[erockrph]

I take a lot of what I hear on the BN shows with a grain of salt. There's no doubt that Jamil was an excellent homebrewer, and I owe him and the BN in general a lot of thanks for helping me brew good beer starting very early on as a homebrewer. But I have a pretty sensitive BS meter, and Jamil sets it off all the time (especially on Brew Strong).

I can get past the commercials and sophomoric humor (that's what the fast forward button is for), but it bugs me how Jamil is obviously making s*** up on the fly in response to questions and everyone on the BN just treats it as gospel - as if Jamil is Homebrew Jesus. He has obviously paid his dues, and his educated guess is way more likely to be close to the mark than most other homebrewers, but in the end it is still just an opinion. He also seems a lot less prepared for shows now that he has become a full-time commercial brewer. Although Jamil was a big part in getting the BN to where it is today, I think they need to bring in some new blood that is currently an active homebrewer or else they may start to stagnate.

I'll definitely take Basic Brewing over the BN any day since James approaches everything with an open mindset, and encourages experimentation that flies in the face of pre-conceived notions in homebrewing. We're still learning a lot as a whole in this hobby, and it's this kind of scientific approach which will keep the hobby moving forward and benefit us all as brewers.

[majorvices]

I take a lot of what I hear on the BN shows with a grain of salt. There's no doubt that Jamil was an excellent homebrewer, and I owe him and the BN in general a lot of thanks for helping me brew good beer starting very early on as a homebrewer. But I have a pretty sensitive BS meter, and Jamil sets it off all the time (especially on Brew Strong).

I can get past the commercials and sophomoric humor (that's what the fast forward button is for), but it bugs me how Jamil is obviously making s*** up on the fly in response to questions and everyone on the BN just treats it as gospel - as if Jamil is Homebrew Jesus. He has obviously paid his dues, and his educated guess is way more likely to be close to the mark than most other homebrewers, but in the end it is still just an opinion. He also seems a lot less prepared for shows now that he has become a full-time commercial brewer. Although Jamil was a big part in getting the BN to where it is today, I think they need to bring in some new blood that is currently an active homebrewer or else they may start to stagnate.

I'll definitely take Basic Brewing over the BN any day since James approaches everything with an open mindset, and encourages experimentation that flies in the face of pre-conceived notions in homebrewing. We're still learning a lot as a whole in this hobby, and it's this kind of scientific approach which will keep the hobby moving forward and benefit us all as brewers.

This is pretty funny. I remember years ago Jamil saying something about how bottled water is not sanitary, and how they laid out 10 gallon jugs of water in the sun and 4 or 5 of them turned green. Then, two or three months later I hear that laying bottled water out in the sun is a technique promoted by scientists and doctors to sanitize and treat water in third world countries.

[a10t2]

it bugs me how Jamil is obviously making s*** up on the fly in response to questions and everyone on the BN just treats it as gospel

That really bothers me too. It isn't like it's a call-in show. If you have the questions ahead of time, how can you not research the answers? I don't listen to all the shows, but it seems like there's at least one factual error per episode.

[dzlater]

I learned a lot from listening to the BN shows over the years.  Denny was on  there years ago talking about "cheap easy and pragmatic", and that show me decide I could tackle all grain.
But I rarely listen anymore. For me the BN has sort of run it's course they have done a show on just about every homebrewing topic you could think of.
I mostly just listen to the Q&A BrewStrong shows hoping to get some homebrewing info.
I don't take Jamil's advice as gospel though.
The focus on probrewing and probrewers doesn't really interest me that much. They have that new show where thet sit around and drink commercial beers of a certain style. "so Z stout is more roasty then Y stout, and A stout seems a bit sweeter" not real interesting at least to me.
Even the interviews with the probrewers get a bit tedious after a while. Sorry but I really don't care if Joe's Brewing company uses a 10 or 20 barrel system, or "we have really good water in Bumblebutt Illinios so we don't have to treat our water"

[nateo]

IMO, the only good part about Brewstrong is the guests. I really can't stand the people who run it. You can learn more about beer listening to Charlie Bamforth for one hour than Jamil for ten.

[hubie]

The problem with homebrew podcasts in general is that in many of them the hosts are drinking.  And just as it is true in the pub, when people are drinking they usually are not as funny or clever as they think they are.  The early (2006-2007) Jamil Shows seemed like they were recorded early in the morning before work.  The info was much more straightforward.  Even with a show like Basic Brewing, when James and Andy are drinking when doing it, there is a lot more giggling and off-topic jokes.

[cornershot]

Sure, brewstrong is full of adolescent humor and commercials and some bs. But for the intermediate brewer, it is full of some great nuggets of info. Like gold mining, ya gotta sift thru a lot of crap to find a nugget, but when you do it's worth it. Sure I can probably get much of the same info from reading a book, but If I can listen while at work or driving and pick up something that makes me a better brewer, it's worth it to me and I owe Jamil much thanks for all the great info.
As far as the humor goes, we all take our brewing seriously, but sometimes ya gotta take a step back and remember it's just beer *gasp!* and we all started drinking it because it's fun! Beer and fun tend to pair quite well! Remember?
That said, he's been a bit snarky on the latest shows. Maybe it's just stress from the running a brewery thing. Nothing like going pro to take the fun out of a perfectly good hobby. And btw, I don't worship Jamil and I doubt anyone does(except perhaps Jamil). 

My 2¢

[theDarkSide]

as if Jamil is Homebrew Jesus.

Jamil isn't Jesus...he's the Pope.

That really bothers me too. It isn't like it's a call-in show. If you have the questions ahead of time, how can you not research the answers? I don't listen to all the shows, but it seems like there's at least one factual error per episode.

A lot of the questions do come from the live chat.  On several occassions, I have heard Jamil and John Palmer (oh yeah...he's on this show too) say they don't know the answer rather than give false information.

As I've said before on Homebrewtalk, Beer Advocate, etc...If you don't like the show or how it's run, don't listen and let others form their own opinions.  I haven't listened to BBR for years (unless there is something specific I'm researching ) because I find it very dry and boring...like watch golf on TV, while lying on the couch but it would reccommend to anyone looking for brewing information so they can check it out themselves.

I guess I won't be seeing a bunch of you at BN8 then 

[reverseapachemaster]

I listen to some of the BN shows but I'm definitely no disciple. The humor doesn't bother me except the quantity of off-topic to substantive material makes for a lot of fast-forwarding. I usually only listen to the shows that have specific topics that interest me. I pass on the Q&A because I don't want to hear hours of somebody making up answers to basic homebrewing questions. There's probably a lot of good info there but as erockrph pointed out a lot of times the answers are made up garbage and not always correct, especially when questions are asked about more obscure or advanced subjects.

BBR and Beersmith podcasts can be very dry but at least it's one hour of mostly wall to wall info. I appreciate the time efficiency.

[kgs]

Basic Brewing Radio was very useful to me when I started homebrewing in early 2009, not just for information about homebrewing but also as my travel companion for long drives around Georgia for a job I had back then. I still listen and enjoy the shows, and don't find them at all dry. They are professionally done and often very amusing, and I feel comfortable recommending the shows (and the DVDs) to new homebrewers. I also appreciate the emphasis on entry-level brewing and on cost-effective approaches to have fun with the hobby.

I gave up on BN. There are gems of information in those podcasts, but the signal to noise ratio just isn't worth it.

[brewmasternpb]

I guess I won't be seeing a bunch of you at BN8 then 
[/quote]

Only because we have to visit the inlaws when we get to Philly on Wednesday (someone has to watch the kiddo).
Any complaint about a show on the BN always ends up with the whole network being trashed...  But there are those who enjoy the programming and those who don't, and that's O.K.  I could say why I like the BN, but that's for another topic.

[micsager]

I will always love and respect The BN.  Heck, I give Justin $10 a month just to keep him off the streets.  LOL.  And my wife and I volunteered at BNA7 in Seattle.  (I was they guy jumping on the bus as you arrived giving directions)

Justin and all the BN staff (including Jamil) have done wonders for our hobby/profession.  Even if one doesn't like this guy or that guy, or a comment here or there, we should all be happy they are out there doing what they do. 

The early Brewstrong years taught me much.  The recent Q&A format is not really for me. 

[chumley]

This is a funny thread to stumble across.  I had a good time reading it.

Once everyone liberates themselves from styles and brew what tastes good to you and your friends, family, and acquaintances, you will all feel better about yourselves.

[nateo]

Once everyone liberates themselves from styles and brew what tastes good to you and your friends, family, and acquaintances, you will all feel better about yourselves.

I will never feel better about myself! You can't make me!

[Thirsty_Monk]

I can listen only so many Adam and Eve commercials.

I used to listen BN shows. Not any more.