I started brewing back in the stone age....about the same time as Denny and remember him from the amazing new internet technology and the stone cool HBD. I loved the camaraderie of the club I belonged to then, but life got busy and I gave up brewing in '95. We later retired, moved to Or. and I was able to start brewing again in '08. Though there was no real local club where I live, Eugene was only and hour away and I decided to check out the club there. I came armed with all my old style guides,etc. to help with a local contest judging.
Guess who the first person to introduce themselves was.......Yes indeedy... The legendary Denny. He looked at my binder of stuff and said, "Throw that away. If you haven't brewed in that long, it's a whole new world."
Man was he right. The amount of knowledge available now is phenomenal....let alone the access to amazing ingredients, both in variety and quality. There has never been a better time to be a homebrewer.
Back then you were kind of considered a social deviant. Today you can actually come close to achieving god/goddess status and are surely the most popular person in your neighborhood.
With all of it's attributes and advances, one thing remains the same. Homebrewers are the best people on the planet. There are Dennys (well not quite) in clubs all over, that bend over backwards to promote homebrewing and help new comers feel welcome and comfortable asking questions. If you're new in town,
join the HB club. You'll find lots of new friends in no time. Traveling across country or even out of the counttry? Bet someone on the forum would be happy to join you for a pint.
Denny, I raise a glass to you and to all the Dennys who go by other names. Thanks to all for your friendship and assistance.
Live long, prosper and go forth and multiply.
Cheers!