I hadn't brewed since the end of September 2013. Busyness, and then -32F temps had kept me waiting for the right timing. But I brewed two weekends ago - 10 gallons of a newly developed IPA recipe. Then brewed again last weekend, teaching a friend how I do all-grain, this time 10 gallons of Denny's BVIP.
Beyond getting more beer to drink, a chance to practice a favorite hobby, and an opportunity to help a friend, I received a few bonus points (insert sound of coins piling up):
1) used new hops combination (summit/amarillo/citra for the IPA) - pre-dryhop tasting suggests that I will enjoy the results of this experiment.
2) managed to correctly estimate brewhouse efficiency for a big beer (the BVIP). Well, not exactly. I exactly hit my predicted OG of 1.087 with no sugars added, although I had .75 gal extra yield in the fermenters. This was just another bonus, since I will use my Carbonator Cap to carbonate in 1- or 2-liter soda bottles the extra beyond what fills two kegs, allowing us to evaluate the straight imperial porter, with no added vanilla and bourbon.
3) my buddy has posted photos of my system and process, and me brewing, for his Facebook friends. Makes me happy to turn more folks on to system ideas for Cheap 'n Easy batch sparging, and to have the photos for my personal use.
4) I am making good progress in depleting my stockpile of bulk malts while they are good and fresh.
I guess it's either that you just need to start the process, to stir/renew your passion for brewing, or maybe I'm thinking there is a mental aspect, meaning it's a game of claiming the items under the plus column that only happen when you brew... not considering anything in the minus column. Cheers!