Anybody remember Cheap'n'Easy?
Www.dennybrew.com
still totally relevant for anyone whose attention span hasn't been blown by tiktok/click culture etc. clear text and relevant pictures, its a great starting point for understanding how to practically do a mash. i believe this page is basically what i used to make my cooler mashtuns.
So back in the day I bought most of the stuff for a HERMS system. Then I realized the system only assists you in ease of transfer or maintaining temps. So all that stuff sits in a box and I still mash in a direct fired keggle and move the mash to a cooler for lauter. Somebody could easily go from extract to AG for a $50 investment. No need for expensive equipment and gizmos.
I know some people now love their gadgets and brew systems, but personally if I wanted all the work done for me I would just buy beer.
Everyone's trying to run a mini professional brewery at home, with all the bling. I can honestly say I've bought anything/everything I felt necessary to make the best beer possible, without regard to how cool or fancy it is.
I'm a HUGE advocate for Speidel plastic fermenters. I have 4 of them, and they are incredibly practical, as well as versatile (and very durable). And you can get them for $75.
just true, and for someone who has the money and inclination - go for it. i definitely do imagine the benefits of pumping from bottom of vessel to reduce oxygen ingress even further and just the ease of not having to pick up 5 to 6 gallons of wort. i know some people do 10 gallon up to even rare 20 gallon batches.
The public perception is that homebrewing equipment is exhorbitantly expensive and makes homebrewing inherently more expensive than buying beer
If there were a document that described how to stove top brew 3.0 gal all-grain (BIAB) batches (yields a 24 pack of 12 oz bottles) with common kitchen equipment, would that be a starting point to change the perception? If so, could that document be packaged for sale? Or would that document need to be published online for free?
eta: the document would be similar to chapter 1 of How To Brew, 4e and Speed Brewing, but with a tight focus on processes (leaving out 'brewing elements' ingredient overviews)
a U-brew place in my city frequently puts up the math on signboards indicating breakdown in price per bottle. i hope they're doing well, though i have no clue about the quality or even type of booze they're making.
information should always be free, i could go on an extreme and wide-ranging rant but the early internet was the ultimate anti-commercial, free-speech, DIY place. it has moved far away from that. yes AHA should have more documents on the real how-to-do it functionally, like homebrewers explaining their setup at various levels ie. super simple, DIY setup, intermediate, fully automated etc.
…the process is the fun part…
Excellent.
Join or renew with the AHA and receive your free “The Process is the Fun Part” T-shirt!
That’s the message that is getting lost, or at least not properly communicated, as far as I’m concerned.
And as a (relatively) new homebrewer, your opinion is worth far, far more than .02.
Cheers!
what do you (you and anyone) think about brewing with friends or other people over and taking part? i have always done it super solo, though i could imagine some day a partner helping me. im sure that could be fun for some people.
its definitely enjoyable, but feels similar to making bread or doing an extensive meal prep/cook session i think. its just producing something for living, which is fulfilling and i enjoy the end result.
re: fun there are definitely certain elements that are pleasing. - when the wort first pours out of the mash (without issues either lol) and you take a taste, when you officially hit boil and it starts up. watching the krausen form and the yeast floating around.