Why Do You Brew?

[Mike Neilson]

I have been thinking this for a while, some people knit some people collect stamps and some of us watch birds.

But I brew!! Why do you Brew?

[Grant R Baker]

Started on kits as a hobby to try (and I do enjoy the "Trying' part of beer making)... then I found my Dads WWII Ale recipes from his Airforce training days which led me to All Grain brewing and addiction to the art.

[Michael]

Why do I brew? heh..good question...

The short answer is..."I like beer."

I used to travel a great deal with a previous job, and found some awesome little pubs in the UK that had fresh ales on hand pumps. I never had these before, and fell in love. I literally felt like crying as I had tasted what I had longed for.

Upon travelling across Europe, the US, Asia, etc...I did not find these again, apart from my recurring trips to the UK. As such, I vowed to find where I can buy such beers, then not finding them, vowed to make my own.

My first attempts came from kits, and whilst these were better than Budweiser, they were not quite what I wanted. At the same time I met some of the brewers in North Welly, and tasted some awesome beers. I knew the route of the kits were not for me, although they did help me learn. As such, I started doing BIAB. I made some not so good, and some good beers, more good ones than bad ones.

I now do AG with batch sparging. I do enjoy the occasional BIAB as a time saver, but find the control I have now to be the best. (Apart from needing to build a 240v temp control since the 120v is not a good idea in NZ)

The great thing is that I now brew better beer than I can buy from the average pub, and I can drink it at a fraction of the price of the big commercial swill. 

Beer. It tastes good. Brewing it is fun. Additionally, as Benjamin Franklin supposedly said, "Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy."

[Evan Davies]

Having not brewed for 7 weeks or so, and having to buy riggers from Mccashins brewery to fill the gap, not only did I notice the expense, but also found that the beer wasnt all that I desired. Then the worst single incident in my adult existance happened. The need for a few cleaner bottles I bought a crate of DB Export.Needless to say I got the biggest shock of my life and have brewed two batches in two days. Firstly a nice Porter, and have a Tanglefoot clone in the mashtun as I type this.Why do I brew?

A. Because I can!!!!

B. Shop bought beer is expensive.

C. Drinking DB is all the reason anyone needs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Chris Banks]

Sorry to hear the suffering you had to go through to get some emptys ;-)

[Jono Galuszka]

A variety of reasons really...

 

*I love good beer! Especially beers like imperial stouts. However, they cost a fair wack, so it would work out cheaper to make it.

*As I have grown older I've wanted more and more to do things myself. It started with growing herbs, then moved onto veges, and now it's turned into brewing. A natural progression really.

*It's fun! There's nothing more fun than trying/using something you've made. If  you get that buzz from baking bread, cooking a curry, sewing clothes or brewing - all the churs to ya.

*There's nothing really more beer nerdy than making the stuff.

*I can't get a pint of good beer in Palmerston North, so I may as well make it and - eventually - set up some taps and/or a beer engine in the shed.

[Ian]

I'm with you on all that Jono. Had a particularly lean winter this year and brewed twice as much to make up for the unaffordability of the selection of craft beers I'd like to buy. On the other score too - must be an ageing thing, to want to get back to the home industries of yesteryear - and mine include cheese and sausage making. And the great thing about all that? It all goes just grandly with beer!

[Stu H]

I started brewing when I returned from the UK to became a student again. Basically I knew that if I wanted to drink the quantities I'd become accustomed to whilst working full-time, I'd have brew it 'cos being a student is some frugal arse shit.

Ended up becoming an obsession - I coudn't (and still can't) quell the thirst for more information about the craft. So much so there's a good chance I'll bail out of Engineering next year to start a bar.