Any Homebrewers Around?

[abecox]

Ive got a wort chiller in my brew kettle waiting for it to come down to temperature and I got to thinking, anyone else here like to make their own beer?

I haven't brewed as much as I used to, my personal record was seven batches in a year but that was 2020 so I was just trying to kill time but I always make a batch of Christmas Ale every year for my families big Christmas party. I did that today, as long as it's bottled by Thanksgiving it'll be good.

But I ramble. Anyone else here like to make their own brew? I'd love to hear your stories and thoughts!

 

[Kilgore Trout]

Last time I brewed was 2012. I've been thinking about starting again. Started with extracts back in the early '90s, and worked my way up to all grain. Still have all my equipment, just need to decide if I want to bottle, or pick up a CO2 system, since I still have a few kegs.

 

[GardenStateoftheArtBriar]

Man I'd love to get back into it - sipping on a Lagunitas Lil Sumpin' and thinking about the time I made an amazing Hefeweizen
Lady of the home won't allow me to mess around with beermaking any longer - too much kitchen hogging and mess

 

[username]

Used to brew beer with my dad shortly after I turned 21 we took a couple of first place ribbons and one best of show at the state fair but that was about 20 years ago. It was a lot of fun, I've looked into doing it again just dont drink much and a 5 gallon batch is a lot of beer for me,

 

[Grangerous]

I made a Porter from a kit once. It was long ago. I remember having to fill dark glass bottles, add some priming sugar and cap them.

I was supposed to wait until that sugar created some bubbles but if I remember correctly, they were so good that I drank many of those bottles flat!

Something I’d try again. Thanks for posting!

 

[bullet08]

Used to. Too much hazel. There are good enough beers out there for my need. And I don't have to wash the bottles! But honest truth is even a bad homebrew is better than most commercial brews.

 

[abecox]

Used to brew beer with my dad shortly after I turned 21 we took a couple of first place ribbons and one best of show at the state fair but that was about 20 years ago. It was a lot of fun, I've looked into doing it again just dont drink much and a 5 gallon batch is a lot of beer for me,

I started making beer with my dad too! In Ohio you can drink it legally if you make it yourself so I started back then, wild to think about.

 

[AcesAndEights]

I’ve brewed my own 5-6 times. I only used pre-packaged kits, so the results were always decent. Never tried an original recipe. Haven’t done it for several years now though.

 

[Richmond B. Funkenhouser]

I've made wine a few times. Most batches turned out great. The last batch I made had maggots in it somehow.

The maggots took the wind out of my wine sails... For now.

I rarely drink, my friends like my wine though.

 

[Dave760]

I used to homebrew, but unfortunately back problems put an end to that. Then I lost my recipe book during my last move. Still...happy memories.

 

[karam]

I've brewed close to 100 liters of mead, even distilled it once. I'm not even a drinker lol, usually go weeks to months without having a drink, and when I do it's usually a couple of beers or a glass of Ardberg, Krupnik or Zubrowka.

 

[SBC]

@Home Brewing Piper from here in NE WI may or may not do that sometimes ... I forget ;-)

Years ago I managed the taproom of St. Boniface in Ephrata, PA, and decided to try my hand at it once -- I borrowed some malt and yeast from the brewery and attempted a batch at home. I ruined it. Haven't tried since, but keep meaning to.

My parish's deacon has won the Pro-Am Competition at the GABF more than once, IIRC -- I might ask him to get me started in the foreseeable future.

 

[Home Brewing Piper]

I haven't brewed since I moved back to Wisconsin. I also lost some of my equipment in the move. I'll get back to it eventually. There was a time when I brewed every weekend and sometimes twice! I still have all my recipes.

 

[Indygrap]

I used to home brew & now do it professionally. I still have my set up, but haven’t used it lately because the house we’re in doesn’t have a 220v outlet. My kegerator died a while back as well & I loathe bottling.
Good for you making a Christmas beer for your family to enjoy! I love when you break out something you & (hopefully) others have been looking forward to drinking together. Sharing a beer you’ve brewed with people you love is something special. That’s not the aspect I miss most about home brewing, but it’s up there.

 

[abecox]

I used to home brew & now do it professionally. I still have my set up, but haven’t used it lately because the house we’re in doesn’t have a 220v outlet. My kegerator died a while back as well & I loathe bottling.
Good for you making a Christmas beer for your family to enjoy! I love when you break out something you & (hopefully) others have been looking forward to drinking together. Sharing a beer you’ve brewed with people you love is something special. That’s not the aspect I miss most about home brewing, but it’s up there.

Thats super cool! I always forget that bottling day can almost take as long as brew day.

Got it mostly bottled today, I over-sparged but still managed to hit 8% abv so I maybe I didn't. I fermented about seven gallons and I bottled five today and the other two gallons I put in a small bourbon barrel a bartender friend of mine gave me so I'm gonna see what that does to the mix in a few months as well.

 

[atwaterville]

I used to be an avid home brewer and also into other sorts of fermentation. I paused since my son was born 8 years ago. I do want to get back into it as I missed the joy of going through the process and enjoying the fruition afterwards. I'm currently sitting on about 100 lbs of base malts that are most likely too stale for brewing beer. Maybe I'll use them for distillation instead.

 

[MidTNPiper]

I do 5gal brew in a bag, all grain and keg. Used to do 6-10 batches a year, but the kids are both young and I only did two in 2024…likely none in 2025. I really enjoy it and am fairly set up, but have taken a break.

Ive been kinda off craft beer as a whole lately. And unfortunately a really good local home brewing supply store closed down this year (literally across the street from The Cigar Club in Madison…well known Nashville spot).

Just seems to tough at the moment. I do not plan on selling my gear though… i suspect Ill get back into it. To the point above, thank goodness i still have my recipes / on line tools saved.

 

[pappymac]

I've brewed close to 100 liters of mead, even distilled it once. I'm not even a drinker lol, usually go weeks to months without having a drink, and when I do it's usually a couple of beers or a glass of Ardberg, Krupnik or Zubrowka.

I started brewing my own mead about two years ago and I've made about 12 gallons so far. I have a gallon that has been sitting in secondary for four weeks but I'm just letting it age. May bottle it in January or February before I start a new batch.

 

[JackOrion]

No, but I think I remember reading that Jimmy Carters brother was a homebrewer and played a part in Carter signing HR 1337 which exempted a federal tax on home brewing. The brother part I’m not so sure about, but the amendment part…. Say what you will about the late Jimmy Carter, he was a friend to beer drinkers.

 

[artificialme]

I started homebrewing 4 to 5 years ago. Made some mead (Metheglin, Cyser, Coffeemel, at finally Bochet) and fruit wine. Turn out great, but now I got completely stop for good. There are no more space left at the new house. Bad Economic hit me hard.