49 replies to this topic

[zymot]

So what is your motivation for homebrewing?Me I like the idea of creating something new. The challenge of brewing the perfect clone holds no appeal for me. The "to style" idea, is more interesting, but I still try to come up with my own twist within the style guidelines.As far as I can see, you can't homebrew to save money. Equipment, energy and ingredient costs mean you can't get there from here. At least I don't drink enough to get ahead of the game. Others on forums make the money saving claim, so I included that. (tough way to save a few bucks)zymotPs: I predict less than 6 posts before . . . . .

[Winkydowbrewing]

I dont really review BJCP before I make a recipe, but tend to get an idea of what im making. Sometimes I am really out of the box and doing something unique and other times I stay a bit more conservative and just try to make a basic pale ale. All depends on the day, but clones really aren't where my interest lies.

[Big Nake]

Tough choices. I am wearing pants (shorts, actually) so I can't go there. I envision a beer and then I make it whether it fits into a style or not. But other times I'll say that I want to make an English Bitter or an authentic Kolsch and I will do some research to see if I can make something that is correct for the style. So I went with #1 and #3... probably a pretty good combination of both of those are going on over here. Cheers.

[stangbat]

I'm now to the point where I brew a couple of recipes I like a few times a year and that's it. I'm more into the process and gadgets and the fun of making something rather than creating recipes and brewing to style. I've now got a few recipes that are tweaked to my taste, so I basically just try to keep them around. One reason I've fallen into this way of doing things is kids. When they starting taking up more of your time with activities, something's gotta give.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I find myself these days to be a combination of choice #1 & #3. When I started to brew all grain I was all about brewing to style guidelines and if something didn't turn out successful it would bother me some as well. Now a days I go between "to style" and creativity and experimentation or doing some hybrid brews. I have in 12 years of homebrewing never brewed a clone and it really does not interest me one bit now either. The last couple of beers of mine have been creativity and hybrid ideas. Belgian IPA and I did an IPA with Pils, Honey Malt, Victory and some Vienne. Hopped it good 95 IBU and it rocks. Lots of compliments. I think both of my methods offer excitement and a challenge, to style or creative hybrid method. I think there are a lot of approaches to this hobby and they all can be very successful as well.

[chefmiller]

I do "all of the above". On the subject of saving money, I disagree that you can't. I've bought and used all of my equipment and supplies with this goal in mind as well as quality. When I throw down money on something new, I calculate how long it will be until it has paid for itself. My average 5 gallon batch costs less than 20 dollars in the end. For the quality that I brew, I would spend a lot more than that on retail. I would love to be able to spend so much money on luxury-type gadgets and things so that I wouldn't really be saving, but I just can't afford that currently.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I do "all of the above". On the subject of saving money, I disagree that you can't. I've bought and used all of my equipment and supplies with this goal in mind as well as quality. When I throw down money on something new, I calculate how long it will be until it has paid for itself. My average 5 gallon batch costs less than 20 dollars in the end. For the quality that I brew, I would spend a lot more than that on retail. I would love to be able to spend so much money on luxury-type gadgets and things so that I wouldn't really be saving, but I just can't afford that currently.

My guess is that in about 10 years I'll start seeing some net savings over similar craft brews

[Deerslyr]

I try to brew to style guides, but my variable is the hops. I don't necessarily use what may be style, but I do keep the IBU's in range. However, I tend to go with the yeast and grain for style. I do rely on Beersmith to help me figure out my gravity ranges and IBU's.

[codemonkey]

I mostly like to brew beer styles that are somewhat difficult to get around here like rauchbiers and bocks. I only brew a few times a year now so it's got to be somewhat high gravity and interesting.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I try to brew to style guides, but my variable is the hops. I don't necessarily use what may be style, but I do keep the IBU's in range. However, I tend to go with the yeast and grain for style. I do rely on Beersmith to help me figure out my gravity ranges and IBU's.

I tend to do this as well. I also might take a recipe I find and adjust it slightly.

[HVB]

Hard to say. I will brew a clone of a recipe and then try and tweak it to my licking and the same thing with the BJCP guidelines. I usually have an idea of a taste or what I am going after in a beer and will try to tweak a recipe till I get there. I sometimes try and do clones for beers that I cannot get around my neck of the woods too, Alaskan Amber and Moose Drool are two that come to mind.There is no way that I am saving any money. I have a lot invested in my system but that is because I love to play around and try new things and add new parts.

[BarelyBrews]

I brew many Ale style beers, have not done any lagers. Want too, also want to try to limit my specialty malts more and try to make a beer that i like but, try to change it just a little each time so i can figure out what i like more. I am all-grainer , but still have some fears (lagers, Yeast starters) i have not done that many starters .But i did succesfully make three brews cultured from bottles.Making clones is difficult for me, mostly not having the hops type they want.Style guidelines i stay in (somewhat) according to the style charts i use.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

For people that are trying to figure out the money savings with the cost of equipment - are you factoring in kegging? If I take that out of the picture I could probably start saving money in a couple years from now.

[codemonkey]

On the subject of saving money, I disagree that you can't.

Have you factored in how much more you've spent on commercial beer since you started brewing? I probably spent a few grand on craft beers the first couple of years.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Have you factored in how much more you've spent on commercial beer since you started brewing? I probably spent a few grand on craft beers the first couple of years.

So far this year I don't think I've bought more than a couple 12 packs of beer at the store - I love homebrew

[codemonkey]

So far this year I don't think I've bought more than a couple 12 packs of beer at the store - I love homebrew

Have you been brewing for more than a year or so? How far did you drive to find Chimay, Arrogant Bastard or 120 Minute IPA when you first heard of those?

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Have you been brewing for more than a year or so? How far did you drive to find Chimay, Arrogant Bastard or 120 Minute IPA when you first heard of those?

I believe I could get all of those (def can get some) at a place about 30 mins away.

[SchwanzBrewer]

Since I'm a complete newb, I brew to brew and hope it turns out well. No reason why it shouldn't, my first is great, and I can work from there. I'll probably brew pale ales and IPA's for a while and maybe a wheat beer or two until I am happy with my technique. Then I might try some fancier stuff. I won't be happy until I have at least 2 beers on tap at all times.

[gnef]

I brew because it is my main hobby. I am in a club, but haven't put any beer in any competitions. I really just enjoy the entire process. I make 10 gallon batches, yet don't drink enough to warrant the 10 gallons. Haha.I brew off the cuff most of the time. I will base my recipes roughly on someone else's recipe, and then tweak it to however I want. Sometimes I don't even know my hop schedule until the first addition, and I smell my hops to see which one I want to use. I always have a rough idea of IBU's, but never worry about calculating it, same with efficiency - as long as I get close to what I want, I don't worry about it.I like making a variety of styles to see what they taste like, or to see if I can make it, and make it well. I also like to do extreme beers, and regularly do things like a braggot, barleywine, wheat wine, rye barleywine, double IPA's, etc. Do they always fit into nice categories? Not exactly, but I enjoy making them, and I enjoy drinking and giving them to others to try.Sometimes I just make everything up on the spot and use what I have on hand. They usually turn out interesting and drinkable.

[Greatfookin]

I brew Scottish ales mostly, and a few others as well, but I generally follow the style guidelines, and as far as clones go, I am more likely to take a recipe, and tweak it for personal taste, or to use up ingredients as a sub for part of a recipe.I have DIY'd most of my gear, or craiglist/found most of my gear, and feel that I am saving big-time over storebought, at least in the quantity/quality savings. I brew to avoid the EVIL TAXES, and grow my own hops, so I would say that the most expensive thing about homebrewing for me is ingredients, then propane. I figure that all in all, I can brew Skullsplitter quality, for PBR cost.