I
would like to share my personal home-brew philosophy based on the past,
present and future. One thing that I have learned from years of home brewing
and from my father (a real old school brewer) is that brewing requires
patience. Not only during the brew session, but during fermentation and
conditioning. I was slow to learn this valuable lesson. I was always looking
for a way to make beer faster and easier. In fact, I made an all grain
beer in 2 hours. I went from brew to bottle in 8 days and entered it in
a competition expecting to win. I was some what shocked when the judges
comments were "Tastes like it was drawn right from the primary fermenter".
I saved some of that beer and a tried a bottle a month later, it was much
better. Because of that experience, I became very critical of every aspect
of my brewing. Which was a mixed blessing.
Once
I started all graining and making beer that I thought tasted better than
commercial beer, it went to my head. I would go to beer tastings and events
and bad-mouth commercial beers. I would comment negatively about other
home brewer's beer as well. Until it happened to me. I handed a respected
member of a local brew club one of my finest wheat beers. His lips curled
up as he choked down the beer like cough medicine. His eyebrows collided
and his lips revealed his teeth as he exhaled. "Tastes like Lysol". I was
crushed. I really thought that the beer was good. My friends and other
brewers also thought it was good. It was a slap in the face, a wake up
call that hurt enough to really take notice. I realized that I had no idea
what I was talking about when it came to beer (neither did the guy who
tasted my beer, but that's not important). Sure I could tell if a beer
was infected, or bad, but I had no idea what "to style" meant or what hops,
grains or yeast were used in making a particular beer. I had no right to
analyze or criticize someone else's creation, and I didn't have the basic
tools to make a judgment even if they wanted it.
My
"awakening" led me to seek more knowledge about beer. Not just the process,
but the history, the raw ingredients, the styles and the people who love
it. A person can spend their whole life seeking answers, but in general
what I have discovered is that beer is a miraculous thing. It is a wondrous,
glorious, divine yet simple creation. It is a mixture of all the elements.
Fire, water, wind, earth and time. All of which are utilized to get the
desired results. It is art, science, history and faith, in liquid form,
in my grasp. Yet I hold it for only a moment and retain only the memories
and experience from each creation.
I believe
that it should be the goal of the brewing community to educate new brewers
on the subtle, complex and enlightening part of brewing. The stuff that
comes with experience, patience and hard work. I believe that the attitude
of the home brewing community should be that of support, education and
brotherhood. I believe that a home-brew club should be a place where people
can come and discuss, taste and be a part of the divine magic of brewing
beer. Where judgments, negativity and social standings do not interfere
with creative process of making quality beverages. Where the seriousness
of brewing is balanced with the humorous nature of social gatherings and
beer. A "Brewtopia" of sorts, a "Beer Garden of Eden".
This
is our Monastery and we are the Monks who spread the word, and the beer
to others. Like our forefathers, we are the teachers and the students of
the divine word, "Beer". We gather to replenish our collective wisdom,
and celebrate that which brings us joy and pleasure. You are invited to
come to the next gathering, and you are welcome at any brewing event regardless
of your status or skill level.
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