The Many Reasons for Not Getting Into Home Beer Brewing

If you are looking for a new hobby making your own beer probably shouldn’t be on your short list. Kitchens all over the world are full of stacks of beer brewing tools and materials. Cases of empty and uncapped bottles are taking up space in the corners of home brewers just waiting to be used once again. Refrigerators are always stuffed to the max with beer bottles just crying to be opened up. It is as though once involved in the hobby all other thoughts and occupations are forsaken and the pursuit becomes an addition.



Here are just a few reasons you make not want to make beer brewing your hobby:

1. The socializing can be endless: When the word gets out that you are a home beer brewer, and once friends have tasted just one of your kegs of beer, you will constantly be pulled aside to give tips and answer questions. The questions will come from people you didn’t even know were friends: Will you be brewing again soon? Have you made any ale lately? Can I get in on the tasting? Can you fix me up with a few cases? Like a newly discovered shrine the constant influx of visitors to your home will stretch around the block. You’ll never get any time to yourself and forget the mental image of walking to your frig after a long, hard day to grab a cold one. That time alone you had dreamed about as you sat by the pool sipping your newest batch to come out of fermentation just won't take place.



2. The endeavor of beer brewing will quickly turn from pastime to full time: Starting out with a simple eBook full of interesting information about the process, finding there is more to life than ale and setting out to make the perfect lagers are only the beginning. You’ll also soon discover that starter kits, newer and bigger beer ‘machines’, the latest gadgets and labels made just for you are just of a few of the options waiting for the home brewer. Shelves will need to be put up in the basement to house your growing collection of bottles. You’ll eventually want to build a walk-in cooler, perhaps two, just so you have room for not only your own perfect brews but those from other brewers you need for "research". You’ll soon find that beer is all you think about.



3. You will be instantly famous: There is something about brewing your own beer, particularly if the word gets around you can do it well, that has a mystery about it with the general public. It draws attention. Your entire town or neighborhood will know you as the ‘beer expert’ and while they may not know your name they will know how to find you. You’ll get solicitations from non-profit organizations that want to have a beer tent in the town square, asking if you can donate a truck load of cases. Local beer outlets will have your picture memorized, watching your every move with a bounty on your head. A few specialty shops will send you notifications and sales events made just for you, because after all, you’ll spend way too much money and time studying their shelves as you take home beers from around the world so you can try and duplicate famous recipes.



Before you begin making your own beer make sure you want to put up with all of this nonsense. Crafting your own beer is not for the recluse or those that like life the way it is. It requires severe dedication to strangers and acquaintances and a study in the art of beer making. If you can’t put up with these possibilities you probably should not become a kitchen beer brewer.