So I’ve had a few folks ask me about homebrewing over the last couple of days. Coincidence? I think not-especially being that I actually brewed a couple of batches this past Saturday and I rarely shut up about the topic of beer in general. Haha! Anyway, whenever friends, acquaintances, or anyone else for that matter have questions, I really love helping out when and where I can.
The questions are usually pretty consistent-ranging from “Where do you start?” to “What kind of equipment do I need?” to “How much money is the initial investment?”. Again, all great questions, and with those questions come a plethora of answers…
Let me preface my answer(s) by saying that the act of brewing beer is very unique. It’s unique in that it can be either very simple or very complex. Add to that the fact that it has been done for thousands of years and you have quite a unique beverage. With such a storied history and with such a wide range of complexities, it would literally take volumes of books, articles, videos, and other medium to cover all of the possibilities.
So…that brings me back to the original questions-or the main question, I should say…”Where do I start?”.
My friend, if you’re asking this question or if you have asked this question in the past, then I have great news for you. You already have. That’s right—even before you have boiled your first pot of water or pitched your first packet of yeast, you have started. With a simple question, you have taken the first step into the amazing world of homebrewing. Welcome to the family!
That’s how it started for me…I just started asking questions. Initially, brewing beer seemed so complex—so complicated and out of reach…but as I began to ask questions, I began to learn. I read a couple of articles, talked to friends, did a bit of research, and sent countless text messages to a cousin of mine asking questions about brewing beer (I still text him questions to this day—thanks Micah). Amidst those articles, conversations, and questions, I began to learn something.
Maybe brewing beer wasn’t as complicated or complex as it had first seemed to be. Maybe I could do it it too. And the great news is…you can too!
So…maybe you were expecting me to tell you to go buy a book or a recipe kit or some special gear. Yes, we will get to those details and specifics later, but I really think the most important thing for an aspiring home brewer to do is to ask questions. That’s number one. It really opens the door to learn about something as fascinating as brewing beer. And oh yea, another thing…I have yet to meet a home brewer who didn’t want to answer a question or talk about brewing beer. You’ll find that the community really is incredible.
We’ll get around to more of the specifics, details, and gear in another post, but for now, keep the questions coming and learn as much as you can. You can never go wrong when you’re learning and growing.
Cheers! #Homebrew
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