Hobby or obsession?

[Gerryjo]

How many have started brewing as a hobby and ended up OCD with procedures, times temps etc and who honestly doesn't care and can just relax regardless?

 

[Cwrw666]

Not sure I'd even refer to my brewing as a hobby. Currently sat here while dough for a couple of loaves of bread rise - and I wouldn't say that my baking bread is a hobby either.

 

[An Ankoù]

A bit of both, Jerryjo. I think I started out that way, especially when I was learning, and gradually discovered which parameters could be relaxed and which ones were critical. Home brewing has moved on apace, too, and quite a few myths have been debunked. But, If you strive for constant improvement of one of your favourite beers, I think it's important to keep good records and to change only one variable at a time.
So to answer your question: neither. It's a way of life.

 

[Drunkula]

The definition of a hobby is if a man cleans something without his wife asking him to.

I used to really worry about getting everything spot on, and I couldn't. But this pretty decent beer starting coming out of it and so I started to worry less. So I stopped gripping the reins so hard and the horses started to behave better.

 

[Deathstar]

Its just a massive science experiment to me with an output that goes down the hatch well.

 

[DavidDetroit]

I like cooking and brewing is cooking. I do extract with steeping grains so that should say much. I don't temp control beyond what the basement allows nor do I adjust water. I will buy spring water or filtered water. No expensive equipment or anything like that. I do follow sanitation practices extremely well.
I started with the idea of, "If it's not too complicated or doesn't take up too much time, sure, I'll do it."
I will alter to improve my beer as long as it's easy.
I don't think of it as a hobby but I guess it is by definition. So, it's fun and I like the amount of effort and time needed to achieve the product.

 

[Graz]

Try to be fairly relaxed about it all.

For me it's anything new that brings an initial bit of OCD. Just started kegging so last night I had two thermometers strapped to a corny as I didn't believe the reading on the first one It was only to work out what pressure I require to force carbonate. Then because I have a new paranoia about losing 6kg of CO2 spraying everything with washing up liquid solution to check for leaks, then checking the regulator again before going to bed, and again this morning (and tonight etc.). This will settle once I've been through the process a few times and then I'll lose all my CO2 to a leak

 

[Dexter101]

Obsession suggests a negative relationship to me. I would say its one if my pleasures in life.

I love cooking but what I enjoy about brewing is your hard work lasts longer!

 

[Rodcx500z]

I think for me and most others its a means to an end ( cheaper than the pub ) mash some grains boil it add some aromatics walla beer, tweak as you go if you like, the only part I take really serious is clean fv's bottles and barrels some brews are really good some not so good but none are bad enough not to drink, and yeah its a hobby a bloody good one, for less than 300 quid I make fairly decent beer in the yard, just recently with the cold weather my last 4 brews have been wilkos kits tweaked of coarse with dme and dry h0ps and different yeasts, I have started doing 3 weeks in the fv 2 weeks ferment 4 day dry hop 3 day in the shed at what ever the temp is then bottle or barrel, the first one wilko gold with amerillo is looking decent for a kit you get 15g of hops with it but I stuck another 15 in I also have hoppy copper bitter in a pb which I will sample later the only thing that had was dme and gervin yeast, in the fv's I have mexican lager with dme citra and velvet stout with dme and target, I find in the cold when you can't be bothered getting the kettle out you can whack 3 kits on in one go going to get the kettle on next week though I am running out of pale ale which I love and the misses says I will get you a 25kg sack of m/o from love brewing in Liverpool, do I like brewing yes I do but I don't take it to serious levels happy brewing all

 

[Gerryjo]

Try to be fairly relaxed about it all.

For me it's anything new that brings an initial bit of OCD. Just started kegging so last night I had two thermometers strapped to a corny as I didn't believe the reading on the first one It was only to work out what pressure I require to force carbonate. Then because I have a new paranoia about losing 6kg of CO2 spraying everything with washing up liquid solution to check for leaks, then checking the regulator again before going to bed, and again this morning (and tonight etc.). This will settle once I've been through the process a few times and then I'll lose all my CO2 to a leak

As for leak checking just use your sanitiser spray bottle as with washing up liquid it will leave a residue and is not nice to taste.

 

[Gerryjo]

I brewed years ago but was kits from Boots with pressure barrel and 2 litre pop bottles and it was drinkable.
Now I do AG but because I'm inquisitive every time I brew there is always something different with the process, ingredients timings etc and still find it amusing but far from being OCD it's a very rewarding hobby and always has a good payout with the end result.
I mainly brew in the garage but depending on the mood it could be the kitchen or the utility room and a different setup each time.
I'm not obsessive about anything in the process but certainly keep hygiene and sanitisation in check as this is definitely a deal breaker if you get it wrong.
As regards the process when you take it into account its certainly fascinating and this is my attraction plus getting the beer.

 

[samale]

I will go for a hobby. My mates think I am miserable for brewing my own beer. They haven't a clue the time and effort spent trying to produce it. The wife thinks I am mad but she lets me brew away, saying that I have a brew in the fermentor in the bedroom producing some funky smells
I don't stress to much about brew days I am sort of let's see what happens, mash times can vary from one hour up to 4 or 5. Depending what I have on. I don't sit watching it and I do other things about the house.
It's all worth it when you hit a brew spot on .

 

[phildo79]

It's definitely a hobby. But one that started off worrying about measurements, times etc. and is now much more relaxed. I guess that comes with experience.

 

[Clint]

To me it's a hobby..but like any hobbies I've got into its the finer details that haunt me...I HAVE to find the pieces and try to fit them all together..it's always why? or how? Once I know even if the subject can't be readily solved,doesn't matter that much I can usually let it go.

 

[foxy]

Hobby with a challenge, not obsession, I think people go into brewing with the belief it is easy and they will make a drink similar to the regular tipple. After the first few attempts they will either throw the towel in, or roll the sleeves up and go for it, set the bar of how far you want to go. Getting into comps makes it even more challenging and a rewarding hobby. As phildo 79 mentioned it can be daunting at the start but staying with it, it does become an enjoyable pastime to undertake.

 

[the_quick]

Definitely a hobby and I love how you can adjust it to your own price range. Don't want to spend to much, just get kits and a FV, pimp it up a bit and here you go. Than you can upgrade to AG on diy equipment and if you want you can go to AIO systems.
You can create beers you wouldn't be able to buy otherwise and each time you can make something totally different. It is a bit of adventure, cooking, chemical experiment and so on. I almost did trow the towel after few beers that just were not right, wife had her doubts and would not drink my initial beers after first taste.
Now she asks me to brew her favourite types - bitter in the winter, wheat in the summer :). I love to share my beers with mates from work, they usually give me honest opinion and on most occasions enjoy the product.
First few brews weren't relaxing, now I got my method ironed out and it is enjoyable day, in my brewing shed :)

 

[GerritT]

Hobby. But got hooked. Too many interesting and fun sides to it.

 

[Oneflewover]

I think @An Ankoù nailed it. It's a way of life (or part of a way of life). I love growing my own fruit and vegetables, a bit of foraging, cooking and preserving food, but I wouldn't describe them as hobbies

Having said that, maybe there is a bit of hobby in brewing. It goes beyond 'functional' (i.e. just brewing an acceptable beer) and I want to brew very good, interesting, beers.

 

[Grealish]

I think @An Ankoù nailed it. It's a way of life (or part of a way of life). I love growing my own fruit and vegetables, a bit of foraging, cooking and preserving food, but I wouldn't describe them as hobbies

Having said that, maybe there is a bit of hobby in brewing. It goes beyond 'functional' (i.e. just brewing an acceptable beer) and I want to brew very good, interesting, beers.

I agree with you, although I understand that for some brewing is about saving money or competition. For me it’s just one of many things I do for myself as part of a lifestyle. Making pasta from my chickens’ eggs is not a hobby and nor is home brewing. As a bonus, I now appreciate pasta and beer more than I used to. The sheer breadth of what you can do with beer and the fact that it is non essential (apparently) does push it towards being a hobby but definitely not an obsession. That way lies frustration and disappointment.

 

[Gerryjo]

Here's where my tinkering comes to Play as I'm getting temps up to spec before mashing in recirculating my strike water through my heat exchanger which will then recirculate the wort plus shall use the heated water already up to temp to do a sparge.
I love days like this