where's all the AG brewers gone

[graysalchemy]

No I didn't really think that but I was a bit shocked especially since we haven't seen him around much but his post explains everything.

 

[31bb3]

True i didnt know he had been ill still at least hes back :thumb:

 

[Wild Woods]

I'm a new member who brews kits including Lager But don't worry I see this as a stepping stone on the way to AG.

I have my fermentation systems up and running and I'm in the process of getting a BIAB system. I'm going down this route first as I know a full 3 vessel system is going to be expensive especially as I covet shiny things!

I think cost is the main reason new members start with kits as if you are a **** brewer or just don't enjoy the process then you won't have spent a small fortune. At the moment I think my beer has cost me about £10 a pint but as I'm in it for the long haul I'm sure it will get cheaper and better!

 

[31bb3]

In my case i made kits for years sort of fancied the idea of making beer from grains but was never brave enough and didnt have aclue where to start i found this forum and just progressed from there

 

[dennisking]

At last years Spring Thing the bitter under 1040 class was won by Mick, he goes under the name of Snail on the forum, who at the time had only done a few AGs. I sampled it there and it was a worthy winner. Which just goes to show it's not always about experience.

 

[graysalchemy]

That is very true.

 

[abeyptfc]

Can you really see Aleman selling up Gray the guys a legend when it comes to brewing what he doesnt know isnt worth knowing of curse if he does decide id take his equipment off his hands lmao

TEXT SPEAK!!! you naughty boy!
I'm on this forum near enough every day for a browse and there is alot of questions being repeated and alot of new kit brewers which is good news, i dont think its specifically a reduction in AG brewers. they know what they're doing already and may only need help once or twice with the odd recipe for example but those who start with kit brews need help with every step of the brew, like I did, and im very thankfull for it. I've not noticed much of people giving wrong advice or 'shouting' louder than others though.

 

[31bb3]

yes but also an abbreviation

 

[graysalchemy]

Aleman used to use IMHO if I recall correctly, if not i am talking Buzzcocks.

 

[BarnsleyBrewer]

BarnsleyBrewer is still around but I agree with a lot of the points that Aleman and GA state....
I feel that most of the newer brewers (not all) are wanting a cheap alcohol fix with very little incentive to brew the perfect pint and I also get hacked of and bored by newbies asking questions that are easily searched...

BB :drink:

 

[joe1002]

What's happened to Runwell-Steve. I've not seen him around for a while?

 

[31bb3]

hes about

 

[dennisking]

What's happened to Runwell-Steve. I've not seen him around for a while?

Believe he stated a few weeks back he was working away.

 

[johnnie]

Crossed to the Dark Side a month ago. Bottled my second AG last night and there's no going back. Couldn't have done it without the help of the Forum. :

 

[Good Ed]

Well for my tuppence, I think this is a great forum because to me it is kind of personalised, you can post a question and you'll get an answer from sombody you may not know but have been following and reading previous advice posted, and you also know by what that person is brewing, so I think that the gist of Alistair's original post is correct, and that if everyone is able to post a quality post it will be to the good of everybody.

Also a little bit of advice for new brewers; perhaps don't look at this forum for an answer to everything, try doing a bit of research yourself before posting, also look at the recommended books on this site and buy a copy and read it, it's a small investment to make to further the craft. I think a lot of the kind of posts "my airlock is not bubbling Heeeeeeeeeelp" could be avoided if people were able to help themselves more.

And finally, glad to here you're on the mend Aleman :thumb:

And it's goodnight from me

 

[graysalchemy]

And good night from him.

But in the great slured words of shane Mcgowan

Good night god bless now Fook off to bed.

 

[keith1664]

Interesting thread this one.

I have this terrible habit of picking up on a hobby and throwing myself in to it, some 15 years ago that was kit brewing so I acquired loads of kit made a few beers and promptly gave up because the results were quite frankly dreadful. I returned to brewing some 18 months ago with 3 lager kits in quick succession, it was drinkable but not great and I'm afraid throwing a tin of malt extract into a bucket with a packet of yeast and some water wasn't all that involving. However now we have t'internet and I stumbled across this forum. So after those 3 kits I went AG with a converted coolbox and an electrim bin, wow a day spent doing interesting stuff and great beer to drink.
(Un)fortunately I also really enjoy making the stuff to brew with and I've since gone a bit OTT, so now have the standard 3 pot shiney brewery, 4 tap kegerator and 3 (yes 3) fermenting fridges.
There's also 42 AG brews!

However I'm still no expert, I'm still learning and I still cock things up (I have 3 kegs of beer destined for the drain).

So yes, we all have to start somewhere and a kit is a good place. It's not however rocket science and a search on here, or indeed google will throw up the answer to pretty much most questions. I do therefore tend not to bother replying to a lot of basic questions.
I also accept that a lot of people on here know as much or more than me, so if they answer a question well, then there's no need to add more.

Basically if I'm first to an intelligent question I know something about then I'll do my best to pass on some knowledge.

There was some more after that, but I've deleted it. Maybe I'll post some more when sober.

 

[Mark1964]

I started brewing kits when i was 18 i had all the right gear barrel, hambleton bard C02 cylinder etc and to be honest the beer was drinkable but nothing out of the ordinary. I started brewing a couple of coopers kits 2 years ago and they were awful. So after joining on here discovered all grain. The first all grain i ever made was greene kings IPA and it was great. I had an insulated 5 gallon fv as a mash tun and an electrim bin but the beer i made was very nice. Nowadays with all the enhancers and various yeasts available to a kit brewer i think the beer they make can be very good. I dont dislike kit brewing in fact i may even do a lager kit myself but looking around some kits seem pretty expensive for what you get. Im fortunate to have a wife that also loves brewing so buying the kit i needed to go all grain was easy for me and it was thanks to some of the old forum members on here that i could acheive that. We now brew with a herms and again the knowledge to move to that kind of brewing was all from people and posts on here. As its been said in this thread already kit brewing is still brewing so ill try and help anyone really if i can. I have learned a great deal since being on this forum and still continue to lern new ways, techniques now. Some people will always stay with kits for one reason or another. Some will move to all grain but at least there are people on here willing to help them with the change.

Carry on :thumb:

 

[calumscott]

Also a little bit of advice for new brewers; perhaps don't look at this forum for an answer to everything, try doing a bit of research yourself before posting, also look at the recommended books on this site and buy a copy and read it, it's a small investment to make to further the craft. I think a lot of the kind of posts "my airlock is not bubbling Heeeeeeeeeelp" could be avoided if people were able to help themselves more.

Wasn't there a suggestion of a THBF Brewing Wiki a few months ago? I for one would be well up for that, producing a peer-reviewed (or at least argued over) reference for all things homebrew from kits right through to whatever alchemy the higher eschelons get up to!

 

[graysalchemy]

Perhaps more of us should write more how-to's?