Who can brew beer at home

[Chippy_Tea]

Agree with the rep it still has at least in the uk, where homebrewing is seen as a way to save money by a lot of people.

I started home brewing to save money i still save money but when i buy kits now price is not the most important thing.

 

[strange-steve]

I'm not sure I really understand the question in the OP, but as others have said the main reaction I seem to get is the "rocket fuel" comment. But I certainly didn't get into brewing to get drunk or to save money, I wanted to be able to make beers as good or better than the ones I could buy. I'm an electrician by trade but I currently work a few part-time jobs because I'm a carer for a family member fwiw.

 

[MonkeyMick]

I'm a Chartered Safety and Security Manager, responsible for the second largest site in my well known, worldwide organisation. This came after a military career I left as a Sgt.

I started brewing because I needed to switch off from work, and was struggling to do so - plus I love beer in all its forms and flavours...

Ive found that more often than not, people ask for samples rather than judge when they ask about hobbies.

 

[dwhite60]

Machinist / CNC Programmer / Tooling Engineer.

I think most people are shocked because beer just seems like a very complex process. They're a bit more shocked when you tell them you make it from grain.

I started because I liked beer that was beyond my budget at the time.

All the Best,
D. White

 

[HarryFlatters]

I'm a project manager in the NHS, I'm a dad with a young daughter, I play guitar in a couple of rock bands.

I'm not your stereotypical home brewer. I don't even really like IPAs or other hoppy ale.

I don't like to fit inside the lines.

 

[MickDundee]

I'm not your stereotypical home brewer.

TBH I don’t know many home brewers who are. I’m 35, clean shaven, slim, father of 2, and I don’t wear cardigans or hokey jumpers!

 

[dad_of_jon]

So, I have a bit of a random question that I think I already know the answer to. Are there certain people whom it it acceptable to brew beer at home?

context to this question is that I am professionally qualified and work in operating theatres, I’m also a service regular Officer in the British Army. Anyone who asks my hobbies I say the usual of walking, time with family but when I say I HomeBrew they looked shocked. I then discuss why it’s acceptable to have a wine tasting night or pair food with wine but beer is different. Currently planning a beer night in the mess, but I’d be interested in what trades and professions people belong to.

I work in IT - managing patching troubleshooting servers. I don't have a beard.

All my friends and acquaintances know I brew beer to be able to drink the types of beer you can't easily get elsewhere. I compare it to buying a microwave ready meal rather than cooking something yourself. They get that. I do it to get better beer not cheaper beer. The fact that it is usually cheaper is just a bonus.

 

[AXW123]

I am a director of a housing association and a woman. I generally don’t tell anyone I brew any more - when I do I get stupid comments. It’s a shame. I certainly don’t save any money but my beer is mainly better than I can buy here in Guernsey!

 

[strange-steve]

TBH I don’t know many home brewers who are. I’m 35, clean shaven, slim, father of 2, and I don’t wear cardigans or hokey jumpers!

Agreed, I think the homebrewer cliché of a fat, bearded, middle-aged bloke in socks and sandals is a very dated view.

 

[HarryFlatters]

TBH I don’t know many home brewers who are. I’m 35, clean shaven, slim, father of 2, and I don’t wear cardigans or hokey jumpers!

I have a beard, but it's cancelled out by the tattoos and piercings

 

[MickDundee]

I have a beard, but it's cancelled out by the tattoos and piercings

No piercings here, but I do have multiple tattoos including a half sleeve so I guess that also goes against me in both the Homebrewer and chartered accountant stereotypes.

 

[dad_of_jon]

No piercings here, but I do have multiple tattoos including a half sleeve so I guess that also goes against me in both the Homebrewer and chartered accountant stereotypes.

please tell me you have a tattoo of a spreadsheet

 

[MickDundee]

please tell me you have a tattoo of a spreadsheet

No, but I do have the Wall Street bull statue.

 

[Brewnaldo]

I can top most of these and bust the stereotypes by saying that I am 34 years old and dont really like any craft beers. I drink lager almost exclusively.

All of that said, I am here because I love a project and I love to create from scratch. By the time iv done a few brews I will be much more into the product.

 

[chrisb8]

I'm 35, no beard, Purchasing Manager for a family run garden centre having worked in horticulture since the age of 15.

When I tell people I homebrew I get without fail the stereotypical response of 'that must be really strong' or 'I know someone who tried that years ago and it would go straight through you'. The stereotypes are pretty annoying. I have given bottles to colleagues who are either then amazed and enthusiastic or, as others have mentioned, seem bemused by what they have sampled and ask if it was from 'some form of kit' or say that they tried a bit with their wife/family as if its something that they cannot trust. I have also made cakes and taken them to work in the past but have had no such skepticism, people tuck straight in. Yet the principle of making something from raw ingredients that they will consume is the same - it seems that there is just a general skepticism about homemade beer.

I might also not fit the stereotype because I don't drink that much. I try to limit myself to 3 pints a week for health purposes and hence the reason I've been having a go at some low alcohol beers. I brew because I enjoy it, I enjoy the challenge and the theory behind it, trying new styles and techniques and having different beers available to me. I am also increasingly realising that I prefer the beers I make to bought ones.

 

[Brew_DD2]

I'm a District Nurse. No beard, unless I haven't bothered to shave for a few weeks. I got into brewing because I love all things beer (the history, culture and of course, the taste). Learning to brew was a lot of fun and I love how it can be as simple or as complex as you want it to be.

People's responses tend to fall into two categories; those who assume it'll be terrible rocket fuel, and those who didn't know it was possible/thought it was illegal.

 

[obscure]

I’m an accountant and yes when I mention I brew I get the standard response of its must be strong’, slightly ironic when my favourite styles to brew are low strength bitters and mild’s (which arguably are the beers that are harder to get hold,of,commercially these days. )

I doubt I save much money home brewing but it’s a hobby it’s fun to play around with grain, hops and yeast and then get something that is actually pleasant to drink,

 

[Zephyr259]

Chemical engineering degree but ended up offshore as a service hand after graduating, 34 with a beard but just chopped the pony tail 2 weeks ago after having long hair since I was 18...

I've cured my step-dad of his old-school expectation of homebrew being rough, he was happy to try, just cautious then pleasantly surprised. Still get some folks offshore who don't understand why I would brew normal strength beers when I could brew super strong stuff to get drunk faster, but unfortunately there will always be people who drink to get drunk and nothing more.

 

[Rodcx500z]

I am 66 retired was a craft baker, so I guess I am in the flat cap dodgy jumper class, I brewed years ago then gave up started again last may mainly for a hobby found out its moved on a lot and now do ag biab, when I tell people I brew they what them tins they sell in wilko I say no like they do in a brewery most respond with you must be loaded or so you like vinegar, a few months ago I was brewing in the yard and the bloke next door was fixing one of his fence panels he got on his ladder and any he asked what I was doing I said making 40 pints of pale ale he was very interested and asked next time I brew can he come round I yeah I have known him for 30 years, anyway 8 weeks later I went round with a cold bottle of said ale he was flabbergasted when he tasted it you brew that in the yard then said that cost 40p he nearly fell over, my mother in law loves my pale ale and she is 86, peoples comments I take with a pinch of salt

 

[Leon103]

I don't really tell people I brew b3cause of the usual reactions which have been mentioned by most already. Half of the problem is the only exposure most have of homebrew is the kit selection in wilko. Similar hobbies like cooking or baking you have multiple t.v. shows which show what a skill/craft it is. There is nothing for homebrewing.

I am an home brewer by profession