Two forces have converged to really motivate me to pick up the mash paddle again after a really slow pace over the past 15 months or so. Having brewed since 1994, I know that enthusiasm ebbs and flows, but this has been one of my longer (though not the longest) periods of low activity.
The prime driver for my rekindled flame was an interview I did with a Wash U. grad student about homebrewing last week. I met Antonio via introduction by Schlafly‘s Stephen Hale at the pick-up location for Fair Shares, our local CCSA, of which Antonio and I are both members. Talking about why I got into brewing in the first place, and my philosophy on designing beers got the creative juices flowing.
The clincher was a sudden realization of how much money I was spending on beer since the demise of my kegerator. I was recently very excited that Founder’s Red’s Rye was on sale for $7.49 a six pack, which is a fine retail price. But, that’s still $30 a case. I’ve never brewed to save money, but I know I can brew beer for half that or less, and my beer is pretty damn good.
The only mitigating element on this enthusiasm is the realization that I’ll be back to bottling my homebrew. I haven’t bottled since 1996 or so. First there were Party Pigs (which I always had excellent luck with) and then corny kegs. Unfortunately, with no kegerator and no dedicated beer fridge, there’s room for neither in our regular gotta-hold-stuff-for-a-family-of-four fridge. So, bottles it is, despite memories of what a pain in the ass it is.
This coming Sunday, weather permitting, should be my first non-teaching homebrewing session in about a year. I’m excited that I’ll be drinking homebrew again in about a month!
That’s exciting news, Dave! Congrats on jumping back in!
Mark and I were just talking about Fair Shares last night. I’d love to hear your thoughts on your experience with it.