Over the last couple years, I’ve found that home brewers have similar reasons for taking up the hobby. Brewing provides an outlet for creativity, learning some history, connecting with a vast community of people, developing a greater appreciation for beer, or possibly an avenue for scientific interests. Probably the most common thread among home brewers is a love for enjoying the fruits of one’s labor and being able to share that with others.

My journey into the world of fermented beverages did not start until after I had graduated college. I had my first beer at the age of 23 at my local Rock Bottom with a good buddy of mine. Shortly thereafter I shared a well-earned beer with my dad upon clean and re-organizing of his garage. What took place during both of those experiences was relationship building around a beer. I guess you could say that is one aspect that led me to take up home brewing. I enjoy meeting new people and building friendships and in the context of brewing I was introduced to a whole new community of people.

Probably the most significant reason why I started home brewing was to grow in my knowledge and understanding of beer in general. Before I took on this hobby, I had sampled a good many beers and styles, but I wanted to dig deeper behind what made up each beer and why they tasted a certain way. I’ve always been a hands-on learner so being able to read various books on brewing was not good enough for me. Brewing on a micro scale has boosted my appreciation for what brewmasters do on the macro level (which I’ll define here as any production for commercial use). While home brewing is not required to develop your tastes, I have found that my ability to pinpoint various flavors (malts, hops, spices, etc) has increased and matured.

In addition, I’ve found that the history behind brewing is vast and interesting. My world has been expanded by learning tidbits about Ninkasi (Sumerian goddess of fermentation), of how Guinness championed social welfare, to how new styles were formed out of creativity, and of scientists who revolutionized the industry.

One of the coolest aspects of brewing is that you can approach it from any angle. In my observation, I’ve seen two main philosophies when it comes to brewing. You can either dive right in and have fun or be methodical and technical. I try to incorporate both. After all, brewing is fun and should be enjoyed, but there is also a time/place for doing your research and getting technical.

It is a rewarding hobby and one that I can grow at my own pace. Most of the time I would rather sample and review beer, but I try to temper that with the occasional brewing of a batch. I hope that my attempt to have fun, learn, and try new things comes through in my home brewing. Please feel free to voice your thoughts…I love to dialogue about beer.