If you're interested in participating in our Hangout on Air or you'd like to come in and share a beer with us, email me here, or message Tony on +State of the Beer. The show's Facebook page is Beer with Strangers and we're "@beerwstrangers" on Twitter. Finally, and please, consider subscribing on iTunes or on YouTube (if you click the iTunes, your iTunes window will open. Don't be afraid). If you are or know anyone who is interested in taking a brewing basics class (the class is free and lots of fun) have them reserve a space here. Taking a class is the best way to figure out whether homebrewing is for you. Many people take several before trying on their own at home.
Shawn Hager is both guest and host this week. pinch hitting for the vacationing Doug. A regular at Xtreme Brewing, Shawn talks about how he got involved in home brewing and how he came to begin volunteering to help out. What makes Shawn's story particularly interesting is it demonstrates how quickly a committed person can go from noob to teacher. It takes time and practice, for sure, but loving beer doesn't hurt at all.
During the recipe development part of the discussion, Shawn got to brag on one of his new beers, a Citra-IPA, and talk about some of his challenges as a brewer.
There was plenty in the news to discuss, including the possibility, or, rather, likelihood of restaurant house beers. There was a time when pretty much every restaurant had its own house brew. The rise of the hyper-sophisticated home brewer could make that a real possibility. The profit margin on brewing your own beer is outrageously attractive.
On the other side, we spoke about beer apps. Founders produced its own app and announced it this week. For my part, I was suspicious of people having beer specific apps, Shawn felt a little differently. Apps or not, the industry is growing at a rate that won't let talk of bubble and crash die down much. There was a great story in the +Detroit Free Press about beer equilibrium.
If you're interested in being the next call-in guest on the show or you'd like to come in and share a beer with us, email me here, or message me on +State of the Beer. The show's Facebook page is Beer with Strangers and we're "@beerwstrangers" on Twitter.
Finally, and please, consider subscribing on iTunes'cause that way Apple will remind you to listen (your iTunes window will open, don't be afraid).
If you are or know anyone who is interested in taking a brewing basics class (the class is free and lots of fun) have them reserve a space here. Taking a class is the best way to figure out whether homebrewing is for you. Many people take several before trying on their own at home.
This week, even though we were missing Doug, we began what we hope will be a recurring series on Beer with Strangers, "Going Pro" Or "Gone Pro" or "Brewer's Road" (OK, clearly, the segment doesn't have an official name, but it toes have a trajectory). Monthly, if not more often, we will have interviews with former home brewers who have opened their own breweries or who have become professional brewers for someone else. Our first guest who fit the bill was Lori Clough of 3rd Wave Brewing. **The link goes to their beer list. During the interview I distracted Lori, and we lost track of which beers she'd already named. This is what's on tap there this weekend**
One of the things that tend to tie brewers together is their interest in sharing their home brewing stories. First off, it isn't as if it's a trade secret. Pretty much everyone who is a pro brewer started out as a home brewer. What home brewers have in common, besides a love for beer, is they rarely do it alone. Brewing beer is a communal process. Friends do it, and so far, without exception, the brewers we've spoken to brew with friends. True, many brewers are doing the work by themselves and sharing their beer, bit the point is, it is almost as much about getting together as it is about beer.
In Lori's case, it was about brewing weekends. She would come down from Harrington each Saturday to meet the friend who would become her business partner and they would spend the day brewing. Lori has lots of good stories, including a particular affinity for re-brewing the same recipe and altering one step to see what effect, if any, it has on the beer. She also gave the lowdown on what's in the works at 3rd Wave for the coming weeks and beyond.
If you're interested in being the next call-in guest on the show or you'd like to come in and share a beer with us, email me here, or message me on +State of the Beer. The show's Facebook page is Beer with Strangers and we're "@beerwstrangers" on Twitter.
Finally, and please, consider subscribing on iTunes'cause that way Apple will remind you to listen (your iTunes window will open, don't be afraid).
If you are or know anyone who is interested in taking a brewing basics class (the class is free and lots of fun) have them reserve a space here. Taking a class is the best way to figure out whether homebrewing is for you. Many people take several before trying on their own at home.
