Decline in Hombrewing.

A lot depends on your set up ;)
With my equipment I can do about 10 litre.
A bigger batch would require new pot, bigger burner, hoist for biab bag etc.
So I'll stick with my small batches :cool:
 
Amen it don't matter what size batches your doing as long as your having fun.

Brew within your means and consumption :).

Personally I can't hardly keep up on 19lt batches I need to do a double batch somehow to stay ahead of consumption :rolleyes:

Psss don't tell my wife oh who am I kidding she already knows:D!
 
Trialben said:
Amen it don't matter what size batches your doing as long as your having fun.

Brew within your means and consumption :).

Personally I can't hardly keep up on 19lt batches I need to do a double batch somehow to stay ahead of consumption :rolleyes:

Psss don't tell my wife oh who am I kidding she already knows:D!
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Ben, alcohol is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.
 
A club I started about 12 years in Maryland (BADASS - Brewers and Drinkers Around Silver Spring) saw a big jump in membership from the about 2015 to the beginning of the pandemic. Of course over 2 years with no meetings (ok, some not satisfying Zoom chats) really wreaked havoc with membership. At peak we were nearly 100 brewers or drinkers (with 30 - 40 showing up at our meetings) but our in-person meeting numbers now are fewer than 10 people. The pandemic really hurt, but also the increasing availability of excellent local beer and friendly pubs probably slammed us more. I'm hopeful to find more HBers and get them involved but I don't think that's happening.

Personally, I'm brewing smaller batches less frequently (note, my younger son has moved out...) but enjoying it as much as I did 30 years ago; I'm a grey beard who started brewing in the mid-90's because i couldn't get any good beer where I lived. Oh, well. The pendulum swings and may swing back again.

Peace,
Allen
 
Frank S said:
I wouldn’t say I’m “struggling” to continue brewing, but I’ve definitely decreased the frequency of my brewing - from a high of once every to months to currently maybe 4 times a year. The main reason for my own decrease I think has mostly to do with my decrease in consumption, nothing to do with cost of ingredients. I’m 69 now and just don’t drink as much as I used to, plus I’m not giving it away like I used to. I do still love to spend a good part of a day brewing as well as the lead-up preparations, so I’ve considered decreasing to have batches of 2 1/2 to 3 gallons. One thing I changed during the pandemic was to challenge myself to make styles I’d shied away from, specifically sours and lagers. I like the challenge of these more complicated processes as well as the need for patience. )Just bottled a Russian River Temptation clone that too a year to produce and am quite happy with the result.)
My biggest worry with the decline in home brewing is that my treasured local HB shop may close down. They have a warehouse sized building that stocks everything you need and they provide classes as well as advice on an informal basis. At some point, if their business doesn’t pick up, I fear they’ll just liquidate and sell the building.
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Understand all you say, Frank. At 72, I don't drink nearly as much as i used to and my smaller batches still last a good while. Love that you challenged yourself to get out of your comfort zone and brew beers that take more intention and more details. I love to brew lagers just because they are a challenge, take a while to 'get right' and are my fave not-too-hoppy beers.

Cheers,
Allen
 
No decline for me, in fact I’m ramping up lately. Just over a year ago I moved from SoCal to Eugene, Oregon. It took a little while to get brewing again, but I have found my groove. If I keep at it, I might get 18 batches made this year. With good water, my beers are only getting better.
 
I enjoy the "mad science" of brewing and not following any BJCP guidelines just because I can. Since I retired this year, my consumption increased (whoa). Had to dial it back. I am back to small batches (2.5 gal) and going back to beer only on the weekends (that starts on Thursdays) like when I was working. In my area, I think more people are homebrewing for the fun of it and the cost savings. It's not cheap to drink here.
 
Over The Cliff Brewing said:
I enjoy the "mad science" of brewing and not following any BJCP guidelines just because I can. Since I retired this year, my consumption increased (whoa). Had to dial it back. I am back to small batches (2.5 gal) and going back to beer only on the weekends (that starts on Thursdays) like when I was working. In my area, I think more people are homebrewing for the fun of it and the cost savings. It's not cheap to drink here.
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It's not cheap for most anything up there. But it is a great place to live.
 
Over The Cliff Brewing said:
I enjoy the "mad science" of brewing and not following any BJCP guidelines just because I can. Since I retired this year, my consumption increased (whoa). Had to dial it back. I am back to small batches (2.5 gal) and going back to beer only on the weekends (that starts on Thursdays) like when I was working. In my area, I think more people are homebrewing for the fun of it and the cost savings. It's not cheap to drink here.
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A reflection of what I'm seeing here in Aus the price has just gone ridiculous.

I just hope that the price of homebrew supplies stays where it is.


I don't think that will happen though maybe them yeast specials and keg specials I see you guys posting on the forum here is an oversupply from the decline in hombrewing so HB store owners are getting rid of stock at discounted or pack price bargains...
 
The local supply places here stop stocking certain items therefore online shopping is the next stop.
 
So I got to listen to Marshall's podcast today and the survey brings up some very good points, interesting observations and a little too much self-inflicted guilt over the whole inclusion thing. Good grief, what's more arrogant? Thinking that everyone should want to make beer because you like to make beer or thinking that you can change someone's mind? The best way to grow the hobby is to welcome and support those that express an interest which is something that brewers on this forum do a pretty good job with...even if you're a bot!
 
Ward Chillington said:
So I got to listen to Marshall's podcast today and the survey brings up some very good points, interesting observations and a little too much self-inflicted guilt over the whole inclusion thing. Good grief, what's more arrogant? Thinking that everyone should want to make beer because you like to make beer or thinking that you can change someone's mind? The best way to grow the hobby is to welcome and support those that express an interest which is something that brewers on this forum do a pretty good job with...even if you're a bot!
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Probably best to be nice to them bots now for when they take over the World:eek:.
 
Herm brews said:
No decline for me, in fact I’m ramping up lately. Just over a year ago I moved from SoCal to Eugene, Oregon. It took a little while to get brewing again, but I have found my groove. If I keep at it, I might get 18 batches made this year. With good water, my beers are only getting better.
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I'm also up big time.
Counter right now is at 18, including 5 simple ciders
 
After a 1.5 year break from brewing due to my back injury, I have been back brewing partial mash, but have brewed much less than I did before the injury. Another change in our life has also had an affect, we transitioned from towing a trailer and camping here and there to having a trailer situated at an RV park. We get there pretty much every weekend, so I just don't find the time to brew that often. We had a wedding recently, which was on a Sunday, so I took advantage and brewed a batch on the Saturday.
Come November I plan to be brewing more regularly. While I do drink less than I use to, it is truly more economical to brew my own when I don't take the equipment costs into account.
 
Craigerrr said:
After a 1.5 year break from brewing due to my back injury, I have been back brewing partial mash, but have brewed much less than I did before the injury. Another change in our life has also had an affect, we transitioned from towing a trailer and camping here and there to having a trailer situated at an RV park. We get there pretty much every weekend, so I just don't find the time to brew that often. We had a wedding recently, which was on a Sunday, so I took advantage and brewed a batch on the Saturday.
Come November I plan to be brewing more regularly. While I do drink less than I use to, it is truly more economical to brew my own when I don't take the equipment costs into account.
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An accountant will tell you that the brewing equipment is a "sunk cost" so you don't have to account for it anymore.

I'm only joking, but maybe brew at the trailer instead? "Fire-brewed" would be a catchy slogan. Mash on Saturday, pitch on Sunday, come back to finished beer? Drink, rinse and repeat...
 
Donoroto said:
An accountant will tell you that the brewing equipment is a "sunk cost" so you don't have to account for it anymore.

I'm only joking, but maybe brew at the trailer instead? "Fire-brewed" would be a catchy slogan. Mash on Saturday, pitch on Sunday, come back to finished beer? Drink, rinse and repeat...
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That would be cool and doable depending on the ambient trailer temperatures you could arrive back to fermented beer ready for kegging.

Actually I've seen a few Fly In Fly out Guys doing it here in Aus brew a batch Fly out WORK two weeks come home keg beer.
 
Trialben said:
That would be cool and doable depending on the ambient trailer temperatures you could arrive back to fermented beer ready for kegging.

Actually I've seen a few Fly In Fly out Guys doing it here in Aus brew a batch Fly out WORK two weeks come home keg beer.
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One of the things I never could work out was a balance between working and brewing. I was one of those 'fly in fly out' guys, but was on call 24/7/365, and subject to being gone for weeks at a time. Wouldn't hurt for a brew to sit in the fermenter for a bit, though. I let one stay for nearly a month one time with no ill effects at all, perhaps even a good demonstration of what patience will do in this hobby.
 
RoadRoach said:
One of the things I never could work out was a balance between working and brewing. I was one of those 'fly in fly out' guys, but was on call 24/7/365, and subject to being gone for weeks at a time. Wouldn't hurt for a brew to sit in the fermenter for a bit, though. I let one stay for nearly a month one time with no ill effects at all, perhaps even a good demonstration of what patience will do in this hobby.
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Exactly hey and it takes away that temptation to take gravity samples ect before its done;);).
 
Trialben said:
That would be cool and doable depending on the ambient trailer temperatures you could arrive back to fermented beer ready for kegging.

Actually I've seen a few Fly In Fly out Guys doing it here in Aus brew a batch Fly out WORK two weeks come home keg beer.
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Come November I will brewing regularly. I guess I could brew here, but I would have nowhere for a fermenter. I mean I have a shed, but temperature would be all over the place. Way too much gear to cart back and forth...
Good thoughts though, thanks!
 
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