So I have two local homebrews in my area.
I went to the one about 5 weeks in a row.
Spent a few hundrew there and the owner and employee are knowledgeable but only go so far.
They have been in biz for about 4 years I think.
They can answer questions and provide info.
They have a good selection and prices are very reasonable with only a few items being pricey.
I just went to the other one yesterday for the first time and they have a few locations
with the one I went to being open I think 2-5 years.
BUT their first opened about 20 years ago.
SO I walk in the door and the place looked like it was robbed.
Shelves are almost empty etc.
The guy working was very nice,, we started chatting and he was brewing for two years, about
when he started working there. I eventually told him I do MB beer and such and he did not give any
negative feedback on that, so that was nice.
He was very knowledgeable also on hops, grains etc.....however I do not think he had much more info than I did
He has been brewing and working a Home BREW store for two years.
If you know me, I have been surfing web and brewing MB for about 2 months.
We went into looking at his brews over the last two years and discussed ABV, fermenting times etc.
*One thing he did not know was...
I said oh, do you condition for a month or more on some of those (Referring about some 7% and some dark stouts etc.)
He said, hmm I dont. They get opened after 2 weeks carbing.
I told him that if it is high gravity and high ABV content, then some/most beers may take 3 months, 6 months or some the longer the better.
Depends on how complex.
He then did say ohhh, I think I just read that, then he grabbed a brew mag and was paging through to find the article about conditioning.
He couldnt find it but he said that it sounds right. He did say that with the one single 12 ounce, he wanted to keep for a bit, since he
read that it gets better with age.
Nothing against him (he is just an employee, so it is sad), but looks like that store will be closing soon. I would never go there again.
While I was there, an older couple came in for wine corks. Size 8 they didnt have (Face Palm)
Then guy came in and looked at the hop cooler, he said "what the?" "Is this all you have?"
and was answered, "yeah, we just have not been getting in much" (another face palm)
SO he brewed 15 batches in the 2 years, and I have brewed 15 batches in two months.
Now I have not bottled and drank those 15, but I do know one thing.......
Reading on forums and getting to ask any question and getting it answered by 5, 10 or 20 different brewers is
PRICELESS!
He is talking with customers everyday, reading any mag he wants, brewing his beers and recipes from clones, mags and the owners 20 yr exp.
But I get to chat with brewers that have been brewing for 2 months, 2 years or even 5 or more years.
They have been through MB, extracts, partials, steeping, AG and more.
ALL that experience is heard and learned and highly indispensable.
More power to us!
Thanks to all for helping me be successful in a hobby that I recently chose and want to continue for a while.
Everyone has been helpful and very, very, very kind in adding in their opinions and thoughts.
Thanks
Rob
