My best moment as a homebrewer (so far)

[JimH]

So, I just wanted to share the best experience I have had as a homebrewer, so far. It happened a couple weeks ago, but I haven't had the time to post this.

We went over to our friends house for a BBQ. My friend, his girlfriend, her mom and dad (who we have known since high school) and her sister were there, along with SWMBO and I. We were having quite the feast, home made pizza, with dough made with Fat Tire, green chile bratwurst, garlic bread, and salad. We were having some beers, and I brought along 4 of my finest, vintage homebrews. We decided, since I only brought a few, and there were so many of us, we would do a sort of beer tasting. So, my friends are "thrifty," they don't really own a set of glasses, so they kind of mix and match, and mostly drink out of mason jars. Might be a little weird, but it was the coolest thing. There we were, sipping on homebrew out of mason jars (they were the small ones) and eating dinner. I got to discuss my brews, including the recipes and techniques and get some great feedback from some of my closest friends, who are all beer geeks. Only one of my beers didn't get great reviews, it was a mod on a MB HME. The three other beers I brought, philm00x's Blonde Ambition IV I did a PM version of, my 'Murican Wheat Ale, and my Silver City Sunset Amber Ale all went over very well. Most preferred my amber ale, but one did like the blonde ale. The 'Murican went well, but they aren't fans of wheat beers, so I will accept them saying "this is the best wheat beer I have ever had."

Just wanted to share my experience, because it is good to share the gift of homebrew.

[Inkleg]

Most excellent Jim. It's ALWAYS great when others like your beer also. It kinda makes all the hair pulling/worrying worth while.

I had to stop laughing to post this, because I see you actually named that beer MOFF Diving IIPA. Wonder how others will like that one.

[JimH]

Haha, how could you not name it MOFF Diving? Isn't naming the beer the third best part, right behind drinking it and making it, in that order?

[philm00x]

I'm honored you chose to use that name, Jim! :

That's great to hear that your homebrew is being received well by your friends!

[The_Professor]

Sharing home made beer with family and friends is a lot of fun, JimH.

Here is what I took to one of my first shares.



4 of us drank almost all of that with varying comments on the different beers.

As I have continued to share beers I always welcome their honest comments. People will often have quite different opinions of the same beer. Sometimes a beer will get all positive or all negative comments.

[FedoraDave]

Highly cool!

It's great to have your homebrew well received by others. I've had family members eagerly ask if I've brought any of their favorites to gatherings.

[FrozenInTime]

Cool, awesome job! Now to get them into home brewing, your the teacher!

I have a friend that always stops by on their annual trip to SD for Turkey Day/family reunion. He always asks for beer to take along, everyone at his party loves my beer, always raves about them. Last year I sent a jug of hard cider, I'm told the party was wild... the cider was pretty potent.

[Brewbirds]

I here you JH we did the beer tasting thing when JoeC and his wife came out here and it was great fun.
My sister came by Thursday and we did an impromptu tasting of three of ours. This is the non-beer drinker and she and hubby really liked all three beers.
I was thrilled when she liked the Ruthless Rye clone the best since that is my go to beer anytime.

[berryman]

Good deal JH, that's one of the most fun parts of brewing for me, sharing and having it well received.
Hmm I guess that's why I run out of beer so much, I give a lot away

[Kealia]

That's awesome. I'd much rather get feedback from friends and family rather than a competition. I brew to what I, and my close circle, like and not to style so that feedback and happiness means more to me than anything. That, and when a fellow Borg member likes your beer.

Both make you feel like this -->

[Banjo-guy]

Great post about your get together.
The best part of brewing is sharing it!

I've found that most people won't care for a certain style of beer even if it's a really good beer.
One of my goals is to make something my family will really like. I'll have to brew a few different styles and see what goes over.

It would be interesting to have a survey about which styles of beers were liked the best by non brewers.
Since I've been brewing I am much more open to all styles.

[FedoraDave]

I hear ya, Banjo.

Fortunately, the family members who drink my homebrew are, for the most part, pretty savvy beer drinkers themselves. Sure, they have their preferences (my brother doesn't like heavily-hopped beers, for instance). But they also recognize a well-made beer, and they'll enjoy my homebrew, whether it's South Ferry Steam Beer or 2Daves Irish Red or FedoraDave's American Ale, because they acknowledge that it's good beer. They have their favorites and their preferences, but I always like their appreciative comments.

[JimH]

It definitely felt good to have some good feedback. So far most feedback has been from family. I sent a few to philm00x, and he really liked my beers, so it was good to get feedback from a fellow brewer and borg member. SWMBO likes some of my beer, but she isn't really a beer drinker, she prefers wine. My parents think my beers are good, but they prefer Bud Light. Being that my friends are beer geeks, maybe not like me, but they prefer microbrews, and never drink BMC.

[FedoraDave]

I especially appreciate the feedback I've received from fellow Borg members to whom I've sent beer. I trust the opinions of fellow homebrewers, particularly when they've offered their advice and insight to my questions.