Hb Article In The Age...

[Back Yard Brewer]

When I was partial mashing and K+K'ing, I found that bulk dried extract was easier to store and handle than bulk "goo". Was worth the extra $$

This thread is so far off topic...

Hmmm what was the topic. Ah here it is, I forgot that I had actually read it http://www.theage.com.au/news/epicure/the-...7788007093.html

 

[Weizguy]

Thank goodness that we found our way back to the topic.

Wasn't it about portraying brewers as haphazard, hectic, tight-@rse alkys?

From the article:

His discovery of boutique beer started when he accidentally bought an unusual dark beer

How in the hell do you accidentally buy a beer, especially a wrong beer. Oooh, I was so drunk, I think I stumbled into a bottlo and lost my spare change all over the floor. Then I woke up in the park with a brown bag with a brown bottle of brown ale...not even my regular brand. And someone stole my smokes. Oh dear!

I feel it's true that a lot of brewers get amazingly penny-pinching in a lot of ways. I see it here and in other places, too. I work in a public service job, and the people there are taught to be frugal with government funds and they start acting like its their own money. Very sad to see.

I feel that these journos, who would probably suck your toes for a free beer, let alone a decent homebrew, need to know the home brew credo.
I'm happy to state it here, right now... It's all about the beer.

I didn't get that from reading the article. The brewers may have mentioned it, but it didn't translate into the article.

I could see that there was encouragement to produce all types of beer, but the reader was led to think that it could all be done from tins and bits. Maybe it can...initially, until one's tastebuds become aware of all the flavours that they should expect. I've made plenty of good beer from tins and dry or liquid extract, and am happy to share the little info I recorded at the time. No anti K&K bias here, but maybe anti-KKK :lol:

I didn't read much about freshness in that article. Certainly, it could be added that home-beer is tastier because it's fresher than commercial, esp. imported beer. Maybe the freshness angle wasn't pushed because of previous comments about the featured brew shop.

It certainly appears to be entry-level article, being sold to neophytes; wanna-be beer-w@nkers; aspiring snobs, with an eye and a tongue for flavour and value for money. Obviously we wouldn't do it (make beer at home) if there was no pay-off in terms of cost vs taste. If we could buy better for less, why bother?

Maybe the article was written years ago, like the tone of the brew books mentioned above. Obviously, there would be updates to include recent characters, although they also may have been mythical.

My overall opinion is that the author was attempting to de-yobbify the homebrew mystique. The article was probably a fantasy piece for many readers, because (let us not forget the newspaper and city of origin) the readers are probably likely to shell out $$ for expensive imports or go to the local and talk about "that homebrewing article".

This has been an unpaid, un-endorsed and unsolicited critique of the linked newspaper article by a homebrewer who believes in something or other. Apathy, maybe?

Seth :beerbang:

 

[PostModern]

Fresh, shmesh. Keep it for 6-12 months and it'll taste HEAPS better. Not like that 2 week old stuff at the pub.

Like every mainstream press homebrew article I've read, it oversimplifies the process to something people who actually brew don't recognise. The author is almost never a homebrewer and they take a word or a sentence from their source and emphasise it over everything else. By the time the article has gone thru the layers of editorial review, there's nothing left of what the brewers actually said anyway. I think FrazerPete was on the right track back there in post #48 when he said someone who brews should write an article, but I doubt any of the majors would be interested in said article. At best, they'd want to interview a brew shop owner, but the Age won't need that for at least another year, coz they've just done their quota for '07.

Anyway, I wonder how Scott Bell's brew would stand up against the BJCP guidelines for a Wit, seeing as he brews with extract. No >50% unmalted wheat possible with that process. We might see a whole bunch of disappointed, Hoegaarden swilling, aspiring beer snobs signing up with AHB for advice a month (or 6-12) down the track.

EDIT: That is is no way to be taken as a swipe at kit brewers again. I'm simply pointing out another inaccuracy in the article. It implies that you can brew a witbeer from a kit, and that can't be done. Orange and corriander flavoured wheat bber, sure, but a wit, no...

 

[///]

Thank goodness that we found our way back to the topic.

Wasn't it about portraying brewers as haphazard, hectic, tight-@rse alkys?

From the article: How in the hell do you accidentally buy a beer, especially a wrong beer.

I tell that too myself everytime I buy XXXX - but i really know it comes from within...

Street Cred goooonnnneeee.....

Scotty

 

[milpod]

While i think the big boys want to tie homebrewers to their ingredients,i think proberly 20% step up to extract,partial and all grain,depending on time constraints.

Then with time constraints,comes area constraints and partner constraints.Money seems to fail as above,where beer bling is involved.

I'm more concerned about our government wanting money for what we do.AS in a yearly licence to brew.Unfortunately because it is getting media attention we will be targeted as a cash source.IMHO

Cheers

 

[Chris]

[/quote]I'm more concerned about our government wanting money for what we do.AS in a yearly licence to brew.Unfortunately because it is getting media attention we will be targeted as a cash source.IMHO

LOL, and then well have to outsmart the Excise man.
I can imagine it now, brewing at midnight under a full moon in a swamp when Im raided.

 

[milpod]

Much like the yanks i suspect.LOL

Hello I'm from the ATF,(guns drawn) where's your licence?






They still remember prohibition

 

[PostModern]

They still remember prohibition

And we still remember the Rum Rebellion.

 

[Weizguy]

Much like the yanks i suspect.LOL
Hello I'm from the ATF,(guns drawn) where's your licence?
They still remember prohibition

It is truly written: "Those who do not learn from history are condemned to repeat it".

Now, be quiet, and don't put ideas in those tiny minds (The Age's editors and our politicians).

The voice of dissent - Seth

 

[blackbock]

I liked the bit about Bell's homebrew not being "overly bitter draught beer" and instead includes fruit.

Why does every new homebrewer feel the need to add @#$% fruit to their beer????

 

[PostModern]

I liked the bit about Bell's homebrew not being "overly bitter draught beer" and instead includes fruit.

Why does every new homebrewer feel the need to add @#$% fruit to their beer????

And honey? Beez Neez comes out so every second new brewer is asking how much hiney to add to a beer! Sheesh. What's wrong with malt and hops, hey?

 

[Weizguy]

And honey? Beez Neez comes out so every second new brewer is asking how much hiney to add to a beer! Sheesh. What's wrong with malt and hops, hey?

PoMo,
Maybe they're not "real beer" drinkers and have no place in the homebrew world, or maybe just a small niche.

What is this "hiney" of which you speak? Are you saying, in a Freudian way perhaps, that honey beer drinkers are gay?
Let your tastebuds out of the closet! :lol:

Seth :lol:

 

[Wortgames]

I don't think any of us would honestly have expected a thorough blow-by-blow account of the homebrewing process (or industry) from a mainstream newspaper though would we?

I think we're missing the point a bit - the article was essentially a positive spin on the hobby, it didn't make us all out to be pissheads and it played up the 'beer toff' angle. I think introducing yourself as a homebrewer to somebody who had read that article, would essentially be a more positive experience than introducing yourself as a homebrewer to someone who hadn't.

Yes, it would have been much better if it had at least touched on issues like all grain brewing, fresh ingredients and perhaps even the real ale revival - as I think without those points it paints an inaccurate (and dated) picture of the hobby.

But I can put up with a lack of detail in an article like this that is at least positive.

 

[Ziggy]

I don't think any of us would honestly have expected a thorough blow-by-blow account of the homebrewing process (or industry) from a mainstream newspaper though would we?

I think we're missing the point a bit - the article was essentially a positive spin on the hobby, it didn't make us all out to be pissheads and it played up the 'beer toff' angle. I think introducing yourself as a homebrewer to somebody who had read that article, would essentially be a more positive experience than introducing yourself as a homebrewer to someone who hadn't.

Yes, it would have been much better if it had at least touched on issues like all grain brewing, fresh ingredients and perhaps even the real ale revival - as I think without those points it paints an inaccurate (and dated) picture of the hobby.

But I can put up with a lack of detail in an article like this that is at least positive.

Yes, most of the people who have posted about this article have missed the point. As a non-home-brewer but a girl with some interest I was impressed by the story and decided to look on the net for a bit of extra info - which is how I stumbled across this forum.
My god, I didn't realise home brewers were such a snobby lot. The Epicure story was in a mainstream newspaper which meant it had to appeal and be clear to people like me. Which it did. If you want to read all about the specifics of home brewing buy a trade mag. And leave those two boys featured in the article alone. At least they're keeping it real.
After reading some of these posts, I think I'll stick to wine.

 

[DJR]

God, the article wasn't that bad was it?

I thought it was pretty positive and anything that brings new brewers to the craft is good - sure there was some parts that made my cringe (specifically putting Corona and Pure Blonde in the premium segment, but that is Foster's fault) and the journo really should have got more sources (i count only 4 sources)

I don't know if writing a full writeup about full mash brewing and all that would really garner much interest - taking 3-6 hours for a brew is not time everyone has.

Oh and btw Ziggy, i didn't take peoples criticism of the article as snobbery as you did, it's just a critique which basically brings home the point that you more rarely than not can get close to some styles of beer with a kit+kilo (especially Corona....).

Fairfax really seems to be getting into it though, a month ago they had this in the SMH: http://blogs.smh.com.au/radar/archives/200...rink_to_th.html

 

[Stuster]

Yes, most of the people who have posted about this article have missed the point. As a non-home-brewer but a girl with some interest I was impressed by the story and decided to look on the net for a bit of extra info - which is how I stumbled across this forum.
My god, I didn't realise home brewers were such a snobby lot. The Epicure story was in a mainstream newspaper which meant it had to appeal and be clear to people like me. Which it did. If you want to read all about the specifics of home brewing buy a trade mag. And leave those two boys featured in the article alone. At least they're keeping it real.
After reading some of these posts, I think I'll stick to wine.

I don't think people were being snobby. It's just hard to see misleading information printed about a topic you love. I doubt you'd find that many brewers were snobby in person however it may come across to you in this thread (snobby beer drinkers is a different matter :lol: ).

I definitely agree with you that the article was probably pitched at the right level for its readers level of interest/knowledge about beer. It's not the most informed article you'll ever read about brewing, but it's positive about it and that's great.

Hopefully you'll give us and (more importantly) beer a try. People are so passionate about it because it's a fun, absorbing hobby with a great end result. :super:

 

[brettprevans]

Yes, most of the people who have posted about this article have missed the point. As a non-home-brewer but a girl with some interest I was impressed by the story and decided to look on the net for a bit of extra info - which is how I stumbled across this forum.
My god, I didn't realise home brewers were such a snobby lot. The Epicure story was in a mainstream newspaper which meant it had to appeal and be clear to people like me. Which it did. If you want to read all about the specifics of home brewing buy a trade mag. And leave those two boys featured in the article alone. At least they're keeping it real.
After reading some of these posts, I think I'll stick to wine.

Ziggy dont take it as snobbery. take it as a bunch of people utterly dedicated and passionate about their hobby. It just like Hohosland said 'its like arguing over which AFL team is better'.... Its all AFL in the end. And so it is with HB. In the end its just a bunch of guys and girls talking passionately about something they love.

And dont just stick to wine. beer is good. I myself love wine, but beer also has a place in life. and what better way to enjoy it than to make your own. much simplier than making your own wine.

PS - Go Hawks!

 

[PostModern]

What is this "hiney" of which you speak? Are you saying, in a Freudian way perhaps, that honey beer drinkers are gay?
Let your tastebuds out of the closet! :lol:

However you spell it, honey or hiney it makes beer taste like arse

Yes, most of the people who have posted about this article have missed the point. As a non-home-brewer but a girl with some interest I was impressed by the story and decided to look on the net for a bit of extra info - which is how I stumbled across this forum.
My god, I didn't realise home brewers were such a snobby lot. The Epicure story was in a mainstream newspaper which meant it had to appeal and be clear to people like me. Which it did. If you want to read all about the specifics of home brewing buy a trade mag. And leave those two boys featured in the article alone. At least they're keeping it real.
After reading some of these posts, I think I'll stick to wine.

We're not snobby. I've met a lot of people thru brewing and of all people connected thru something like that, you get your good and your bad. Of homebrewers there are more good than bad. Brewers are generally friendly and helpful to a fault.

I don't think anyone here is picking on the brewers in the article at all, just the article itself. You need to take this thread in its context, which is a forum of people who all know each other pretty well discussing an old and familiar topic: articles about something we're obsessed with written by a someone who has (apparently) only a passing experience with the hobby.

Fairfax really seems to be getting into it though, a month ago they had this in the SMH: http://blogs.smh.com.au/radar/archives/200...rink_to_th.html

This article is only 1 page long and I reckon covers the state of the craft a lot better than the one in the Age. Just my opinion, tho.

 

[tangent]

never heard of anyone that drinks wine being pretentious...

 

[Wortgames]

I don't know if writing a full writeup about full mash brewing and all that would really garner much interest - taking 3-6 hours for a brew is not time everyone has.

I wasn't suggesting a full writeup or even a 'promotion' of all-grain brewing - just a mention. What I think is a shame is that The Age's article leaves the perception of a clear divide between how 'real' brewers brew, and how 'home' brewers brew. It suggested that home brewers use packets, and try to 'emulate' real beer. That actually may not appeal to some people, whereas the idea that some home brewers brew using exactly the same raw ingredients as the world's finest breweries might have really sparked someone's interest.

The article wasn't a 'beginners guide' to homebrewing, it was about 'the home brew revolution', and as such it did miss an important issue in my opinion.

Fairfax really seems to be getting into it though, a month ago they had this in the SMH: http://blogs.smh.com.au/radar/archives/200...rink_to_th.html

That SMH article did a much better job in a lot less space!