Started brewing in 2003, so getting close to a decade.
Like most, probably, i started with kits, and did this for a while, thinking i was making **** hot beer, and if you take those two words literally (****, and hot) then i was definitely doing that. Fermenting coopers kits way too warm, but making beer that i could drink by adding some "packs" from the local HBS that had better sugars, hops and a better yeast.
Wanted something better.
Got into all grain maybe 3-4 years ago due to this forum and some other sources and haven't looked back.
Beer i'm making now is well received by the mates, but more importantly me. I'm making consistent better beer than you can get at most pubs and it's costing me **** all, and giving my 35yo brain something to think about.
Always learning, still doing dumb things everyonce in a while that i learn from and looking forward to constantly evolving my knowledge and skill set.
Got into all grain with a 2V, then because i wanted to brew double batches, expanded to a 3V (keg HLT and gas fired boiler, Esky mash tun) but recently experimenting with a recirculating single vessel electric BIAB rig.
Latest thing i'm doing is trying to develop yeast reculturing/propogation techniques. Finished my stir plate yesterday and currently got a sixer worth of CPA yeast spinning away.
Cheers,
Nath