Survey results

[mofox1]

The answer to why brew clubs aren't hugely popular is evident: most brew alone and want to keep it that way as it's their escape.

That rings true for me. I love brewing, just not so much in a social way.

In part, I don't attend a brew club because I'm lazy... but also because I'm somewhat of an introvert. Going out of my way to be around a lot of other people tends to be a very large commitment. Even if all I'm doing is turning up, the effort to overcome the anxiety of social situations is not insignificant.

I do like to brew with others on occasion (ie case swaps). But in general, I relish the chance to be alone in my shed doing my thing.

 

[Fraser's BRB]

I just reckon this research would be of great value to clubs and comp organisers who I am sure would love to know more about what is stopping brewers joining clubs or entering comps.

Once again good job on the survey and thanks for getting on here and responding to our comments.

Good Work

Speaking from my personal experience, originally I wasn't interested in competitions because I didn't really care how my beers rated, I liked them, my friends and family liked them, that was all that mattered. After a while though, I wanted to know how independent, arms length, third-parties rated my beers. So I entered my first (and only so far) comp (NSW states last year) not expecting to win, but keen for feedback. My (3) beers scored in the high 60s, which I'm led to believe is reasonably good and the feedback was mostly positive and matched my own opinions on opportunities for improvement. In all it was a positive experience and I'll have another crack this year.

That said, it was somewhat intimidating in the way that putting up anything you've created for public scrutiny is intimidating. I liken it to public speaking in a way, with similar fears of failure. For the same reason, I'm yet to give Brewman one of my beers, despite having visited him many times to pick up consumables, as I know he's a judge and "what if he doesn't like it?". Sorry Steve, I'll bring you something one day that I think is suitably amazing

The other thing for me is, logistically it's not easy. Getting my brew schedule aligned with the comp scheduling to have the beers at the peak of their powers at the right time and meeting mailing/drop off schedules took some work and is probably the biggest reason I've not been in more comps. For this reason, the beers I entered last year were all beers that I was brewing anyway for general consumption rather than something I brewed specifically for a competition.

As to offline brewing groups, I would love to be involved more in one (I apparently bucked the trend with the majority of my brewing being done with an offsider), but my location largely precludes it. I follow the HUB Facebook page and would really like to go to their meetings, but it's an hour away for me and would either involve not drinking so I can drive or relying on the goodwill of SWMBO to drive. Said goodwill is in short supply when it involves me drinking without her being able to do the same

 

[MHB]

Get a room!
Surely coming down to Newey a couple of times a year (and sneaking in a club visit) could be a good will generator...
Mark

 

[Fraser's BRB]

Get a room!
Surely coming down to Newey a couple of times a year (and sneaking in a club visit) could be a good will generator...
Mark

This is the widely agreed upon solution between myself and the wife and we've been meaning to but it hasn't happened yet. Friday's in June are all full at this stage, so might look at July/August.

 

[Beer_Cartel]

I know it would make the survey so much more complex but there so much more to be learned by have the "If not - why not" / "If yes - why yes" subsets of questions.

Im already looking forward to the next survey...but Im a bit geeky for numbers and charts.

Another idea to broaden the participation is to send it out via different groups - eg send it to clubs and ask them to send it to their members, post it on the various beer related facebook pages.

But it would also need a question about how did you get this survey? - then you could break t down to things like "x% of brewers that are members of clubs also think blah blag" etc...

(another bit of cheeky feedback....I think I might have done the survey twice because it popped up for me a couple of times - far enough apart that I had forgotten the first time. So I don't think you had any mechanism in their to check if a users email had already been registered)

I actually mailed out to all clubs and Facebook pages asking them to promote the survey - which many did. Overall it should be pretty reflective of home brewing in Australia as a whole.

It is also possible to see how those that are members of clubs differ from non members though I haven't gone done this road so far.

Don't worry also had the ability to weed out those that did the survey twice - so all good there!

 

[Beer_Cartel]

I just had a look at the Coopers Club, over 77,000 members verses the 42,000 on AHB, they are probably nearly all K&K brewers.
Frankly I view the results of this survey with a fair degree of scepticism. In terms of Kit sales QLD is the biggest consumer in the country, that's where Morgan's were based (now part of Coopers), Brigalow, Imake who import Blackrock... nearly every Kit maker/seller other than Coopers who are based in Adelaide for historic reasons.

There are lots of other bits of this survey that I think are very skewed, it does not accurately portray the state of play in the Australian home brew community.
If anyone was using the results to base commercial decisions on, well grab your balls cos your in for a hell of a ride.
Mark

Hey Mark,

Thanks for the feedback - one thing to remember is the Coopers Club also includes a large proportion of people living overseas (particularly the US) so it's definitely not 77,000 home brewers in Australia.

We tried to use ever medium possible for promoting the survey - media, Facebook groups, AHB, stores, Coopers Club etc, etc so this should be a pretty accurate portrayal of home brewing in Australia. If you are interested in home brewing it is highly likely you will have seen some sort of communication about the survey.

Cheers!
Richard