(Or, Part 1 of How I Got Started with Homebrewing)
Frankly, I’d never seriously considered doing homebrewing myself (until I found a small kit at a thrift store).
Over the years, I knew and met people who did homebrewing. I liked to drink their beer while feigning interest in their “creative process”.
But seriously, it was still moderating interesting, and I did ask a couple of specific questions about their brewing.
An awesome co-worker brought in some of his brews a few times, and even did classes (which I didn’t end up going to… I know, so many missed opportunities). On one sampling occasion, I asked about the few things that intrigued me about homebrewing. Can you save money on beer by making it yourself? I appreciated his honesty that it really wasn’t about saving money, but more about the craft. In fact, it can become an expensive hobby.
I, in turn, recipriocated with honesty, saying that if I couldn’t save money doing it myself, I wasn’t really interested. I didn’t want to bother. I like my cheap Euro beer, which costs around $2 per tall can. (I enjoy craft beer too, but not all the time.)
However, I did appreciate the spirit of “doing it yourself” at home. I liked the concept of self-sufficiency. In a post-apocalyptic world, at least I can make some beer.
I also liked the idea of participating in an ancient and traditional practice. I’m not a history guru on brewing, but I like picturing monks brewing in medieval monasteries.
But I didn’t like the idea enough to go out and spend a bunch of money on starter kits.
… Until the fateful day I saw the small kit in the thrift store. Obviously, this was the hand of the Brew God at work.
We never do know our hobbies until we dive in. Maybe that TSC kit leads you down a nano-brewery or bigger some day.. maybe all it does is teach you how to appreciate craft beer all the more from the PITA it can be.. either way you are progressing forward in something you love.