Spoiled by Homebrew?

Discussion in 'Homebrewing' started by Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016.

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  1. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    I'm gradually approaching the grim realization that homebrew has ruined a wide swath of professional beers for me. I don't buy a lot of pro beer these days, but when I do it's a sixer of a familiar favorite and a sixer of something new. The sixer of something new is more miss than hit more often than not.

    The new beers aren't terrible. They are just really unimpressive compared to homebrew. This situation is further complicated by high ratings and high expectations.

    I write this post while drinking a Surly Todd the Axeman (average rating is 4.5) and hyped hard on this site. It costs a ridiculous $18 for four pints. Advertised as a Citra, Mosaic and Golden Promise IPA, but somehow manages to be 7 SRM (someone forgot to mention the Caramel). Practically no bitterness. Cat piss aroma. Decent flavor, but no where near the vibrant flavors I've made with those hops. For perspective, Bells Two Hearted is a "hoppier beer" and that isn't saying much.

    So I guess I don't mind being spoiled by homebrew, but would appreciate it if professionals could step up their game a bit.

    Have you been spoiled by homebrew?
     
    #1 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  2. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    My local market has really improved in the past 1-2 year, and I probably have spent more on commercial beers in this time period than in any of the preceding 10 years or so.
     
    #2 pweis909, May 1, 2016
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  3. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    I interpret this as meaning you have not been spoiled by homebrew. That's good, sort of...
     
    #3 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
  4. WertMaker

    WertMaker Initiate (0) Jan 17, 2009 Oregon

    My market is limited and I find I brew for myself more than buying commercial beers. The exception is my daily drinker, like Mirror Pond Pale from Deschutes, Sierra Nevada Pale, or Ninkasi Total Domination IPA.
     
    #4 WertMaker, May 1, 2016
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  5. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Oregon is a limited market? Wut?

    Ever been to Arkansas?
     
    #5 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  6. CurtFromHershey

    CurtFromHershey Initiate (0) Oct 4, 2012 Minnesota

    I hear ya, Betty. I'm disappointed more often than not by professional beer. My homebrew has the advantages of being brewed for my personal preferences and not being impacted by a P&L sheet. Being the only beer drinker in my household, variety is something I do miss from time to time.

    That said, you must have had a lousy batch of Todd. I agree it's overpriced, but in no world is it less hoppy than Two Hearted
     
    #6 CurtFromHershey, May 1, 2016
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  7. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    The batch of Todd I have was canned two weeks ago. It's hoppy in terms of aroma. Not hard to do with Citra and Mosaic. The Two Hearted it's being drunk side by side with was canned 45 days ago.

    In terms of flavor and bitterness, it's weak sauce for an pro IPA. I rated it 3.39 and won't buy it again. It has cool artwork with skulls. So there's that...

    I do like Furious, Abrasive and Overated, so I'm not a Surly hater.
     
    #7 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  8. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Spoiled, no. Have I been improved by home brew, home brewing and home. Brewers, yes. So any better brews out there made by home. Brewers and most whom I have met share beer, recipes and friendships. The social aspect of home brew has also been outstanding here on BA, meeting other Homebrewers and sharing beer with others. Nope not spoiled because I make better beer than I can buy, improved.
     
    #8 GormBrewhouse, May 1, 2016
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  9. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Yo Gorm, I think you might be drunk right now (cheers!) and are misinterpreting what it means to be "spoiled by homebrew". Your last sentence implies you are in fact spoiled by homebrew. The rest of the sentences describe ways you have been enriched by homebrew. It's possible to experience both things. Spoiled in this context basically means you would rather be drinking homebrew most of the time.
     
    #9 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  10. JohnSnowNW

    JohnSnowNW Initiate (0) Feb 6, 2013 Minnesota

    Yes.

    Also, the majority of Surly's offerings are over-priced. Though this years Pentagram is ridiculously good...and I have no issues paying the price.

    I think it's difficult for brewers to compete with how "freshly" hopped we can make a beer at the homebrew level.

    Unless I'm just trying a new brewery/beer, I typically only buy sours/wood aged beers on the regular.
     
    #10 JohnSnowNW, May 1, 2016
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  11. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin


    In this case, the Surly beer was the same age as I would typically start consuming a homebrewed IPA. Two weeks after kegging. Sometimes I cheat and sample a little after one week. Those samples are ridiculous and I probably shouldn't even be drinking them.

    Professional brewers exist to make a profit. Hops are an expensive part of the beer. Their strategy is to minimize expenses while satisfying customers to maximize profit. Lately, this seems to mean making IPAs with a pinch of sexy hops and fortunately for the brewers, people tend to go nuts over it. If weak sauce IPA is what sells well at $18 for 4 pints, I can't blame the brewer at all. However, this makes me wish there was a separate category for these softball types of "new IPAs" that my 12 year old could drink.

    Now...please keep in mind, I'm not saying I'm a superior brewer to the pros because I'm certainly not. I've simply figured out how to brew to please myself and professionals are trending towards pleasing people other than me.
     
    #11 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  12. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Another unfortunate consequence of this situation is I'm beginning to grow tired of brewing beer. Sometimes it's a chore I don't mind and even enjoy. Other times, it's like scrubbing the toilet for 5 hours. Might have to hire someone to brew beer...
     
    #12 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  13. pweis909

    pweis909 Grand Pooh-Bah (3,250) Aug 13, 2005 Wisconsin
    Pooh-Bah

    Yeah, maybe spoiled by commercial brew? But an unspoken thought running through my brain is that since changing jobs and moving 2+ years back, homebrewing has always felt harried and disorganized. I've been in an extended rut, and it has just felt easier to pick up a 6 of something decent. And yet, I have more homebrew in my cellar right now than ever before. In part because I have been drinking commercial.
     
    #13 pweis909, May 1, 2016
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  14. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Well, you certainly have reported more than a few flaws with your homebrews over the past two years. Some were process related. On the other hand, you appear to have a very good understanding of "how to brew". I wish I had some profound advice to give you, but can only hope you have learned something from your mistakes. One thing I noticed is you are pretty conservative with your recipes. Less is more sometimes and other times, it's just less.
     
    #14 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
  15. ryane

    ryane Initiate (0) Nov 21, 2007 Washington

    Do what I did, brew like a mad man for about 1month, lots of lagers, big belgians, impy stouts, barleywines, wheatwines, to start and finish the last couple with and IPA, DIPA, couple low grav belgians and toss in a brown and a mild. Make sure they are all 10gal batches and go on hiatus for the summer. By the time all of the kegs have kicked you'll (hopefully) be a bit refreshed

    If your not, make a few kegs of rootbeer and mojitos that you can top off with rum/everclear/vodka
     
    #15 ryane, May 1, 2016
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  16. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    I have a 5 gallon setup and would likely hang myself if I brewed more frequently than twice a month. Doubling my capacity has crossed my mind, but I can't quite justify it yet. I need a brew boy. Kinda like a cabana boy, but old enough to be legal.
     
    #16 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
  17. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    Sorry for the creepy bearded lady post, guys. ^

    Brew_Betty is getting lit today!
     
    #17 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  18. GormBrewhouse

    GormBrewhouse Pooh-Bah (2,111) Jun 24, 2015 Vermont
    Pooh-Bah

    Now Betty, I would never suggest a lady is drunk and not interpreting properly, and ladies should not do that to dudes:slight_smile:
    No I do know what spoiled means and I stand by my post.
    Lite away!!!
     
    #18 GormBrewhouse, May 1, 2016
  19. Brew_Betty

    Brew_Betty Initiate (0) Jan 5, 2015 Wisconsin

    It's all good Gorm. I'm drunk and obviously misinterpreted the intent of your post. It might make sense when I read it tomorrow with coffee.
     
    #19 Brew_Betty, May 1, 2016
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  20. scottakelly

    scottakelly Maven (1,487) May 9, 2007 Ohio

    I'll readily admit it's hard for me to brew a Hefe as good as Weihenstephaner or a Pils as good as Pilsner Urquell or Jever when I can find those fresh. But otherwise my pale ales, IPAs, and English style ales are as good as my old standbys and usually better than newer commercial offerings.

    I think part of what you are noticing, however, is the hype and buy local craze of the last few years is truly making it hard to sort the great from the "ok" when it comes to new commercial beers. 10 years ago I never noticed this, as a well regarded beer usually met my expectations. Lately it seems the buy local homers and inexperienced drinkers are so vocal in hyping beers that it's hard to sort through the BS.
     
    #20 scottakelly, May 1, 2016
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