Homebrew is Dying | Winter Lager
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- čas přidán 14. 11. 2023
- Homebrew is dying. Less people are searching for "how to make beer" on Google. Is beer less popular or are they searching for something else? Also, we discuss this whilst brewing a winter lager.
Brew System: www.clawhammersupply.com/coll...
Apple Pie Spice:www.clawhammersupply.com/coll...
FireBomb Spice: www.clawhammersupply.com/coll... - Zábava
Call me an outlier, I fully believe we are in the golden era of homebrewing. Maybe not the highest amount of homebrewers ever or the most google searches on the topic, but it's never been easier to be a homebrewer.
There's a ridiculous number of brewing systems and fermenters on the market now, compared to 5-6 years ago. Grain, hop and yeast selection has never been better. New brewtubers and instabrewers everyday. Brewing information has never been more accessible. A lot of the archaic brewing information has been cast aside for modern/better techniques.
Just my thoughts.
I agree Gnome. Now if we can only get the Hoppy Hour back on the reg.
Interesting and optimistic take. I like it!
I’ve only been homebrewing for just under 2 years now but have zero intentions of quitting. I love it and I’m only ramping up from here.
Cheers Brah. This year is my 17th year.
@@gregmorris2022 That’s awesome! Cheers my friend 🍻
Keep it going! This is year 12 for me.
Been brewing 17 year starting doing propper mashing brews now, got one gallon of ipa ont brew and will start a kit for Christmas tonight 👌
@@davidsnyder2818 Thanks for the inspiration 🍻
The reason I started brewing was because I couldn't buy the beer I wanted to drink. So i can see how increased access to good beer could reduce the number of home brewers. But many of us love the freedom to make our own beer and enjoy the process.
I think he made an excellent point. With the advent of availability of good craft beer, even at most Walmart stores, there’s a decreased need or interest in home brewing. I don’t intend to stop though. It is a hobby I truly love.
For me it’s definitely the freedom and the experimentation process that motivates me.
100% this. I started brewing 15 years ago because I couldn't find what I wanted. And while I still like sharing the process and having beer on tap at home, I don't feel like I have HAVE to brew any more, like I did years ago. There's an oversaturation of beer on the market. And while equipment has gotten so much better, all but one homebrew store near me has closed, so I have to drive almost an hour (I don't live in the middle of nowhere, either) to get supplies. Just becoming more of a pain with less ROI for me personally.
@@MileHighGrowler OMG! Yes! The only homebrew store I had nearby (45 miles away) closed during COVID. There closest one now is about 125 miles away, so picking up brewing grain is much more expensive than it should be, having to buy it from one of the online places.
I started homebrewing 3 years ago because of the pandemic. I felt very depressed as I was constantly locked at home because of the whole covid thing and at one point I hit rock bottom and started to wish I was dead and shit... Thats when most people start going to the gym or finding some lifechanging hobby. For me that was homebrewing.
I'm super grateful for this community and this hobby. I know there aren't many of us out there, but man is it a fulfilling hobby! Im sure homebrewing will endure, just as I did.
Guys, I’ve been hombrewing for over 30 years. I got my brother into it and he has a friend that brews as well. The hobby is not dead for us. Hang in there!
Yup same. I was 12 when I brewed my first all grain batch under the watchful eye of my grandfather. I'm 54 now and entertaining opening up my own micro brewery. Cheers yall.
I absolutely love the way you guys went about doing this one! Every time I watch one of your all's videos I learn something new and incorporate it into my skills! Very unique guys, well done!!!
I’ve missed these videos. Thanks for bringing some back. Can’t wait to get one of your systems.
I have been a homebrewer since 2011 or so but haven't brewed much over the past couple years. Can't really say why other than life has just gotten busier. There are a ton of breweries around but the price per pint is totally ridiculous at $9+ so it's not really cost effective to go there at this point. Buying beer from the store has gotten pretty expensive as well and finding fresh beer that would justify the cost can be rather difficult. I'm about to get back into homebrewing so I can have fresh beer that is also cost effective.
Agree 100%, Lots of retail options here in Phx but ya have to search to find fresh examples that justify $20 4packs
Sticky floor sounds may be most relatable thing I’ve ever seen in home brewing video. Have enjoyed watching you and Emmett since the beginning. Thanks for all the great content.
I don't believe a google search graph is accurate for a few reasons; 1. computers are going away and people are getting information from other locations like CZcams/TikTok/Facebook groups vs searching the web 2. you might have reached peak market penetration, meaning whoever wants to brew is doing it, like smartphones I bet the searches have declined because people already know vs certainly usage is not declining. 3. I watch CZcams videos all the time, and use websites, but I can't tell you the last time I searched for brewing, I have the bookmarks saved and subscribed to channels like this one. Thanks Love my Clawhammer!
I have been brewing for a couple years now. In that time I have actually seen a decline in craft breweries. They used to be all over the place, every town seemed to have one or two (at least in my area). However; over half of them have closed. I have also seen an uptick, even in grocery stores, on beer varieties from supposed craft breweries throughout North America. I find most of these beers to be rather crappy. I'll never stop brewing, until I'm too old and frail to manage the equipment anymore. Once you start and taste the output, it's just night and day compared to mass produced commercial beers. Not patting myself on the back, just saying ... like everything else.... it's a focus on quality over quantity when you do it yourself.
I just started my first two brews last week! I'm waiting for them to finish fermenting but I'm so excited!
Just started brewing, plan to keep on.
I like the diy and neighborly aspect of it.
Easy to make friends sharing good beer.
Been homebrewing for 20yrs after my anvil system failed I bought one of yours. I belong to.the forest city homebrew club. Our club is large and does tons of activities. I guess I don't see the decline in homebrewing
As long as there are breweries, there will be Homebrewers. Honestly, the main reason I brew is because the liquor and grocery stores are FLOODED with commercialized "Hazy" beers that all taste the same. Not knocking anyone if you like that sort of thing, but there's no real variety anymore. Stores stock what people buy.
Homebrewing is good if you like classics like a good Altbier, Rye Pale Ale, Czech Pilsners, Classic Dry West Coast IPA (that aren't 7 months old in the beer cooler), Steam Beer etc.
Dude you’re right! Covid had us all at home trying to do new things! The home brew world was exploding! I owe a lot of my technique and routine to you guys. Thank you for the entertaining and informational content!
My 2 cents: with the rise of better brewing equipment and access to ingredients, there was an increased interest into homebrewing. I say, just like with everything else, only the serious homebrewers are now staying in the hobby, which is what explains the decline today. ADD that on top of the access to craft beer and the decline makes sense.
I continue to love your self deprecating “We just barely know what is going on” approach! It is super entertaining to watch you guys. If I had a Time Machine I would definitely go back in time and tell my 2009 self to buy Clawhammer instead of Grainfather. 😢
Despite the obstacles of life i just continue brewing my own beer. Your videos are always inspiring! Greetings from Italy guys
You are 100 percent correct. I've seen that just in my viewer analytics as well. Way more hype in the comments on earlier crummier quality brewing videos I have on my channel. Its been in decline since around 2016 or so. You will find that it was much a fad for many and a lifestyle for the rest of us. Glad to know, sadly, that my own assessment from analytics lines up with yours.
Thank you for the video, really like you guys!
Passion can transcend the ups and downs. I see so much passion in beer, both at home and as a vocation. I am optimistic for the future.
This is the best video you guys have done....cowboy brewing style...you got me back to brewing...thanks guys
Well that was a lot of fun. Much appreciated for reflecting the simple joy of it
I had to laugh at the star san comment. My old head brewer used to complain all the time about how foamy the star san was. Once I became head brewer, I just started filling the bucket 3/4 of the way, then adding the concentrate, then continue filling. No foam.
I just started homebrewing with myself within the last year. I haven't googled much about homebrewing etc because there are a lot of sites like yours that have all the information someone could need, even recipes. So once people find these sites they don't need to look for new things. Basically the only thing I google anymore is abv calculator on my phone to go to the same one every time.
Currently I have real sugar Mountain Dew fermenting and a Masala Chai Tea Milk Porter fermenting (This one fermented like crazy)
I have no plans on slowing down or stopping my Zymurgistic pursuits. Born and raised in Fort Collins and then lucky enough to be stationed in Washington state with the Navy, I was ground zero during the Golden Age of the late 90s and early 2000s of the craft brewing movement. So many delicious beer styles flavors were being made from small outfits like Coopersmith's beautiful handcrafted English styles ales to the amazingly peculiar Apricot Hefeweizen from Pyramid Brewing in Seattle. I remember having 3 day shore leave in San Diego and trying Sierra Nevada Pale Ale for the first time. So bitter, so hoppy but deviously different. That was the beer that had me hooked. These days the IBUs seem so miniscule. Living in Wyoming we are in a craft beer desert. Shelves are full of beers from the big brewers, AB-Inbev, MolsonCoors, Pabst and all their little off shoots. If there is a craft beer option it more often than not is a super hopped hazy something or another. Brown ale, porter, red ale, even a normal American pale ale is hard to find because the can says pale ale but when you pour it it ends up a low octane hazy boi. I homebrew so I can have a fun somewhat inexpensive, sometimes competitive hobby and have a source for beer styles that I either have a hard time finding or that breweries just don't make anymore (looking at you rebranded Flat Tire!)
I think basing the number of homebrewers off of the search how to brew beer is not an accurate way to measure really, once you know how to brew were not going to continue to search for how to brew. So experienced brewers are continuing to brew but there may be a slight decline on new homebrewers based on the search for how to homebrew. I do agree though that the number of local breweries definitely affect the need or want to get into homebrewing. Love the videos guys!
Lifer here! Love this craft and the community is awesome!
just started homebrewing about a month ago. i also got a couple of buddies into it. i also got someone that use to brew back into it. ive learned a lot in a month between ciders and beer.
Like many others, i started homebrewing after being exposed to really good beer from Europe. I was stationed in Germany and then was sent to New Mexico. As the craft brew movement took off, I didn't need to brew anymore. However, moving to the Seattle area, every other beer is some sort of insanely hopped IPA or insanely overpriced. I'm going to break out my gear and start brewing again, just to have beer I like.
I started by making wine and cider 5-6 years ago... along with some hypotheticals. I made a one gallon beer kit that tasted great, but it was flat.
I am currently waiting on my birthday/Christmas gift: a quad tap kegerator and all the fixings. I plan to make it with my stepson - hopefully he will take it on.
As long as ingredients don't become crazy expensive and hard to acquire I have no intention of ever stopping brewing. Also for me i like the challenge of making a beer to compete with top tier brewers. It's very satisfying to make a great product and you just dont get the same effect when buying beer that you didnt create.
Any good online places y’all get your ingredients?
Alternative Beverage has website, based in Belmont, NC.
Free shipping over $50.
Been brewing single late 2021. I still dabble in some store varieties here and there. Cheap stuff for cooking, fancy stuff for drinking. I have no plans to stop brewing and indeed plan to upgrade my temp control setup soon.
I resisted homebrewing until about 10 years ago because I knew I'd love it, but just wanted to avoid the capital outlay. Several iterations later of capital outlay, I don't see my passion for homebrewing slowing. So many things learnt and so many more things to learn. I do enjoy comparing my beer to the others. Especially satisfying when you nail a brew that measures up to the commercial brews. Selfishly, it might be good homebrewing is decreasing in popularity for us folks in it for the long haul as we aren't battling for ingredients with the short-term interested homebrewers.
My local homebrew shop closed after 11 years.
Love y’all!!
If people are home brewing much less, then more fool them I guess. I have just brewed a Vienna lager that will be ready just in time for Christmas, and will end up costing me just over $1 a pint. More cheap and tasty beer for me. Great video as always guys, keep up the good work!
The pendulum always swings both ways. You’ll likely see it go further in this direction before it overcorrects and goes back.
I predict when GMO yeast and hops really take hold, you’ll see another homebrew renaissance.
I've been brewing since 91. I went overboard in my youth but now enjoy brewing 2 batches per season for the past couple of years. Costs have gone up but i do enjoy thge process and have a nice oatmeal ale with centennial hops that is the "house beer".
Ive just started homebrewing. I am not good at it at all so far but i wont be quitting anytime soon lol. I started because I like the thought of being able to make the exact flavor I'm looking for. Hopefully someday I'll get there.
Dying or not, I'm going down with the Hombrew ship. Love this hobby!
I started brewing for myself since Covid in the beginning of 2022. I think it's satisfying and relaxing now I have more experience. I have brewed 13 batches so far, with good beers and bad beers also. But I love to brew, taste, share and have fun for myself. My feeling says that I have just started my Journey to become a great brewer.
Glad the winter beer turned out good... cheers 🍻!
I’ve been at it since a Mr . Beer kit . I knew it could get better , now 10yrs in my beers are enjoyable . I only buy beers when looking for inspiration. Never make the same beer twice . Lagers and IPA’s are it , light ales too … keep on brewing people …..
I am still brewing, but I think the influx of good/better/great micro and local breweries does allow us to go grab what we want without having to make it. Still plan on keeping brewing, though.
After having watched your live stream, this was all quite hilarious!
Been brewing on and off since 2010. This winter my goal is to clean my garage and get a dedicated space for brewing so I can get that pipeline of deliciousness flowing.
A friend and I brew together and every week we pick a place to drink a beer and have a meal. It may be true that home brewing is declining, but by how much? It’s to be expected that hobbies can come and go. And we have to admit that brewing can be hard work. Our brew day takes up to six hours or more, including the prep, the mash, the boil, cooling, pitching the yeast, and lastly the cleanup. Secondly, home brewing can become expensive. You first purchase a gallon kit, then a five gallon kit, then a ten gallon system, and don’t forget the fermentation vessels and the fermentation chamber, then there’s the kegs and carbonation. And then there are the occasional visits to the home brewing store for ingredients. It will all add up. So if you want to do your own brewing, there are costs to consider, but there are also great rewards. You will surprise yourself with very tasty beers. And if you’re doing this with a friend, which I recommend, you’ll have lots of fun together. And there is always a zen dimension to brewing, that what you do in one situation, you’re probably doing the same thing in every other situation. It’s the planning and preparation, the attention to details during brew day, the cleanup, and working with someone else. All are very valuable learning experiences and tools for the rest of your life.
2011 is roughly when I quit homebrewing, so the chronologimagation is cromulent. It was a combination of things: repeated moves, the absolute *explosion* of craft breweries and beer bars, and increasing demands on my time as my career ramped up. I'm glad folks are still doing it. I envy your amazing brew systems. For me, it was all very manual, a lot of work, and small scale (2.5 gal batches), and I was on a shoestring budget. I've been thinking about getting back into it -- there's a good brew shop where I live now, and I could afford a decent brew system.
My Journey was from Homebrewing early 2000s, to beer trading in 2005 to just buying what I can get locally or when on trips. The correlation is the availability, quality and variety of beers now sold vs the time each of those hobbies take. I still follow homebrewing and occasionally help, but have moved the time it takes to get good beer to other hobbies.
Perhaps all of the homebrewers since 2010 are going professional and opening up these breweries that are popping up everywhere for craft brewing. I know I even thought about going pro and I started in 2010.
I started homebrewing around 2017 and it all clawhammers falt lol but if not for you guys screwing off and making videos I feel like it would probably not exist my local shop is not doing so good and that's sad because my local brewery kinda sucks I will definitely continue to buy products from you guys might have to start buying supplies off net if my local shop closes keep up the good work guys I have watched your videos 10 million times over love them
Great video, Kyle. CH has been a good influence on you. Come to NZ some day. Robert
Bros, noooooooo!!!!! Terrible news with the Google trend but to hell with their data. Home brewing may slow down but it will never die. We’re too stubborn a group to let it die!
Brewing for 10 years, and not stopping anytime soon!
Been brewing for 29 years. Not going to stop. Love the whole process. By the way, being you brew indoors do you have problems with too much moisture in the room? I didn’t notice any vent hood? Just curious.
As a new bewer I can say that along with the rise of more craft beer and more availability is its a somewhat difficult hobby to get into and do well. The step from say an extract to all grain brewer can be a huge investment that not everyone wants to make and people are always chasing new equipment and expenses. It's not specific to brewing, ham radio, 2A communities etc all have the same problem.
Success! Everyone knows how to brew now! Great work!
I don’t know if home brewing is dead or dying but I just purchased the 10 gallon 120v system from y’all… can’t wait to get brewing with it!
Keeping home brew alive!
You haven't proved home brewing isn't popular. You just proved fewer people need to learn how to do it right now. Because we are all good at it now.
I would looove for you guys to do a Gingerbread Porter homebrew similar to Ninjabread Man from Asheville Brewing. It's one of my favorite brews and I have yet to come across a gingerbread porter recipe. Love yall!
Been brewing for seven years, five as an all grainer. With less HBS it’s made it more of challenge to join the hobby. Also, people don’t really want to deal with the mess of home-brewing. That said, home brew for life!
My local homebrew store shut down, and now I either have to order online or drive almost an hour each way to the next closest homebrew shop. Which unfortunately kinda made me stop
I like to home brew, but I don't geek out on water profiles. I do shoot for times and temps, not so much water quantity, but I'm good with close. I prefer to do 5 gallon batches that fit in my coke keg. Thanks for the vid. Only had one brew that was an epic failure.
I'm just starting exited for the first batch it's 10th day looks good and abv 5.25 % wheat ale
Great video, you guys got me laughing 😂 cheers 🍻
I'm so old that I remember the Great Home Brewing Scare of the 1990s. I picked it up, and then met several guys who were already brewing. Around the same time, there was a Salsa/Swing dancing fad. People come in, and then many wash out and move on to the next fad. And by the way - even in the 1990s there were plenty of 'craft' beers you could try, plus imports, so there was a lot more than Bud/Miller out there even then.
I have been brewing for a year now. I can’t believe how delicious my beer has become. When someone tastes it they are “what you made this”. “How can I make some.” Most people just don’t realize that they can really make high quality beer at home. Not to mention it’s just a great hobby to share with others. There just needs to be more exposure. 🍻
I started homebrewing maybe 25 years ago. Back then, there were some styles that were very difficult to find, and few examples of them. Now I go to the corner store, and they've got many, many more styles available than I ever brewed, even after what, 150+ batches? Sadly, probably somewhat true.
Oh, I retired ten years ago, and I've been too busy to brew!
Both of my local homebrew supply shops recently closed down. I dont have any options anymore to walk in a store- maybe in my entire state (MN)! Have to order online, wait 4-5 days, and pay the shipping and milling charge. Sucks
Sounds like a real rags to rags story.
I agree that I also was brewing beers that I couldn't get in my area. However in Canada a half decent craft beer will set you back $3.50. ($2.60 US). We have a lot of taxes on alcohol in our so called free country. So with a recession or possible depression looming next year, I believe home brewing will make a come back. Kyle, I would be interested to see what you find if you add to that a chart with recession info and see what shows up. I bet after 2008 home brewing really got going! Hope you guys keep going and never give up. Cheers.
Yes, post 2008 search volume increased. And speaking of recessions and whatnot... If you look at pandemic data, searches for "brewery" plummet for a minute and searches for "how to make beer" skyrocket at the same time.
What killed my homebrewing is the store 10 minutes from my home closing during covid. Going online is too expensive and time consuming for shipping. I'd still be doing it if they were open
I think, like me, a lot of people picked up home brewing during COVID. Now that "regular" life has returned and other hobbies are becoming more readily available, the interest and available time is decreasing.
Yes but popularity is also much lower than before covid. I think it has something to do with young people drinking less.
What are you going to do with all the booze, especially if your friends also don't drink that much.
Any plans to ship / supply CHS equipment to the UK / EU any time soon? Love the simplicity, and would be straight on it if you did!
I think the brewery boom and decline in homebrew interest are related. Not just because there are more breweries and more options than ever. But many pro brewers got their start as homebrewers. Once those homebrewers go pro, they aren’t homebrewing as much, if at all.
some interesting modular synth stuff in the back ground. couldn't quite make it out, what you rocking?
I've never liked spicy hot beers except for mole temptress from Lake Highlands brewery in Dallas. I think the spicy with other stuff is the ticket. I would try this.
I'm a Brit and I started home brewing in the late 80's and I only use basic equipment, wort pan, 5 gallon brew bin and 5 gallon pressure keg, with the odd dozen bottles, I have the feeling that Home brewing in the US is dying as you go for more complicated expensive gear that puts people off getting into home brewing.
Kyle, you pulled the yeast from the keg and built up a starter from that. Curious if gelatin has any effect on yeast quality? Always thought with that initial half pour from the keg that i specifically draw off the tap just for the drain, can i use this? I've poured that first pint before and sat the glass down and forgot and what settles out does have some gooey gelatin in it but also plenty of healthy yeast. Plus it's easier than scooping from a bucket which is how i normally collect a bit of yeast
I want to get back into it, but found my local(ish) shop is apparently long gone. Sad. I'll have to look into what online suppliers are good nowadays..
Whats that eurorack setup in the background? 😅 brewing some sounds in the free time? 🧡
Me and some of my coworkers just started getting into it. I support my local homebrew shop as much as I can. I don't want to have to buy everything online all the time.
Tell me more about:
1. fermenting under pressure
2. fermenting lager yeast this way
The only beers I brew now are Belgian Strong and the such, things that I can brew cheaper than buying. If I am looking for an IPA or Ale the corner gas station has an ample supply to choose from.
New to homebrewing, just started from extracts (but reading a lot and want to go to all grain after partial mash).
I think it's like with phones or anything novel - market will stabilize and those who wanted to brew, will stay (or leave) and just a handful of new people starts doing it. As with any hobby, homebrewing got the dedication of some people and most simply don't care.
I reload my own ammo as a sport shooter. Despite the rise of prices of factory ammo, only handful of people are doing it.
Not everybody has time, space or will to do any time consuming hobby. Which homebrewing definitely is.
I have time as much as I can and want to brew my own beer for acceptable price (well, with all equipment maybe not so). While you can get a fine craft beer these days, prices are often ridiculous.
I think with CZcams podcast, and social media. You not only have other ways to look into homebrewing. You also have more interactive ways to investigate homebrewing. It also helps to get a more direct answer without scrolling through tons of sites. I could tell you first hand Google isn’t the end all be all to judge things.
Never brewed, always wanted too but i sure do love to drink beer. Now i just need a friend who brews.
I homebrew the simple drinks. Wine from left over fruits and ciders. I havent tried to make beer yet from fresh ingredients only, but i wanna go for it. Wine, mead, and cider are the easiest brews to make
I recently started making Mead at home. It's been incredibly difficult to buy brewing equipment.
Local stores have gone in the UK. Amazon's selection is poor.
I got into homebrewing because of all the breweries near me. I am currently asking for equipment I need to switch to all grain for my birthday and Christmas.
In my area Homebrewing is going up. My club has gained 30 new home brewers in the last 4 months. I think the cost of craft beer has gotten us more new brewers.
I learned from a pro brewer to ALWAYS add chemicals to water and not water to chemicals. Not a huge issue for homebrewers, but if you’re using commercial-strength chemicals you don’t want to splash or splay water on top of chemicals, and have those chemicals splash or spray.
I live in the Netherlands and craft beer is getting really expensive here. A few years ago I could buy a bottle for about 2 euros here, and plenty of the "simpler" styles for between 1.50 and 1.75. Now those simpler styles are already 2 euros and the more "special" craft beers are 3-4 euros. Also in my opinion all the IPA's have now become the same sweet/juicy hop bombs.
Anyways, to get some good and affordable beer in the Netherlands for the first time there might be an actual business case to homebrew. If you don't continuously invest in new gear, which most of us do anyways for the hobby.
i love home brewing, ill never stop
I agree with you to some degree. Also,people are lazy and don’t appreciate the art of creation on a personal level. They would rather just buy something and not have to clean/sanitize etc. I’ve brewed off/on since ~’96. I get busy with life but have always come back. I love my own creation.
might be less searches coz alot of people have your channel subscribed and therefor dont search for it anymore
Brew store near me closed in August, I feel almost like a kid who just saw a candy store get destroyed in a fire.
Got a link to that recipe? If I go to the website, the last recipe I see was from about a year ago, and if I search "holiday" the only Xmas beer is from 2017