An ode to home brewing

Christmas 2016 was a special time for me, it was the first one I got to share with my beautiful girlfriend and even better, we got to do so in the house that we live in together. We exchanged gifts a couple of nights early as we were traveling interstate and didn't want to have to lug them along with us. To my complete and utter surprise, one of the gifts she gave me was a tin of Coopers malt extract. At first glance to many a fairly unassuming item, like with any good gift it's the thought that counts and it just so happened this one now has more cherished meaning to me than any other gift I have ever received.

A long time fan of beer throughout the years, I've always been partial to a slightly 'craftier' tipple from small local breweries in interesting places the world over. Having seen a friend get started out home brewing and perhaps looked on wistfully, this simple 1.7kg tin of sweet and viscous liquid was less an impulse purchase to top up the gift stocking and more a beautiful way of inspiring creativity and granting permission. Permission for what, you might ask? Permission to brew.

After just a few basic extract beers with assorted experiments like a dry-hopped bright ale and a rather fruity apricot pale ale, I was bitten by the bug and thrown into a world of podcasts, books and internet forums all dedicated to the brewer's art. Now doing all-grain brewing, which is what professional breweries do (but on a smaller scale in the garage), I hope to one day scale up my operation and turn this passionate backyard hobby of mine into an opportunity to work for myself and maybe even have a chance at owning my own home.

I love to share my beer with friends and family, and mostly produce classic styles with an occasional local twist. My stout is very popular with everyone who's tried it and there is a Czech style pilsener on the way which I hope will warm up everyone's winter nights. It really is rewarding when someone tastes something that you've made and not only enjoys it, but asks for more!

So all this aside, I couldn't help but notice that there hasn't been much on the topic of home brewing among my new friends here on Steemit and for that reason I ask:

Who here is a home brewer and what do you brew? It doesn't matter whether it's beer, cider, wine, mead or kombucha, I'd love to hear about it and how it makes you feel!

Cheers!