This may come as a bit of a shock for some people, because I haven't really voiced these feelings here before, but I have been grappling with some very odd feelings over the last 6 months or so. I think with this last year of working a lot (sometimes too much) with brewing and going to all these beer events, yadda yadda, that beer is just getting a little...old. There, I said it. It's just like, how many IPA's or imperial stouts or even complex farmhouse ales or sours can you really drink before it all starts to taste the same?
I've been drinking a lot of nice local wines lately, and learning about different varieties, and it's been really refreshing just to taste and learn about something that's not beer for a while! I may get some flack for this, but I have always been one to speak my mind: wine just really is more complex than beer. I realized when we started the Flanders barrel project that I do want to work with barrels, it's just not beer that I want to put in them anymore.
It feels weird. It feels like I am breaking up with a girlfriend of 9 years. Will I even know how to live my life without her? Of course, but it will take a while. It's time to see other people. I'll still see her around at parties from time to time and we will have our awkward conversations, and maybe even be friends some day, but I need some time apart before that can happen.
I have been speaking with a local winemaker, a guy I met during my search for wine barrels, who says he might need some help in the fields this summer. It's a small mom & pop operation in Yamhill. Don't want to give away the name of the winery yet, but I'l fill you in with details when the time is right.
I still wish all you guys the best in your beer brewing adventures. If you're interested in reading a winemaking blog, stay tuned for future posts!
Chin Chin!
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11 comments:
You're buck nutty, Wonton!
I'm with you and am dumping out all my corny kegs as we speak. Next up, an Imperial Black Double Merlot.
Well done. Beer makes you fat anyway.
Hi! New to your blog, and blogging period, but your adventures in brewing have been a good read. :)
And, might I say, that's a pretty big change...
Might I suggest trying some meads? It's sad to see all of your brewing equipment get relegated to storage (or, gasp! depart from your life entirely). There is a huge variety available to you, and it might offer you some much needed variety.
Sorry to hear. I've gone through a couple periods where my interest in beer/brewing has waned. Usually in the summer when brewing becomes an unpleasant chore. It is also the reason I’ve always been hesitant to turn my hobby into my profession.
Some time off may help you to remember the things about beer that you enjoy. Best of luck getting into wine making, if you return to brewing the skills you learn could be very helpful.
I am assuming this wasn't an April Fools joke of course...
Didn't anyone see the date of that post? Oh, yeah, Sean's been doing comment moderation...
Nice APRIl Fool's joke....
I think what you're experiencing is fairly common. When I went to Napa, many of the younger winemakers I met were homebrewers. They just got sick of all the wine. This was even at some of the very high end wineries.
While you may only be able to do one for a living, don't feel like you have to get pidgeonholed into a hobby. Remember, wine's a seasonal product. Malt's good all year round. Make wine in the fall, sake in the winter, beer in the spring, and then drink it all in the summer!
Nice April Fool's
April Fools, looks like I got some of ya! Haha... so far I still cannot imagine getting sick of beer, although it is great to explore other fermented and distilled beverages at times to keep things interesting.
Sorry it too me a while to post your comments, we were in Mexico for a week on vacation, and I didn't check my email or phone for a week. Not a lot of craft beer there, but we had some great ice-cold cervezas, margaritas, and even found one brewpub in San Jose Del Cabo.
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