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Engineers turned Brewmasters

Engineers turned Brewmasters

Engineers turned Brewmasters

(OP)
I have been homebrewing for 2 years now. During this time I have noticed a remarkable correlation between engineers and homebrewers. The science behind brewing seems very appealing to the engineering type and it is indeed a great hobby. Naturally, every homebrewer has thought about opening his own brewery at some point. Does anyone know anyone or have examples of engineers turned brewmasters?

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

I've been home brewing for 37 years now and have four kids...

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

(OP)
Surely you have had the urge to start a brewery. Have you ever given it any real consideration? I am a young engineer who just got my PE, but I am not sure that this is what I want to do the rest of my life. I enjoy the project management and business development side of my consulting work, but my title as staff engineer leaves me daydreaming about brewing all the time. Any advice?

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Just my opinion, but I don't think engineers brew their own beer because "the science is appealing".  I think they like to drink beer, but don't like to pay much for it.  Mike?

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Beer is good.  Home brewing is the best.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Mike,

I'm not clear you understand where children come from.  Home brew helps, but can also hinder.

- Steve

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Word of the day: zymurgist.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

I've tried my hand at a few batches of beer, but I haven't yet mastered it. I'd really like to make a few gallons of whisky, but I haven't found a way around the pesky federal government. I have to agree with Hokie66's assessment for the most part. I'll add that there is something innately satisfying about creating such a useful product.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

(OP)
A lot of people like beer, but not many people brew there own. My point was that of the homebrewers I know, engineering is the most common profession by far.

Making whiskey requires a still, which is a pretty serious equipment commitment. I don't think the gov would mind you making some booze as long as you're not selling it.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Sorry Shirsch. From the ATF's website: "You cannot produce spirits for beverage purposes without paying taxes and without prior approval of paperwork to operate a distilled spirits plant." It's my understanding that we were not even allowed to brew beer until Jimmy Carter made it legal in the late 70s. (I'm not doing any math Mike)

http://www.atf.gov/alcohol/info/faq/index.htm

Maybe there are more engineer brewers because we realize that products are actually designed and produced. Bridges don't just appear where needed. Buildings don't just grow out of the ground. Beer doesn't just appear on the grocery store shelves. It seems that this notion is lost on most of society.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

StompingGuy:

Oh, believe me I understand.  I understand so well that I have trained others in the art of brewing.  I have 8 grandkids and one in the vat.

Mike McCann
MMC Engineering

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

A friend and fellow engineer was a QE for a local medical devices manufacturer.  After a painful divorce and his employer laying him off, he spent some time as "assistant brewmaster" in a somewhat touristy brew pub.  It was fun, but the pay was low, and the work was "when and if", the demand being set by how much the pub could sell.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

I used to syphon off my Dad's home-made wine into a plastic bottle and stick it in the bottom of the freezer.  Then I'd let the alcohol melt into a jug, leaving mainly water behind.  School holidays...

- Steve

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

For an example of Engineers turned brewmasters, check out Wachusetts brewery (go to website).  A couple of Engineers from the local technical university who started their own company.  It has been a succesful enterprise.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

When I was stationed on a submarine we used to make "bilge wine" , not too bad.  

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

I like making my own beer and it is fun, but I could not see doing it for a living.

As for the a stil we all know what it takes to make one it is just the time and the law that stops most of us.

Chris

PS I am always looking for new beers to make.

"In this house, we obey the laws of thermodynamics." Homer Simpson

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Upon returning from Christmas vacation a coworker started describing the beer kit he got for Christmas. We discussed it for a while and decided to brew and trade beers. News travels quick, and we now have 10 guys in an office of 40 that are brewing away. That is 1/3 of the engineers (counting interns). Most of those brewing have brewed before. We are going to have a homebrew celebration on the first day of Spring.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

We had a home brew festival at work a few years ago.  The next day there were railings put across the sides of the foot-bridge between work and the town.  Several of our guys have inadvertently taken the plunge on their walk home.

- Steve

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

(OP)
jorton, where do you work?  That sounds like a good office to be in.   

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

many years ago I worked with a designer who commercialized a home brewing kit, an all in one device akin to the breadmakers now available.  It was succesful enough he and his partners started a brewery.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

I home brew wine. I have never even thought of making wine professionally though.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

It's fun to share a batch, when it comes out well; (my little outfit that I used to have made about two & 1/2 cases at a time,)But my problem was getting people to wash out my bottles after imbibing. Brewer's yeast is hard to remove, after it "sets up" Maybe something new is out there?

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Mike did your 4 kids come about because you are a home brewer? ;)

I would recommend the "The Alaskan Bootleggers Bible" it is a great book covers everything from the law, equipment, and recipes. Also a lot of info on the web.

http://www.happymountain.net/

There are a lot of different distilling methods that can be used that shouldn't get you in trouble. I have used a couple of these. The peach wine is really good.

I think it covers it in here if you are careful on how you do everything the making alcoholic products for your personal use and as gifts (as I recall there are is a limit or so many gallons per year) is not illegal.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

"There are a lot of different distilling methods that can be used that shouldn't get you in trouble"

If you separate ethyl alcohol from a 'mixture' containing alcohol by distillation, you are in violation of federal law, unless you register with BATF as a "distiller"

However it's been said " anything's legal if you don't get caught"  

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

thruthefence-

It has been a couple of years since I looked at it and it may have changed, but as I recall there are some ways to bob and weave around how you actually remove the alcohol. I think there is a little bit of gray you can work with. I would read up on it before I tried. And I wouldn't take my word for it either.

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

I'm with the crowd that explains it as a desire to drink decent beer without paying full price- both fine engineering traits!

After a couple batches, you realize that it takes beer to make beer, at which point it becomes pretty much impossible to stop...

Me, I had to stop my kit-brewing right after grad school.  Once I no longer had sufficient buddies to brew and drink with, I found I couldn't drink it fast enough to keep it "fresh" without becoming considerably more of a man than I am now- weight-wise I mean.  Just one belt of "skunky" homebrew left too long on the shelf has you racing for a razor to shave your tongue to get that horrible taste out of your mouth...

Fortunately for both of us, my DW doesn't drink beer so getting her "help" wasn't an option.  And inviting friends over to drink it all (without also helping to pay for the kits, brew and bottle it) cut too much into the "avoiding paying full price" goal.  So that put an end to my zymurgical aspirations!   

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

DW?

The W is almost certainly "Wife", but the "D"...

Dear
Drunken
Diminutive
Divorced
Deranged
Dead


 

- Steve

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

Designated?

V

RE: Engineers turned Brewmasters

In this case the D's for "dear"- fortunately in this case meaning "endearing" rather than expensive!  In booze terms she's a very "cheap date"!

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