Comments on: Monday musing: Hands on still matters in brewing http://appellationbeer.com/blog/monday-musing-hands-on-still-matters-in-brewing/ Tue, 16 Mar 2010 13:07:30 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Spencer http://appellationbeer.com/blog/monday-musing-hands-on-still-matters-in-brewing/comment-page-1/#comment-160911 Spencer Thu, 02 Oct 2008 19:27:21 +0000 http://appellationbeer.com/blog/monday-musing-hands-on-still-matters-in-brewing/#comment-160911 I think (not having read Crouch's essay yet) that the misconception many people have is that "hands on" is the same as "hand crafted" (and I'm not going to get into the marketing-speak aspect of it.) The important part is not "hand" but "crafted". (I think that's what you're saying, above, too.) I know plenty of brewers, commercial and home, who are "hands on" but make lousy beer. Sometimes its lack of experience and skill, but more often it's just that they *dont care* enough. The beer they make is "good enough", their "friends like it", or "it sells". And that's enough for them. They are not "crafting" beer, but merely producing it. And it shows. The people like “Ron, Tomme, Adam, Vinnie” are *crafters*. They care about making the best, and they're putting a bit of themselves into everything they make. *That* is what makes the difference, not whether they're stirring the mash with a wooden paddle or a computerized gizmo. I think (not having read Crouch’s essay yet) that the misconception many people have is that “hands on” is the same as “hand crafted” (and I’m not going to get into the marketing-speak aspect of it.) The important part is not “hand” but “crafted”. (I think that’s what you’re saying, above, too.) I know plenty of brewers, commercial and home, who are “hands on” but make lousy beer. Sometimes its lack of experience and skill, but more often it’s just that they *dont care* enough. The beer they make is “good enough”, their “friends like it”, or “it sells”. And that’s enough for them. They are not “crafting” beer, but merely producing it. And it shows.

The people like “Ron, Tomme, Adam, Vinnie” are *crafters*. They care about making the best, and they’re putting a bit of themselves into everything they make. *That* is what makes the difference, not whether they’re stirring the mash with a wooden paddle or a computerized gizmo.

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