The American Homebrew Association (AHA) has designated November 4, 2017 as Learn to Homebrew Day. The idea is for us to introduce the hobby to our non-brewing friends and family. I wholeheartedly endorse the idea, but I’d like to suggest extending the recognition of the day.
With the holidays coming up, there’s a pretty good chance that you’ll find yourself with a house full of guests to entertain. The main event itself should be packed with activities: feasting and football on Thanksgiving, for instance. But what about Black Friday or the weekend? You could load up and go shopping or sightseeing, but wouldn’t it be more relaxing to hang out and brew a batch of beer together?
Think about it. Instead of arguing politics with your in-laws, you could have a much more entertaining debate on the merits of New England style vs traditional West Coast IPAs and which one you should brew. Aside from giving you something to do together, leading them through the brewing process provides a wealth of conversational topics, so no awkward silences. Even better, if they pick up the hobby, you’ll have more in common next year.