For me, the paradox of homebrewing is that I give away my best beer and don’t even get to taste it, while I quietly drink the worst ones myself to see where I went wrong. The most useful tool for me to improve my brewing skills has been detailed notes. When you drink your beer, you’ll want to remember what you did and figure out if you were right or wrong. Everyone brews differently-some people like to brew differently every time, while others prefer to brew the same recipe, perfecting it to perfection. Either way, if you want to improve your craftsmanship, you’ll find the notes helpful.
When I try my new homebrew, I add tasting notes and thoughts on what I can change next time to my brewing notes. I’m the kind of home brewer who likes to do things differently every time, so in a year’s time, when I brew this recipe again, the notes will prove to be very helpful. Also, keeping notes on what changes you make to the recipe will help you understand how changes in raw materials or techniques affect the final taste and flavor of the beer.
I also advise newbie brewers to join a local club or find some sort of online community. Whatever problems you’re facing, someone else has been through it before, and they can help you find the cause and the solution to the problem. Reviewing each other’s equipment, sampling each other’s beers, and sharing opinions is fun and inspiring. After all, good beer brings people together, and we don’t brew it alone at home. We brew beer because we enjoy it, and we enjoy sharing it with those around us.