aleguy wrote:First off, from what I've read on outside forums such as this one, most of the guys in my club are far more advanced brewers than the members of other clubs I know about. (With a very few notable exceptions.) As I said, this is not the appropriate forum to say anything bad about Jamil, but, I have simply stated the facts about the perception of him among my fellow brewers. Some of them do follow him religiously.
I have zero use for recipe books. In the 12 years since I started brewing, I have used someone else's recipe exactly twice. My own recipes invariably turn out better.
I can cite one telling example: He never said anything about using servo in his brewing. However when asked directly, he said he used it in every batch. To me that is leaving out very important information. Maybe he expects everyone to know that already, but in my club, we are always trying to share the most complete information possible to help promote home brewing and help the newer guys along. The emphasis is nearly always on good technique over expensive ingredients or equipment. Someone is always willing to lend equipment or expertise to help our fellow members out.
This is as much true about helping people build their breweries as it is about helping them brew better.
In any case, this has gone way too far off the topic I am currently most concerned about: Flanders Red!
I can believe your perception that they do not prescribe to Jamil's recipes, etc., as my small brew club doesn't either. They are of the mind "we make good enough beer, why try harder." Yes I need a new club. I agree with Chupa, if you've only brewed someone else's twice, then how are you so certain yours is better? I also think the point about Servo is minor at best. You do not need Servo to make great beer. It helps, but it isn't absolutely necessary, and there are a number of other yeast nutrients out there that could be used. And how your club puts "the emphasis nearly always on good technique over expensive ingredients or equipment" goes further to prove the point. You don't need expensive Servo, and Jamil has said on dozens of occasions that the process is the important part. He has even offered to take the most basic of equipment and ingredients and win medals with it, but they didn't take him up on it, which I wish they had.
Anyway...back to Flander's Reds. I am also interested to hear how you approach this, as I have my own in secondary at the moment, and plan on making more in the future since it is one of my favorite styles. So, by all means please keep us updated and perhaps we can all learn something from one another.
