Great topic.
Interesting comments from some of the working brewers who opted out of a less-than-satisying IT/IS career. I did 12 years in IT starting in 1975, and I saw a lot of IT people go thru job burnout and depression, divorces, etc. IT/IS pays well but costs even more, if you know what I mean. By the 10-yr mark, it loses its allure and challenge, and it becomes boring as hell.
One of my best friends is still in IT. He is one of the best there is at it, but he is also one of the best homebrewers in the world, having done pilot brews for several PDX breweries back in the day. He would be a fulltime brewer if he could afford it. But he makes 120k a year and has a wife and two kids, one in college and one in high school.
I am getting into the brewing business as a 2nd career. I didn't burn out in IT, but only because I stopped doing IT work and instead built an IT contracting company. I sold that co. a few years back, and I am glad I am done with IT.
Several of you mentioned brewing is physically demanding and a young man's game. I agree. I am 50, with a 50-year-old back. I wish I was 25 or 30 again, and could work as a full-time brewer. Instead, my plan is to learn the business & then buy a brewing business with a brewer. I'll run the financial, sales, and distribution side. Like the rest of you, I'm drawn to brewing as a craft & as a labor of love.
Like craft cheesemaking, specialty farms, weekend farmers markets, and craft bread-baking, there is a cultural aspect to craft brewing. Having craft breweries enriches our American culture. It is a worthy calling and a worthy thing to do. But just like farming, cheesemaking, being a chef, teaching in public schools, and a thousand other occupations, don't go into it expecting to make a lot of money.
Interesting comments from some of the working brewers who opted out of a less-than-satisying IT/IS career. I did 12 years in IT starting in 1975, and I saw a lot of IT people go thru job burnout and depression, divorces, etc. IT/IS pays well but costs even more, if you know what I mean. By the 10-yr mark, it loses its allure and challenge, and it becomes boring as hell.
One of my best friends is still in IT. He is one of the best there is at it, but he is also one of the best homebrewers in the world, having done pilot brews for several PDX breweries back in the day. He would be a fulltime brewer if he could afford it. But he makes 120k a year and has a wife and two kids, one in college and one in high school.
I am getting into the brewing business as a 2nd career. I didn't burn out in IT, but only because I stopped doing IT work and instead built an IT contracting company. I sold that co. a few years back, and I am glad I am done with IT.
Several of you mentioned brewing is physically demanding and a young man's game. I agree. I am 50, with a 50-year-old back. I wish I was 25 or 30 again, and could work as a full-time brewer. Instead, my plan is to learn the business & then buy a brewing business with a brewer. I'll run the financial, sales, and distribution side. Like the rest of you, I'm drawn to brewing as a craft & as a labor of love.
Like craft cheesemaking, specialty farms, weekend farmers markets, and craft bread-baking, there is a cultural aspect to craft brewing. Having craft breweries enriches our American culture. It is a worthy calling and a worthy thing to do. But just like farming, cheesemaking, being a chef, teaching in public schools, and a thousand other occupations, don't go into it expecting to make a lot of money.
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