Brewing Beer Like Those You Buy

[BarnsleyBrewer]

I still love my early print "Dave Line - Brewing Beers Like Those You Buy" Think he died when he was around 38?

BB

[chris2012]

Yeah I love that book too! Yeah on mine it mentions how young he died.

[Dennis King]

I still love my early print "Dave Line - Brewing Beers Like Those You Buy" Think he died when he was around 38?

BB

Don't know how true it is but I heard somewhere he died of liver damaged caused by brewing with plastic bins that were not food grade.

[Graham]

Don't know how true it is but I heard somewhere he died of liver damaged caused by brewing with plastic bins that were not food grade.

Liver damage possibly, but damage caused by brewing with plastic bins that were not food grade is pure supposition and quite unlikely in my view. At the time when a previous publisher of his books was extant, and that publisher suggested that I might like to revise The Big Book of Brewing, the publisher told me that he thought that Dave Line died of a heart attack. However Dave Line's successors are still about, because had I accepted the commission there would then have to had to have been an arrangement made with the copyright owner (daughter-in-law, I think) to allow me to do so (but I declined the offer). So a definitive reason for Dave Line's death should be obtainable with a little digging around amongst those who knew him personally.

Dave Line's books were among those that gave me my early introduction to home brewing, and there is no doubt that my Brew Your Own... was inspired by Dave Line's Brewing Beers Like..., so his heritage still lives on.

The reason that I said that it was unlikely that his ailment was caused by using plastic bins that were not food grade is that he would have had no need to do such a thing. Dave Line was no fool, and would not have taken the risk if there was any likelihood of danger. Non-food-grade plastics are not particularly toxic these days, which is why people get away with using picnic coolers as mash tuns. Most of these coolers are not meant to come in to contact with consumable liquids and do not need to be food-grade plastic. Also, if his book went down as well as my recipe books did, he would have been inundated with more food-grade brewing bins than he knew what to do with, he probably got them for free too.

[Dennis King]

Thanks for the insight Graham, another internet rumor. Good to see you back on here again.

[GrowlingDogBeer]

Graham, good to see you back.

Does that mean you have more food grade brewing bins than you know what to do with

[Graham]

Thanks for the insight Graham, another internet rumor. Good to see you back on here again.

Perhaps not rumour; it is highly probable that he did die from a liver complaint, at least that is what Wikipedia says (yes I know), but the reference given is a bit vague. Over the years I have come across several people that have met him (he used to do talks and demonstrations at home-brew clubs/shops) and invariably I ask that question, I have also asked others who have been in the hobby for years and who might have remembered his passing or have seen his obituary, and it seems that no-one seems to know for sure. Even his publisher said "he thought it was a heart attack" which is not a definitive answer. He is one of those people that I would like to have met, and certainly would like to know more about.

[Dennis King]

I am certainly grateful to him for moving me on from the recipes of the Ken Shales books to making really decent beers.

[Graham]

Does that mean you have more food grade brewing bins than you know what to do with

I must confess that I have had the occasional free gift from home brewing shops, or trade suppliers, and I naturally assumed that Dave Line would have enjoyed similar treatment. As a result of my age, physical condition, and because these circumstances have forced me to downsize my living accommodation, I am gradually getting rid of my accumulated brewing paraphernalia, just keeping a few bits back to photograph for the new book. After that it all gets disposed of and that will be the end of brewing for me.

[Dennis King]

Good news there may be a new book but sad to hear you are stopping brewing.

[Graham]

I am certainly grateful to him for moving me on from the recipes of the Ken Shales books to making really decent beers.

In fact, I admired Ken Shales' enthusiastic writing style; I wish I could imitate it. I know his books had major flaws, but don't we all? There were a lot worse home brewing books out there than those by Ken Shales.

[Dennis King]

I am certainly grateful to him for moving me on from the recipes of the Ken Shales books to making really decent beers.

In fact, I admired Ken Shales' enthusiastic writing style; I wish I could imitate it. I know his books had major flaws, but don't we all? There were a lot worse home brewing books out there than those by Ken Shales.

Ken Shales was very local to me. Two of my friend's Dads were amongst he's tasting gang and told me a few stories. Another one who died to young.

[Graham]

Good news there may be a new book but sad to hear you are stopping brewing.

It's an age thing, I am not yet, not quite, official retirement age, but I have the fitness of a man twice my age. I still have an issue with balance and an unpredictable left hand; not as unpredictable as Doctor Strangelove's hand, but it makes lifting and moving full vessels around a risky business. Time to call it a day I think. I have been at it since 1979 and the enthusiasm is not as strong as it used to be.

It won't stop me lurking on here, though, and causing as much controversy as I can. Ah! simple pleasures.

[IPA]

I am certainly grateful to him for moving me on from the recipes of the Ken Shales books to making really decent beers.

Me too. But there again poor Ken died an early death. Perhaps is a homebrew hazard. Really good to see Graham posting also

[barneey]

As Amazon have them on sale 2 books for a tenner, I've ordered them both for a read.