Serious Leisure Participation

After searching high and low for something to blog about, I came across a  dissertation from May 2011 by Douglas W. Murray tilted "Home Brewing and Serious Leisure: A Mixed Methods Examination".  After reading some of it, it got me thinking about home brewing. I haven't gone out and tried to make my own beer or anything, but I did do some research on the subject. Home brewing has increased dramatically since the 1980s being linked to Jimmy Carter signing in 1976 of legislation allowing home brewing nationally. As home brewers increases, so does commercial brewers. In 1997, the United States passed Germany with number of breweries. Currently, craft beer is projected to exceed $7 billion annually, capturing over 6% of the commercial dollar volume market share with 1,625 brewing operations producing 8.5 million barrels of beer annually. In the first two quarters of 2010, overall beer consumption fell by 2.7%, with domestic brands down 2.9% and imports down 9%.  Craft beer sales by contrast increased 9% by volume and over 12% by revenue. (thanks to Dr. Murray for doing most of the research)

What is serious leisure and how does it differ from normal leisure? Looking at Mr. Murray's dissertation, serious leisure is the systematic pursuit of an amateur, hobbyist, or volunteer activity that is sufficiently substantial and interesting for a participant to find a career there in the acquisition and expression of special skills and knowledge.  The serious leisure construct has served to bridge the leisure gulf between the traditional worldview of leisure and the demands represented by the changing society. 


One would think that home brewers would not want to share their secrets with anyone else to protect their recipes.  But this would be wrong, as a whole. I am sure that some home brewers want to keep their ideas to themselves. There are many websites devoted to teaching and explaining how to brew your own beer and make wine. One website, http://www.homebrewschool.com/ tells how to brew beer and even provides videos. There are many websites written for the some purpose of providing home brewers with supplies, and ideas for their home brewing.  The American Home Brewers Association (AHA) is the national organization which supports individual members in their pursuit of the non-commercial (home) production of craft beers.  The organization is a clearing house for supplier information, brewing education, and governmental lobbying efforts on behalf of the craft.  The organization also promotes the important social aspects of fellowship and conviviality with fellow craft people; such as brewing competitions, exhibitions, and events which add the aspects of learning, challenge, and competition long defined as important serious leisure dimensions.  With a membership of approximately 25,000 individuals brewing throughout the United States, home brewery is on the rise. 

Does this niche market wish to expand by getting more people interested by providing help for free? Does the home brewer wish to gain notoriety such as Jim Koch, Samuel Adams founder?  Or Jeff Lebesch, founder of New Belgium Brewery? (If you are ever in Fort Collins, CO I recommend going on a tour of their facility.) These brewers have transferred out of the home brewer market and into commercial brewers. But the idea is still there for home brewers to gain this type of notoriety. 

So why do so many home brewers take up this leisure activity? With so many craft beers all ready in the market place, does the market need more? I think any of us who take up any kind of leisure activity can answer this.....