kids helping me brew

[Bernie Brewer]

My own kids have never had any interest in brewing (it STINKS, Dad!). But that is ok, we have other things we do together. My girlfriend's 5-year-old, though, follows me around like a lost puppy when I brew. He grinds the grain and stirs the mash like a witch tending her cauldron.

 

[FatherJack]

To chime in with a slightly related story on this.

Living in Japan has sort of de-sensitized (is that even a word???) to how retentive some Americans are with alcohol. Here, it's just another fact of life. If a person gets drunk every night with his co-workers, he doesn't have a drinking problem, but instead he is considered a great socializer. I've been on trains at 6:00am in the morning heading to Kyoto (about 100 miles away) and had people behind me cracking open a brew.

I'm amazed at how uptight America is with alcohol every time I go back to the states. I'm nearly 30 years old and I ALWAYS get carded when buying beer. On my last visit I bought a local beer at the corner store, was gonna walk to my parents' home with it, about a 5 minute walk, crack it open right on the front step and enjoy summer breezes and great beer. The lady at the counter was like "Do you want a bag for that?" And I was like..."huh? NO! There's no shame in drinking great beer." Her reply was "Amen to that!"

Anyway, my little cultural rant on that. Spending any time with your kid, as long as you are not endangering them, is the best time to me. I consider brewing to be like cooking and showing kids the ropes in the kitchen is one of the biggest favors you can do them in life. Brew on!

 

[dukedog]

It's like the discussions we've had on here about including homebrewing as a hobby on a resume, or bringing it up in an interview. You're unfortunately pegged as an alcoholic.

Now, if your kids help you smoke a giant pork butt, are you accused of being an artery clogger?

Well I don't generally put my hobbies on my resume unless they pertain to the job I'm applying for anyways.

 

[beerheart]

Holy cats! You are definitely a far better father/mother than those making the remarks. As azscoob pointed out, you are giving your daughter memories that will last a lifetime.

Chances are your daughter will grow up to have a great respect for beer, and not abuse it like their children will. When she is old enough she will know what well crafted beer should taste like and savor it in moderation - not pound pints of Natty Light at the bar trying to get a buzz on.

 

[Delorean1981]

you on the other hand are teaching your daughter a craft that has been passed down for thousands of years.

Enough said. Cheers to you sir, and your daughter

 

[evilhomer]

Your coworkers are idiots.

My wife and daughters hate the smell when I brew. But like normal I had the wort loaded into the fermentor bucket on the kitchen floor as I was taking care of my final steps. My 3 year old boy walked up, took a big whif, made a funny face and ran away. Then he kept coming back every 30 seconds or so to lean in, smell it and go mmmmm.

 

[ARittner]

They told me I should do something girls like to do. The first thing I though of was that she not in to tea partys, I think she has yeast in her blood. She like to brew with me and bake bread with my dad.

I wonder what they'd say about me? My 14 year old daughter helps me. I've never used my bench capper, since she caps all my batches while I fill bottles. She always helps me taste the hydro samples too. We go out in the back and shoot too, and she's a deadeye shot with her little .22 rifle. Also begs me to let her mow the lawn with the big zero turn. My 11 year old loves to help out too. Kept him stirring the wort on my last batch.

The girl keeps pestering me to do a batch of mead, but I need to get my temp control worked out before I age anything that long.

Anyway, ignore your coworkers. They're idiots.

 

[ndsgr]

My 2 year old daughter likes to throw the hops in.

My Mormon friend found out she helps me and almost had blood vessel explode. "Well, at least she doesn't drink the beer." Me: "Nope, she most certainly doesn't have a little 1oz glass that I taught her to smell, then carefully sip."

 

[msarro]

My brother makes mead with his kids (he's not a beer fan). When I have kids, I intend to let them help me if they so choose. Heck, they can even have some if they want. My parents raised me that alcohol is no big deal, and that if I wanted to drink it, home was a safe place to do it. I was never much for the taste until after college when I tasted my first craft brews.

I guess being told i could have it made it less taboo or something? And who doesn't appreciate something more when they've helped make it themselves.

 

[uncommonsense]

Thanks guy you realy made my do. Especially when she ask me last night why the beer was turn in to water. (She was watching the bubble in the airlock). I told her about fermentation. she realy thought it was funny that yeast eat sugar then poop alcohol and fart CO2.

 

[birvine]

I'm sure they're right - we're all going to rot in you-know-where. And now our damaged kids are going to turn out to be versed in rudimentary science, will ask questions, will have spent a pleasant time with a family member as a 'helper', and will likely learn about moderation in all things in life including alcohol consumption. Too bad - now they won't be narrow-minded, short-sighted, dull-witted, fear-mongers.

Poor them. (Take the 'poor them' to mean whomsoever you wish!)

B

 

[Yooper]

They told me I should do something girls like to do. The first thing I though of was that she not in to tea partys, I think she has yeast in her blood. She like to brew with me and bake bread with my dad.

I must be a terrible mother, according to your coworkers! I've taken my (now grown) kids hunting, fishing, hiking, kayaking, canoeing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and camping. Not very "girl like" activities! Now my daughter is out ice-fishing with HER son, and has a great love of the outdoors.

People always criticize things they don't understand. "Beer is bad! Let your kids pay a drunk at the store to get their beer, the way we had to do!"

I'd rather have my kids with me doing activities- just about any activity- then playing shoot 'em up video games and sitting in from of the TV.

I also have shown my kids moderation in all things- food, drink, church, play, work, etc. Putting anything "off limits" just makes it more attractive.

 

[howabouttheiris]

I have a funny story that totally disgusted some anti-drinking folks from down the street.

We were having a house party and as the evening was getting later my boy was getting ready for bed, running about in his diaper. He was probably 2 at the time. He gave me a kiss good night and instinctively I handed him my empty glass and asked him to draw me one before he went to bed. Off he runs, sets the glass on the bar, runs into the kitchen, gets his step, sets it in front of the tap, draws me a perfect pour (you could hear him say 'tilt the glass', climbs down, hands it to me and runs off to momma and bed. I turn to see nothing but shocked faces.

 

[birvine]

How...

Awesome story. I'll have to teach Alex (4) that one!!

 

[Indyking]

Your co-workers just don't understand, like Yooper said, and instead of feeling anger at them, I just feel sorry.

Making beer has a lot of teaching opportunities for kids.

You can teach them about safety when boiling with propane.

Teach them math when explaining the amounts for each ingredient.

Teach them science when explaining how the little bugs (yeast) will make the syrup to convert to beer - This particular part fascinates them!

Teach them quality of life when showing that any physical activity is better them watching TV or play videogames

And finally teach them discipline when explaining why the final product is reserved for grown-ups.

It's a wonder.

 

[azscoob]

I have a funny story that totally disgusted some anti-drinking folks from down the street.

We were having a house party and as the evening was getting later my boy was getting ready for bed, running about in his diaper. He was probably 2 at the time. He gave me a kiss good night and instinctively I handed him my empty glass and asked him to draw me one before he went to bed. Off he runs, sets the glass on the bar, runs into the kitchen, gets his step, sets it in front of the tap, draws me a perfect pour (you could hear him say 'tilt the glass', climbs down, hands it to me and runs off to momma and bed. I turn to see nothing but shocked faces.

I see nothing wrong with that, he was pouring, not drinking. on a side note, the best bartender I know doesnt drink a drop, nor has he ever drank a drop, his father owned the bar so he worked there to help out. that man can make a wicked cocktail or pull a perfect pint!

 

[IrregularPulse]

My son bought me some bottle caps at our LHBS for christmas with his own money out of his own wallet. Later he helped me by placing the caps on the beers before I sealed em up, and even now when ever I get one out of the fridge with the silver caps (the ones he bought) he gets VERY excited to see Daddy enjoying and partaking in his Christmas gift.

Very cool. I can definitely see my boy buying little brewing related gifts like this for me. Sure beat a neck-tie!

My 8-year old daughter was at church school. They were making bread as a project before First Communion. The teacher tells us she was asking some very intelligent questions, then says: "those are the same ingredients in beer! I help my dad make it!" the teachers were impressed with her knowledge, as well as amused.

I'm proud.

Very impressed...with the church people! Glad to see they were amused.

My parents raised me that alcohol is no big deal, and that if I wanted to drink it, home was a safe place to do it. I was never much for the taste until after college when I tasted my first craft brews.

I guess being told i could have it made it less taboo or something? And who doesn't appreciate something more when they've helped make it themselves.

This is my exact thought too. I'm sure people in my family worry about my son growing up with a bar downstairs and beer being made in the garage, but when he is older and sees beer or goes to a bar, it won't be a big deal. Just another day just like every other for as long as he can possibly remember.

I have a funny story that totally disgusted some anti-drinking folks from down the street.

We were having a house party and as the evening was getting later my boy was getting ready for bed, running about in his diaper. He was probably 2 at the time. He gave me a kiss good night and instinctively I handed him my empty glass and asked him to draw me one before he went to bed. Off he runs, sets the glass on the bar, runs into the kitchen, gets his step, sets it in front of the tap, draws me a perfect pour (you could hear him say 'tilt the glass', climbs down, hands it to me and runs off to momma and bed. I turn to see nothing but shocked faces.

haha I can totally picture my son doing this. Especially the "runs into the kitchen, gets his step, sets it in front of the tap, draws me a perfect pour (you could hear him say 'tilt the glass)" part. I would be afraid he'd be pouring pints left and right though when I wasn't looking.


I love this thread and what it's turned into. I love reading all these stories about time spent with your little ones. I may be a little sensitive to such topics due to recent circumstances, but it just puts a big smile on my face to read these.

 

[ndsgr]

One of my homebrew buds had a party last september. My daughter (again, 2) disappeared into the house to emerge with her own little cup of homebrewed Oktoberfest. I caught her just in time to hear laughter from the kegerator room. Apparently, she knew it was a switch, not a valve - no foam, perfect little pour just like she may or may not get at home (~1 oz). I got a lot of high 5s from the guys that witnessed it.

When she's big enough, we'll be shooting and riding dirt bikes together. My wife always jokes that I'll never get a son. I say I don't care.

 

[EricT]

Mine helps me brew on the weekends too, theres nothing wrong with it. To each their own I guess.

 

[Valcarde]

My two-year old daughter loves to be in the kitchen whenever Daddy's working in there, be it cooking dinner or making beer. She ever tries to help with clean-up.

If she shows an interest in helping me when she gets older and asks questions, I'll be more then happy to teach her the science behind how beer is made. Anything to keep her from watching nothing but TV all day. We don't even watch it for more then two hours a day or so ourselves!

 

[SpottedDogBrewing]

Your coworkers are wrong. You're spending quality time with your daughter teaching her something about science, doing things for yourself and that there's more enjoyment in life than electronics. Their kids are playing video games and watching TV.
Besides, just tell them she doesn't help make beer, she helps make wort, you would never let her near it post chill and yeast pitching time.

I hear ya brotha!!! For sure, if you can get them off the couch get them off the couch and away from all the other crap that will corrupt them!! Besides it's always nice to have that extra hand

 

[certaut]

My daughter(8) has been helping for years. She is in charge of the hop scale and will measure out the hops, and reseal the bags she also likes to stir up the grist in the
dehydrator and use a coffee mill to make flour

 

[Indyking]

My parents raised me that alcohol is no big deal, and that if I wanted to drink it, home was a safe place to do it. I was never much for the taste until after college when I tasted my first craft brews.

This is my exact thought too. I'm sure people in my family worry about my son growing up with a bar downstairs and beer being made in the garage, but when he is older and sees beer or goes to a bar, it won't be a big deal. Just another day just like every other for as long as he can possibly remember.

Exactly. Same with me. Alcohol was never a big deal when I grew up. I remember my teen years when some of my friends were always drinking in secret and would always get very drunk. I thought it was ridiculous and always wondered why they were doing that. Now I know... It was that sense of forbidden and repression that served as stimulus for them to get drunk whenever they had a chance.

 

[gratus fermentatio]

Was talken about brewing at work, and I said the my 3 year old likes to help me (throw pellets in, etc.). They told me that it was wrong to have her help make "BEER". Is it, she has fun and I make her wash her hand. I don't think its wrong any of you.

Maybe your coworkers should STFU. Father/daughter or father/son brewing sounds like a great idea to me. It's quality time, learning about science & just plain cool. Regards, GF.

 

[finley]

I brew with both my kids (2 and 5), at least in the spring through fall time. It's a touch cold now though. There's alot of math that goes into it, and my 5 year old daughter has gotten pretty decent at addition, subtraction, and basic division and multiplication from helping me get out mash and sparge water, measuring ingredients, and keeping track fo time.

It's a normal father/kids activity on Saturday mornings while Mom sleeps. I guess if I set them in front of the TV all morning, some people might think that was better, but not me.

 

[Homercidal]

While I agree that kids should be spending quality time with us helping to brew, a lot of the posts ASSUME that the co-workers are lousy parents and let their kids sit around playing video games and whatnot. The FACT is, you just don't know. Maybe they wouldn't let their kids brew beer, because THEY think it's a bad thing, but that doesn't mean that they aren't playing sports with them, hunting, working around the house, etc.

Don't assume that just because they don't agree with the brewing part, that they have a poor relationship with their kids. Many people know mean drunks and possibly had a bad experience growing up with one. That is much more than enough to give them a bad feeling about alcohol in general. Why not invite them over on brewday so they can see how much fun it is, and how innocent the actual brewing process really is (or can be...)

 

[Indyking]

While I agree that kids should be spending quality time with us helping to brew, a lot of the posts ASSUME that the co-workers are lousy parents and let their kids sit around playing video games and whatnot. The FACT is, you just don't know. Maybe they wouldn't let their kids brew beer, because THEY think it's a bad thing, but that doesn't mean that they aren't playing sports with them, hunting, working around the house, etc.

Don't assume that just because they don't agree with the brewing part, that they have a poor relationship with their kids. Many people know mean drunks and possibly had a bad experience growing up with one. That is much more than enough to give them a bad feeling about alcohol in general. Why not invite them over on brewday so they can see how much fun it is, and how innocent the actual brewing process really is (or can be...)

You are right, but despite of what they (co-workers) do with their kids, making their colleague feel bad (OP) because of his kids helping him with brewing was pathetic. It shows at least some level of ignorance.

 

[Homercidal]

You are right, but despite of what they (co-workers) do with their kids, making their colleague feel bad (OP) because of his kids helping him with brewing was pathetic. It shows at least some level of ignorance.

No, that's just standard human behaviour. Everyone thinks they know better than others about things. Happens all of time when mentioning religion, politics, breastfeeding, diet, numerology, Jersey Shore... The list goes on and on.

I'm not saying it's any of their business, or they are right, I'm just saying that it's to be expected. I tell my coworkers all the time that my kid helps me brew, and usually they just say it sounds like quality time with dad, but sometimes you get a little look. It happens.

 

[Indyking]

No, that's just standard human behaviour. Everyone thinks they know better than others about things. Happens all of time when mentioning religion, politics, breastfeeding, diet, numerology, Jersey Shore... The list goes on and on.

I'm not saying it's any of their business, or they are right, I'm just saying that it's to be expected. I tell my coworkers all the time that my kid helps me brew, and usually they just say it sounds like quality time with dad, but sometimes you get a little look. It happens.

I do wonder if you are the co-worker... Just kidding...

 

[shelly_belly]

Maybe your coworkers should STFU. Father/daughter or father/son brewing sounds like a great idea to me. It's quality time, learning about science & just plain cool. Regards, GF.

Same here & Thumbs up for saying so!