No more AG for me :(

[jkarp]

Am I the only one who wants to know how he almost blew up his son with model rocketry?

HPR, probably. I did it for nearly a decade before the Homeland Security Act got in our faces. I once watched an experimental homebrew ammonium nitrate motor go ka-BOOM from 100 yards and the shockwave still knocked the wind out of me.

 

[WildGingerBrewing]

Delete

 

[gclay]

$4000 in robotics got me awhole bunch of books, lots of lego mindstorms and a bunch of headaches. I ended up dumping the whole lot for $500 a month later. As for how I almost blew up my son, I tried to lathe my own rocket engines, made the outlet too small and it blew, we were waaaay too close and a piece just missed his head when it blew. lesson learned, when dealing with explosives keep the kids away.

I expected some ribbing just not the rough stuff I received.

Gerald

 

[Homercidal]

Every scene on Mythbusters has them hiding behind a clear blast screen. minimum...

I doubt I am the only one that thinks playing with homemade model rocket motors sounds fun!

 

[o4_srt]

$4000 in robotics got me awhole bunch of books, lots of lego mindstorms and a bunch of headaches. I ended up dumping the whole lot for $500 a month later. As for how I almost blew up my son, I tried to lathe my own rocket engines, made the outlet too small and it blew, we were waaaay too close and a piece just missed his head when it blew. lesson learned, when dealing with explosives keep the kids away.

I expected some ribbing just not the rough stuff I received.

Gerald

You aren't looking for an adopted adult son, are you???

I'm married and we have our own house, I'd only be around when explosives/rockets/homebrew is involved.

 

[gclay]

You aren't looking for an adopted adult son, are you???

I'm married and we have our own house, I'd only be around when explosives/rockets/homebrew is involved.

lol two daughters and one son are enough. I've learned not to play with explosives anymore. Hell I'm even nervous around the bbq.

 

[Qhrumphf]

lol two daughters and one son are enough. I've learned not to play with explosives anymore. Hell I'm even nervous around the bbq.

So would you be ok with a propane-fueled turkey frier?

 

[BrewBrain]

I agree with everything said here. And honestly I was in the EXACT same boat you were in.

My wife and I live with her parents, we're all a little hard up for cash and the group setting works well. My wife stays home all day to watch our baby and I have a 3 day weekend Sunday-Tuesday. So on one of those days about twice a month, I would make a mr beer kit. It was great no smell and it was beer.

Then I made a mini mash. The smell of the hops gave her a headache even with the windows open.

She said that her mother would flip if she came home and the "house smelled like a brewery" so she helped me air it out and strongly suggested I go back to mr beer.

Well the bug had bitten me and I said, I really can't do that, this had developed into something I really enjoy. I know some people on the forum I regularly lurk (showing that I'm not the only guy who likes to do this) that brew outside. All I need is a few more things (actually it ran me about 200+ to get a full setup going but I sprung for some decent things)

She said that sounded like a decent compromise and to work out what it would cost and see if we could swing it.

That happened in the beginning of march and on the 25 of April I was making my first all grain outside.

In turn I helped her with her hobby, bookmaking and she made me a "brew book" so I could document my brews and labels.

This last part is to everyone who posted and the op:

That conversation would have turned out very differently if I had "told her how it was" or "played my man card" (sorry revvy) a marriage isn't about man cards and woman cards. Sometimes you have to play the family card and if that's something you don't have in your deck, then maybe you have other issues other tha the grain/hop smell. Best of luck to you all.

Thread sucks, but the book post deserves a quote. That's pretty awesome!

 

[gclay]

She just got home and asked me to get a box out of the car, guess what it was.... 24 Grolsh empties... Guess that's an apology or a thank you for the massage. Now to get some fresh gaskets and clean the crap out of them.

 

[Pick]

Funny, my wife encourages me to brew. She even rode with me 70 miles to brew with fellow forum member BankerJohn a few weeks ago.

 

[bovineblitz]

She just got home and asked me to get a box out of the car, guess what it was.... 24 Grolsh empties... Guess that's an apology or a thank you for the massage. Now to get some fresh gaskets and clean the crap out of them.

That's a good sign. Maybe she was just on edge that day.

 

[gclay]

That's a good sign. Maybe she was just on edge that day.

I asked why and she answered "do I need a reason?" so I'll let it be. Maybe she'll get another massage and I'll get a keg She's the one who goes to get my grains, but that was the first time she smelled the wort. I'll just be respectful and wait til she's out and make sure all the windows are open, until I get the fryer.

Should I soak the bottles in bleach then use the pink bottle sanitizer or just do the bottle blaster and sanitize?

Gerald

 

[rambler]

I think theres a lot of confusion about the "Man Card" It all comes down to who you let define it. I COMPLETELY agree that it is assinine to tell them how it is, demand your independence and call that your "man card".

A real man knows what to do,and he knows when to do it. He knows when he should bend, and when he should stand firm. He knows what battles to fight, and when to surrender. Had the OP informed us earlier of the context of his wifes demand, then he would have gotten a different response right off the bat, not 50 replies later.

I have had this discussion so many times I cant even remember. It sounds cliche but there really is no "Me and Mine" idea in marriage. That what my initial point was. For one part of the team to demand their way is a disservice to the team, and to another human being. Love asks for its way, and then if it doesnt get it, it still loves. A healthy marriage is one where on partner ENJOYS serving the other. If it's done any other way, it's only slavery.

So as to the "Man Card" issue with the OP, if he decided, because it's best, to lay down his brewing hobby for a greater good, than he used his man card rightly because thats what a real man would do. If he lets a bunch of strangers on the internet judge and push him around than he hasn't chosen to use his man card right by fighting for the truth. If he gives out the relevant facts in a roundabout way, than he isnt using his man card at all.

This thread would have definitley gone far different if we would have know all of the circumstances surrounding the demand.

OP: I salute you for your selfless sacrifice of something you enjoy for the well-being of your MIL. I dont know if I could respond with as much compassion honestly. I also hope that you learn to communicate with strangers in such a way that your wife doesnt sound like an raving B@#$H, and you dont sound like a beaten dog...PAX

 

[mikeysab]

She just got home and asked me to get a box out of the car, guess what it was.... 24 Grolsh empties... Guess that's an apology or a thank you for the massage. Now to get some fresh gaskets and clean the crap out of them.

Did she say " hey d bag, i found some crap layin on the side of the road, get it the eff outta my car or youre sleepin with the dog again"?

 

[northernlad]

She just got home and asked me to get a box out of the car, guess what it was.... 24 Grolsh empties... Guess that's an apology or a thank you for the massage. Now to get some fresh gaskets and clean the crap out of them.

You know, sometimes we act like ********; husband and wife. Thats why I never stay pissed at my wife. We know each other and when we flip out, we understand it is an isolated event it is just a bad day.

 

[Homercidal]

I asked why and she answered "do I need a reason?" so I'll let it be. Maybe she'll get another massage and I'll get a keg She's the one who goes to get my grains, but that was the first time she smelled the wort. I'll just be respectful and wait til she's out and make sure all the windows are open, until I get the fryer.

Should I soak the bottles in bleach then use the pink bottle sanitizer or just do the bottle blaster and sanitize?

Gerald

If they are new, then no need to do anything but rinse and sanitize. If they had beer, I'd give them a hot soak in oxiclean for a few hours, then rinse well and spritz with star san sanitizer before putting away.

 

[Nightbiker]

Yeah, my wife likes the smell of the mash well enough (says it almost smells like bread being made -well it IS all grain ) but dislikes the boil with a passion. She doesn't like any alcoholic drink (especially not beer) but it was SHE who suggested I build an AG rig and brew OUTSIDE from then on. And tolerated my well-over-budget project. Doesn't give me any hassle at all about brewing (outside). She is good.

 

[Acoma]

Sounds like your wife respects you and wants you to enjoy your hobby and you did the right thing. Maybe some of the guys getting "rough" with you on here helped her see how other guys would take it and she probably loves you even more for how you handled it. For the record I never thought you were less of a man just thought you should not give up on what you enjoy without trying other options.

And congrats on the swing tops. That is sickkkkk.

 

[fredthecat]

Seriously though, are you brewing outside or in? She won't let you brew outdoors?

ha, yeah im not married at all, but seriously tell her this is your hobby, and explain how the smell is not just not bad but a wonderful sign of a glorious beer to come

 

[nebben]

Have dogs? Make cookies out of the spent grain. My dogs drool like crazy of them. This is a win.

Have garden or flowers? Compost the barley in your flowerbeds or compost pile. It improves the quality of anything you grow. This is a win.

Brew outside. If you are doing this already, your wife is just complaining. She should get over it. If she can't deal with the smell even when you're outside, it is her turn to compromise since you already have.

 

[TTB-J]

I asked why and she answered "do I need a reason?" so I'll let it be. Maybe she'll get another massage and I'll get a keg She's the one who goes to get my grains, but that was the first time she smelled the wort. I'll just be respectful and wait til she's out and make sure all the windows are open, until I get the fryer.

Should I soak the bottles in bleach then use the pink bottle sanitizer or just do the bottle blaster and sanitize?

Gerald

Really glad I read through this whole thread - read like a good book, complete with happy ending! Good luck on future brews!

 

[bruin_ale]

What the <beep> is tha t<beep>ing smell
My beer
Wtf you have 25 gallons you just brewed this month
yeah, but they're all different
who cares, no more until that 's done
<tucking tail between legs> yes dear.

Off to finish 25 gallons of beer...
How did you all miss this tidbit?? Sounds like a challenge!

Sounds like you've got it under control.. brewing outside is way better anyways. I'd never move my operation back indoors (unless it was in an actual brewery or brew shack). I'm in a much warmer climate though, year round outdoor brewing is easy.

 

[Small_Batch]

dido - turn it into a reason to upgrade. ex: The fiancée helped me bottle two weekends ago. Her response was, "You've done this HOW many times?! This is awful, you should keg your beer."

Win-Win.

 

[lbaker]

Lol I smelt like a 200lb Amarillo hop the night I went to bed after brewing my first batch, but luckily I've refined my wifes tastes buds of good beer and was forgiven!