Return To Homebrewing: Homebrewing with kids?

[Lefou]

The steel vs. glass issue is a good point.
Early on I'd leave the glass carboy in the kitchen but moved it out to a place less traveled. All it took was one carelessly dropped item to break a three piece airlock and leave a mark on the shoulder of the container. It didn't crack or break but it was a heads-up to change the routine.

 

[MezzoRN]

Thanks guys! No one in particular is making me worry about it specifically, I guess I’m more or less just a little insecure as parent - not really knowing what’s appropriate I guess and making it up/deciding what is along the way. I enjoy homebrewing, and am really looking forward to getting everything setup at the new place. Just trying to figure out where the line is from having fun and coming across bad is. Just jumped on Great Lakes Hops website, looks like bunches of new varieties are out!

 

[beernutz]

Brewing with infants or toddlers was not a problem for me. OTOH, I quit brewing for 7 years when my daughters were in middle and high school because of all their extracurricular activities and travel. My youngest is a junior in college now so all I worry about is how to pay her tuition.

 

[Lefou]

I brew in the kitchen and it's PITA to do so when everyone is home from college - especially when Number One decides to do his Bobby Flay routine for a few hours at a time. The best time of the year for me to brew is just before or after Thanksgiving and Christmas break.

 

[shoengine]

I engage my three kids in every aspect of brewing at least once. They understand that alcohol is to be treated with respect, especially after the oldest one made some poor decisions before I even started brewing.

I approach beer making like any other culinary experience. They have all tasted pellet hops, grain, wort and even samples of the finished product. There is no shame; it is a craft and it is a form of cooking. Whenever I bring home a new grain bill we all try the unmashed grains and I even tend to get feedback from that. I think that making it plain and open removes any mystique from it. They understand its purpose and effects, and I hope that it makes them more knowledgable, well-rounded individuals.

 

[Grantola]

Wow. Nice apprentice in the brewery

My daughter is 13, and I see it the same way. She helps me as well. The last time I brewed, I had a friend over to watch/help who happened to be a highway patrolman. He didn't see anything wrong with it either.

I would say that it's better to be up front and open about it so you don't have to feel like you have to hide it.

 

[MetalMaster]

When I had kids I switched to pre-hopped kits. No way I want to have 5 gallons of boiling liquid in the same house as a toddler unless there is someone there to follow them around for 4 hours while I brew.

Now, brew days are 30 mins (so this doesn't have to be my one and only hobby) boiling liquid is kept to one gallon. I add copious amounts of dry hops and/or use hop tea to make things more deluxe. Results are incredible from the new Coppers kits. Wife's happy, I'm happy.

 

[bobeer]

If anything you're teaching your kid to respect alcohol if they want to enjoy it. Everyone has some sort of a relationship with alcohol no matter what. Might as well show through example that there's so much more to beer than just consuming it. IMO once I found out about brewing the act of drinking and getting buzzed with friends sort of took a back seat. I was more interested in what my friends thought of my beer and how the changes in my processes would affect my beer. Learning and teaching about yeast and microbiology is a great example of how brewing is so much more than drinking. Creating labels, seeing a long process through to completion, cleanliness, attention to detail, research and critical thinking, etc, etc... we could go on and on about how brewing is a lot more than just drinking and getting a buzz on. I took a while off when my kids were born just because I didn't have time. I wanted to give my best to my kid(s) and wife while also giving my best to my beer too. (no use in half-assing any of it and worrying about finding time as it takes most of the fun out of it) I figured brewing will always be waiting for me whenever I have time for it.

I have 2 kids, 4 and 2, and they both help me on brew day the best they can. I want it to be like cooking for them. Fun and sort of a tradition. You can abuse sugar too but you learn to take everything in moderation. Usually when I feel like my brewing is a bad example it's because I'm feeling guilty about some aspect of it. Like I spend too much time or money on it or maybe one weekend I indulged too much. When this happens I try to show the kids something new like how to ride their bike, or kick a ball, or even just read them some new stories to make up for what I'm feeling bad about. The time when they're little goes by so fast that you can sucked into anything and miss this valuable time with them. Just remember you have to live your life too and you're no help to anyone if you're not happy with yourself

 

[lump42]

The biggest issue I've found (mine just turned 2) is fitting brewing into the child's schedule. As he's gotten older it's gotten easier. When the weather is nice, he helps mash in, stir, and add hops. Then he runs around kicking his ball or riding is tricycle. I've gotten lax with my process some: mash times are 60ish min, sometimes 120 if I'm needed with him. I use a pond pump and a cooler of ice water to chill. It's not unheard of for me to walk away from it running for an hour. As he's gets older and more independent, I'll tighten the process again. Also don't discount extract batches. A 15-min pale ale is a great way to keep the supply when time is short.

Like other's have said, unless you believe drinking is a sin, then responsible consumption isn't a bad influence. Take a deep breath and let that guilt go.

 

[PapaGanj]

Congratulations on your family and your accomplishments together.

My little one is almost 2 now, and I have never felt as though I've been a bad role model by allowing her to watch the process. As far as im concerned, shes getting a much clearer idea of what the beautiful art of olde style brewing is. Im sure her generation won't have the same styles and communities that we've built around brewing culture.

Honestly my biggest concern with my little one was keeping her away from the glass carboys. Im a classic guy, and I love my glass carboys and demijons, but they are dangerous. Also the cleaning procedure can be a bit intensive for young skin I think, so I keep her out of that too.

Our culture used to think it strange to under take such a task as ingestion or fermentation WITHOUT the family there. We've kinda moved to this "well maybe the kids shouldn't see this" and "maybe my parents dont need to be bothered by this" mentality.

Ive let my young one pour the yeast in before. She loved it.

Happy brewing! [emoji485][emoji485]