18 replies to this topic

[jammer]

Humdum's thread in the PH about who you are going to pass your brewing equipment down to got me thinking..... And I didnt want to thread jack, so I figured it was worthy of its own. How old is old enough to let your kids help you on brew day? I mean really help, like brewing assistant type help. My oldest son is 30 and he used to brew with me. He was always over 21 when he did. My youngest just turned 13 and I wonder when he will start wanting to help. What say ye? When would it be acceptable to you to let your kids brew with you?

[Iraq Lobstah]

Humdum's thread in the PH about who you are going to pass your brewing equipment down to got me thinking..... And I didnt want to thread jack, so I figured it was worthy of its own. How old is old enough to let your kids help you on brew day? I mean really help, like brewing assistant type help. My oldest son is 30 and he used to brew with me. He was always over 21 when he did. My youngest just turned 13 and I wonder when he will start wanting to help. What say ye? When would it be acceptable to you to let your kids brew with you?

it will be cool till the point where you get arrested, and you son gets expelled for doing the science fair project on fermentation/ 1.083 140ibu DIPA

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

it will be cool till the point where you get arrested, and you son gets expelled for doing the science fair project on fermentation/ 1.083 140ibu DIPA

As long as the kid doesn't pitch the yeast I think we are good to go!

[MakeMeHoppy]

If you are really worried I would say don't let him pitch the yeast, before that point all he did was make a very sugary drink. I think the real key is on the consumption side. First make sure he knows just because he helped make it 13 is pretty young for any regular sampling. But more importantly show by example and use the long brew day to talk about things like responsible drinking. Anytime you can capture a 13 year olds attention for a couple of hours, I would say do it. Talk about beer, sports, news, etc etc etc.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I have to agree with a lot of the advice given here already. While my kids are both only 4 (boy and girl twins) I have always referred to brewing as cooking. They say my favorite activity is cooking in the garage (which is true) While I have a good few years to go to cross this bridge I like the idea of not letting them pitch the yeast and encouraging responsibility in life and beer drinking. I think 13 can be ok but I think you need to use your best judgement. Believe me I can remember when I was a young kid and saw my dad drunk one time. They remember more than you think. I figure sometime I will need to get tap locks for the kegerator but till then I will keep it to cooking. As long as your kid(s) can be responsible I think it can work out good. I like the idea of talking of other topics with them too. School, sports, movies. Enjoy a helper is a nice thing to have around.

[ScottS]

My older ones (7 and 5) don't insist on helping in any significant way, but they do want to watch the process, learn about all of the ingredients, etc. They want to know what each of the malts are, taste them, learn why you add them, etc. Same with the hops. They already understand the mead-making process well, but that's far simpler than beer.I'd let them help beyond throwing the hops in the pot as soon as they are interested and capable of doing so without endangering themselves.

[gumballhead]

I have 5 daughters and the wife... Brew day is very nice and quiet. none of them can stand the smeel of sweet wort and hops in the morning. so they go out for the day. I'm blessed and cursed.they do like to ask questions, and eat the crystal 20 but all of the above advise is pretty solid.I know I was 15 when my Dad got in to homebrewing and it was a great time helping out.I'm 40. and I think if it weren't for the exposure back then I would be one of thosethat don't know any better and think Bud is the King.brew strong.

[Deerslyr]

I don't think there is any danger with the law in getting assistance from your child. I think as soon as it is safe for him/her to be around the equipment, that is fine. My son is turning 7. He likes to help measure out the grain and hold the drill while the mill is grinding it. He helps weigh the hops. Otherwise he likes to sit and watch me. He considers being in the garage with me as "helping" me. If I am bottling, he enjoys putting the caps on. I believe that understanding the process and what it actually is will likely make him more aware of what alcohol is and to be responsible with it when he is of age. He sees me make it, but he doesn't see me getting drunk off of it.

[brewguy]

I have to agree with a lot of the advice given here already. While my kids are both only 4 (boy and girl twins) I have always referred to brewing as cooking. They say my favorite activity is cooking in the garage (which is true) While I have a good few years to go to cross this bridge I like the idea of not letting them pitch the yeast and encouraging responsibility in life and beer drinking. I think 13 can be ok but I think you need to use your best judgement. Believe me I can remember when I was a young kid and saw my dad drunk one time. They remember more than you think. I figure sometime I will need to get tap locks for the kegerator but till then I will keep it to cooking. As long as your kid(s) can be responsible I think it can work out good. I like the idea of talking of other topics with them too. School, sports, movies. Enjoy a helper is a nice thing to have around.

It sounds like you are raising them right. Why would you need locks on your taps?When I was in Kortrijk there were kids (I would guess high school) having a beer during their school lunch break. They grew up around it, so having a beer with lunch was no big deal. Makes me wonder if the 21 and older limit just makes things worse.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

It sounds like you are raising them right. Why would you need locks on your taps?When I was in Kortrijk there were kids (I would guess high school) having a beer during their school lunch break. They grew up around it, so having a beer with lunch was no big deal. Makes me wonder if the 21 and older limit just makes things worse.

it will take a gradual culture change as well. I'm sure things could get a little ugly for the first couple of years.

[japh]

Basically "when they're ready" to help. And what they can do will change depending on age. My 7yo can help out a bit now, but I don't trust the 3yo to behave around the burner (he's good, but doesn't look where he's going ).They both know they can't drink the final product, but that they can smell and look at it. They also love watching the bubbles come out of the air lock

[ncbeerbrewer]

It sounds like you are raising them right. Why would you need locks on your taps?When I was in Kortrijk there were kids (I would guess high school) having a beer during their school lunch break. They grew up around it, so having a beer with lunch was no big deal. Makes me wonder if the 21 and older limit just makes things worse.

I am just thinking with the ease of just pulling the tap the beer will dispense. I am just thinking I don't want my kids home alone when say they are teens and have a friend over and be hitting the taps while noone is around. I hope though that by that time they will be responsible enough and it won't be an issue (I think the locks are expensive anyways) Thanks though I am trying with them and so far its coming along like I would hope. Tonight I brewed (first midweek brew of my life) and they just played around in the garage and driveway with their cars and toys. It went well.

[3rd party JKor]

As soon as she's old enough to want and be capable of helping, she can help. No biggie.

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

I am just thinking with the ease of just pulling the tap the beer will dispense. I am just thinking I don't want my kids home alone when say they are teens and have a friend over and be hitting the taps while noone is around. I hope though that by that time they will be responsible enough and it won't be an issue (I think the locks are expensive anyways) Thanks though I am trying with them and so far its coming along like I would hope. Tonight I brewed (first midweek brew of my life) and they just played around in the garage and driveway with their cars and toys. It went well.

I hear you about the teenager thing. With my parents it was no booze ever so of course the moment I could get my hands on any booze I was going to try some. My parents always had rum in the house but I never really considered tapping into that. I guess I was too paranoid. With beer however it would have been a lot easier to get away with b/c unless someone is weighing the kegs I don't know how anyone would know if I occasionally had pulled a couple of pints off.

[ncbeerbrewer]

I hear you about the teenager thing. With my parents it was no booze ever so of course the moment I could get my hands on any booze I was going to try some. My parents always had rum in the house but I never really considered tapping into that. I guess I was too paranoid. With beer however it would have been a lot easier to get away with b/c unless someone is weighing the kegs I don't know how anyone would know if I occasionally had pulled a couple of pints off.

Yes I can remember when I was a teen I used to do it from time to time. Sneak a beer when noone was around. Parents weren't too keen on that though. Neither of them homebrewed and no kegerators back then. I think I learned quickly and will try and set a good example with mine as well. With kegs you would never know for sure!

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

Yes I can remember when I was a teen I used to do it from time to time. Sneak a beer when noone was around. Parents weren't too keen on that though. Neither of them homebrewed and no kegerators back then. I think I learned quickly and will try and set a good example with mine as well. With kegs you would never know for sure!

That's kind of the thing. I wouldn't want to openly show that much distrust as to put tap locks on the kegerator. I would however like to have a more covert way of knowing if anyone unauthorized had pulled a pint or two of my beer. Has anyone figured this out?

[Recklessdeck]

That's kind of the thing. I wouldn't want to openly show that much distrust as to put tap locks on the kegerator. I would however like to have a more covert way of knowing if anyone unauthorized had pulled a pint or two of my beer. Has anyone figured this out?

https://shop.keg-meter.com/

[ThroatwobblerMangrove]

https://shop.keg-meter.com/

damn! not cheap!

[3rd party JKor]

Hey, if my teenager can pull a few pints without me noticing, good on them. I raised some smart kids.