So my 14yr old kid is trying her first Home Brew....

[Greenhornet_au]

YEP, she got a Home Brew kit for Christmas (from Mum and Dad).

FINALLY !!
Today we got her to start studying the info from the Coopers Kit, a DVD, so its not too hard.

Then she assembled everything and started to put the brew together, not too shabby either
and it is a simple kit to use, with lots of bits that help you get it right.

Lid on and sitting on her dresser draws waiting for the yeast to get to work, she is looking forward
to seeing the end product and then maybe trying to make a Ginger Beer.

Got her to taste the stages of prep, and she will taste the final product, BUT, I and Nonno will get to
sample the leftover 99.99 % :woohoo:

So it better be good !

Brew Kit

The Can of NO return

It's in the Tub and well mixed

 

[Greenhornet_au]

Yeast in

Original Specific Gravity Testing

MUST taste, no alcohol because its the start of the brew, no bubbles either....

 

[Greenhornet_au]

WELL ........

It is a lightweight science experiment really, and now that the yeast is very active and there is action
going on in the tub, she is asking more about it, and why? these things are happening.

So out comes my explanations of how yeast works, how it is used in the food industry, beer and wine,
how it has been used early man, how industry breeds modified yeasts for speed or flavour or medical needs.

Lots of interesting things, some of her own light bulb moments
Discussions of different jobs in those many industries too..

I told her to get her science teacher to let her try to ferment a bottle of orange juice in class .....
Prison Wine

I have not tried it, but from what I was told by prisoners while doing maintenance work, it cant be too hard.
Just a bit hard to hide it in the back of a flat screen TV for some warmth......
And I dont think the yeast in our loaf bread these days is strong enough to work. :lol: :lol:

 

[Greenhornet_au]

She actually loves ginger beer, a bit strange for a young one, has done since 5yrs,
she'll finish this one, and then we'll fetch a ginger beer kit 'no alcohol' and she will mix that one up.

Came home from school today and trotted to see what has changed in the tub, new discussion from there.

Seems she wants to try making yogurt now too ! :/

 

[Redfin]

I've been known to brew the odd bottle, many years ago tho.

 

[Greenhornet_au]

Redfin, I bloody love that pic of yours, true blue Aussie. :Y:

Just a few long necks there, teaspoon of sugar into each bottle ?

I reckon I have about 2500 'capping' stubby bottles in the cellar, all empty, ready to be filled with all sorts.

 

[Jaros]

I have reservations about any child 14 yrs old not only making beer and ginger beer. It is illegal for a child that age to be drinking/tasting beer at that age in Australia.
I am closing this topic until further discussions are made.

 

[Goldpick]

Sorry, minors can drink on private property under the supervision of parents, either way the ultimate goal here is to learn how to brew for the purpose of making ginger beer (yum)!

 

[diggit]

If 14 year olds know anything is that their parents dont understand the life struggles of a 14 year old

 

[Greenhornet_au]

If 14 year olds know anything is that their parents dont understand the life struggles of a 14 year old

I get that, it has been a BIG learning curve this year, nice boyfriend after a ******** kid trying to manipulate her into things,
big chats, supporting in ways I cant say here, studies, need to please parents, discovery, sadness, social stuff.
AWESOME....not.
I have 3 more girls to go through this with :awful: LOL.... thats parenthood, and teens.

A big part of why I take my girls camping or a trip one on one, to stay close to them and them to me.
Now getting my wife to do that, in fact Miss 14 with the wife this weekend, camping in a caravan park 10min from home
so they can do girly stuff and bond more - the wife's first bonding trip.
I still have to put up and pull down the tent and take care of the rest of the tribe for the weekend.
The wife will love it, and Miss 14 too.

 

[OzzieAu]

And make sure she gets the beer making down pat.... great asset there dad. :beer:

btw. I hit the report button a few posts back.

 

[Redfin]

Just a few long necks there, teaspoon of sugar into each bottle ?

Can't recall the exact measure, but not sugar, always used refined glucose and rainwater.
Kept the brews at a strict 4.9% and cycled through the shelves.

Only drank beer that was between 6 months and 9 months old.

Was back in the day when I had a shed full of mates on a Sunday morning watching World of Sport.
No one wanted to bring their own, they all loved the brew and donated accordingly.
Happy Days.

Now I can afford to drink what I want, I have that urge to start brewing again anyway.
Don't know where I would source so many glass long necks now tho..

 

[Greenhornet_au]

I started brewing years ago because I was interested in how to make beer varieties, all of it went to friends except for sample bottles of each batch to taste and rate.
Then my friends never returned the bottles, so I started scrounging them every where, a bit scary really because I also became disenchanted
with all the unappreciated work and the hands that started to demand the handouts, finally gave up, and just as I really got to the stage of growth in my skills.

But now I am beginning to get motivated again, my 3 yr old wants to make some lemonade, she has been watching this brewing process carefully
and wants to be involved, its like baking cupcakes to her. :cake: LOL

Much better than the soda stream machine, you have ingredients to find and add, mix and watch temps, time to cook, bottle and wait again - suspense and at the end... hope it isnt terrible - :lol:

 

[Greenhornet_au]

Just a few long necks there, teaspoon of sugar into each bottle ?

Now I can afford to drink what I want, I have that urge to start brewing again anyway.
Don't know where I would source so many glass long necks now tho..

I do know where you probably could, they are still made, but I have about 600 clear softdrink capping bottles too - dont ask how, (no not sexual favours)
they are very thick for the pressure too, thicker than the 'pickaxe'.

If you are serious about starting again, let me know and I will check if they are still around, do you really need long necks ?
And which State are you in ?

Bloody Boy Scouts bottle drives
LOL how many did I do when I was a kid... it would have to be in the 400's and hundreds of thousands of bottles, memories. :idea:

 

[Outback]

I have reservations about any child 14 yrs old not only making beer and ginger beer. It is illegal for a child that age to be drinking/tasting beer at that age in Australia.
I am closing this topic until further discussions are made.

What going on here ' one Mod closes this & another opens it ?

 

[Redfin]

If you are serious about starting again, let me know and I will check if they are still around, do you really need long necks ?

a while off yet, and yes, good things come in glass.

 

[Ramjet]

I have reservations about any child 14 yrs old not only making beer and ginger beer. It is illegal for a child that age to be drinking/tasting beer at that age in Australia.
I am closing this topic until further discussions are made.

What going on here ' one Mod closes this & another opens it ?

How about just enjoy the topic and post positive thoughts?

 

[Solid Luck]

I have reservations about any child 14 yrs old not only making beer and ginger beer. It is illegal for a child that age to be drinking/tasting beer at that age in Australia.
I am closing this topic until further discussions are made.

What going on here ' one Mod closes this & another opens it ?

It's called the twilight zone. :lol: :lol:

 

[Outback]

OK I got the message , keep out of it for now

 

[silver]

My children know everything..... without me even telling them lol.
much better to learn from a diligent parent (all aspects of alcohol including safety) .... rather that than any other option anyone could put foreward (at these young ages). :beer: