My son went from capping assistant (as a teen) to beer snob (as a college student - now 22 and soon to graduate). He brings craft beer with him when he comes home and takes homebrew back to school to share with a couple buddies and a professor (a chemistry prof who also homebrews). My daughter and her fiancé made a dopplebock with me last year…enjoy the kids while they are young, because they grow up fast!
This isn’t my experience but someone else’s… Off another beer forum. But so precious I had to save a copy for posterity.
My daughters are 22 and 25, so no mishaps from them. When they were younger, they just liked the smell and being around the brewing, never really interested in the process and participating. They were interested at a younger age on pouring the beer from the kegerator. They both learned very young how to pour the perfect beer.
One time while brewing, one of my huskies caught on fire. He was licking the floor after a boil over. I turned around to see him on fire and quickly put it out! His fur was singed for months. He did not care, he got to lick up sweet wort plus he had plenty of more fur to go before that hit skin. That beer became Burnt Dog Porter.
Now THAT’S a brewing story!
It was quite the smell. At first I thought something electrical was burning and then saw Toby’s neck area on fire. Not huge flames mind you, but flames none the less. His fur stunk for hours. Thankfully as a Husky, he was fine staying outdoors for a few hours (it was December I believe).
To all those with young kids - good luck brewing and yes, enjoy them while it lasts. They do grow up fast. That said, I love being able to brew whenever I want with no kid obligations. Now I can just hang out with them and enjoy their company in a more adult fashion.
My hats off to your dog for catching on fire during a brew.