The Evolution of a Homebrewer's Spouse
Toklas: Hon, did I get a package in the mail? I am expecting a book.
Husband: Yes, there was a package for you, so I put it in the fridge.
And with that, the book I ordered was indeed in the refrigerator. This whole scenario led me down the path of just how much my husband has changed as the spouse of a brewer.
As a female brewer, I have always appreciated his help with lugging heavy stuff around, but this mail-in-the-fridge event made me realise just all of the crazy things I've asked him to do for the sake of brewing. So I've commented on the evolution of a homebrewer's spouse, with my husband as H and me as, well, T in the text below.
Then:
stays far away from fermentation vessel, afraid it might explode.
A few years in (via text message):
H: Hon, your beer is making funny noises.
T: Is it like "blub blub blub"?
H: Yep
T: Awesome.
H: ...ok then.
Now:
H: Hon, your beer is really fermenting like crazy!
Then:
T: Hey, let's call this beer "Walter Wheat"
H: I don't get it
T: It's a wheat beer...
H: Oh, I think I get it now.
Now:
T: Wow, there's a lot of trub in this one. We should call it Troubadour!
H: *facepalm*
Then:
H: Hon, those cookies in the freezer are pretty gross.
T: Uh, those are spent grain dog treats.
Now:
H, holding up a ziplock bag of leftovers: "Is this edible?"
Then:
I'm brewing and realise I didn't buy bitter orange peel, but I have oranges in the fridge. So I zest the oranges, leave them out, and then they get dry and gross.
Now:
T: H, can you please eat a few oranges in the next hour?
H: Oh, are you making a wheat beer? Sure!
From eating oranges to putting mail in the fridge, our spouses put up with a lot from us. My husband carries sacks of grain and filled fermenters, but he's also there to help with so many other things. And it's freaking awesome.
I'm curious to know your perspectives on how your own spouses have evolved as you've spent more time brewing! Please post below.
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Tags for this post: spouse, evolution, homebrewer's, humour
4 Comments
Trubadour is gold.
posted by Matt on 12/04/2015 at 08:17:56 AM
My SO went from not liking any beers at all to this and more in just a few years with me. Now she does not question the strange jars of muck in the fridge, drinks all my IPA, piles all my "brewery" gear by the door so I can take it to the garage next trip and doesn't bug me about it every week. She even rinses bottles out 3 times....but only after asking if I want the dregs! She's a keeper.
posted by Trub Maker on 12/04/2015 at 12:31:24 PM
Very much the same story. My wife tastes every batch, even though she doesn't like the taste of beer in general. I also get texts with pictures of fermentors from her letting me know they kicked off and what temp they are sitting at. She's slowly becoming my assistant Brewer even if she doesn't realize it :)
posted by Buxman14 on 12/04/2015 at 03:33:37 PM
hi guys
posted by kenspo on 12/25/2015 at 09:46:07 PM
Husband: Yes, there was a package for you, so I put it in the fridge.
And with that, the book I ordered was indeed in the refrigerator. This whole scenario led me down the path of just how much my husband has changed as the spouse of a brewer.
As a female brewer, I have always appreciated his help with lugging heavy stuff around, but this mail-in-the-fridge event made me realise just all of the crazy things I've asked him to do for the sake of brewing. So I've commented on the evolution of a homebrewer's spouse, with my husband as H and me as, well, T in the text below.
They understand the nuances of fermentation
Then:
stays far away from fermentation vessel, afraid it might explode.
A few years in (via text message):
H: Hon, your beer is making funny noises.
T: Is it like "blub blub blub"?
H: Yep
T: Awesome.
H: ...ok then.
Now:
H: Hon, your beer is really fermenting like crazy!
They get your puns now! (but they're still not funny)
T: Hey, let's call this beer "Walter Wheat"
H: I don't get it
T: It's a wheat beer...
H: Oh, I think I get it now.
Now:
T: Wow, there's a lot of trub in this one. We should call it Troubadour!
H: *facepalm*
They know to be suspicious of things in the fridge
Then:
H: Hon, those cookies in the freezer are pretty gross.
T: Uh, those are spent grain dog treats.
Now:
H, holding up a ziplock bag of leftovers: "Is this edible?"
They understand your strange requests
Then:
I'm brewing and realise I didn't buy bitter orange peel, but I have oranges in the fridge. So I zest the oranges, leave them out, and then they get dry and gross.
Now:
T: H, can you please eat a few oranges in the next hour?
H: Oh, are you making a wheat beer? Sure!
From eating oranges to putting mail in the fridge, our spouses put up with a lot from us. My husband carries sacks of grain and filled fermenters, but he's also there to help with so many other things. And it's freaking awesome.
I'm curious to know your perspectives on how your own spouses have evolved as you've spent more time brewing! Please post below.
Permalink
Tags for this post: spouse, evolution, homebrewer's, humour
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4 Comments
Trubadour is gold.
posted by Matt on 12/04/2015 at 08:17:56 AM
My SO went from not liking any beers at all to this and more in just a few years with me. Now she does not question the strange jars of muck in the fridge, drinks all my IPA, piles all my "brewery" gear by the door so I can take it to the garage next trip and doesn't bug me about it every week. She even rinses bottles out 3 times....but only after asking if I want the dregs! She's a keeper.
posted by Trub Maker on 12/04/2015 at 12:31:24 PM
Very much the same story. My wife tastes every batch, even though she doesn't like the taste of beer in general. I also get texts with pictures of fermentors from her letting me know they kicked off and what temp they are sitting at. She's slowly becoming my assistant Brewer even if she doesn't realize it :)
posted by Buxman14 on 12/04/2015 at 03:33:37 PM
hi guys
posted by kenspo on 12/25/2015 at 09:46:07 PM