BEER!

I came downstairs to the kitchen and it smelled like beer!  Bruce enjoys an occasional bottle but he never drinks enough to make the kitchen smell like a brewery... but that's when I figured it out!  Our kitchen WAS a brewery!!!   The kids, Cass, Chelsey and Cade, had gotten together before Christmas to discuss their gift for their father. They decided he needed a hobby- and if they pooled their money together, they'd be able to buy him a home brewery! A kit to make homemade beer!  I guess you can get pretty fancy with it once you learn the ropes- mixing flavors, changing up brewing times, etc.

Bruce had started this particular batch about 2 wks ago. It had been sitting in a keg in our Butler's pantry. Today was the day it was supposed to be bottled!  He'd been looking forward to doing this. What fun!

He had to put a Tablespoon of sugar in each bottle before pouring in the flat beer. He poured a tiny bit out into a cup, and it was flat alright! which I guess is how it's supposed to be at this stage. But it was also, very definitely, BEER! Cool!

I guess the bottles have to stay in the Butler's pantry for another two weeks, before you can put it in cold storage. (It's apparently carbonating). After two weeks, you CAN drink it! or you can do other stuff to it.... like letting it sit longer to condition... or something like that.

Bruce really is having a ball with this! He can't wait to try his homemade beer, and to get on with making the next batch! GREAT gift idea, you guys! :)