I so admire initiative in the young people today. And so I'm pleased to report on the ongoing development of a next-generation home-brewing machine designed to streamline the process of making your own beer.

As for myself, I no longer partake in the delights of fermented beverages. This follows from the infamous Prague Incident of 1997. To my everlasting regret, I attempted to finish some economic position papers while sampling the local microbrew. The night ended with me collapsing several Eastern European economies in a in a binge of Cold War sentiment. You know, "for old times' sake." As with so many things, I feel badly about that now (TM).

Moving on. Endeavoring Young Person (and, significantly, Popular Science staff photographer) John Carnett has been working on a machine he simply calls "The Device." It's a stainless-steel brewing system, incorporating many delightful leaps of imagination, that automates several of the manual tasks typically required in a home-brewing operation. The Device starts with the pre-beer sludge called "concentrated wort" and produces, at the end of the process, a chilled pint.

By use of separated carts wired together in a closed system, the Device can boil or chill, depending on what's needed. A complex temperature-control system regulates the fermentation process, and pressurized hoses keep everything flowing. It requires no power, when not fermenting or dispensing, and once set into action has a cold beer ready for pouring at all times.

Next up for Carnett -- attaching a third system that will allow production of beer from raw grain. If I may make a humble suggestion -- how about an add-on unit that automatically dispenses aspirin and coffee 6-10 hours after the last beer is poured?

Always thinking!

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