A woman has revealed how she was left stunned after her husband decided to build his dream brewery in their backyard without telling her.
Mother Sheree Phillip, 33, was at home looking after their baby daughter Ivy when her husband Dave Henderson, 39, pulled up in their driveway with a removalist truck.
The engineer father, who lives in Sydney, had purchased a kegerator, a shed and a whole microbrewery fit out after he stumbled across an advertisement on Gumtree.
However, his doting wife was unaware of his grand plan to start a brewery until he arrived home with a trailer full of equipment.
Mother Sheree Phillip, 33, was shocked when her husband pulled up in their driveway with a removalist truck (pictured together)
The giant brewery has taken up nearly the majority of space in the backyard in Sydney
After mastering the art of brewing when he was working in the Northern Territory, he wanted to start his own business – from the comfort of his home.
‘I thought it was ridiculous, but at the same time it was so typical of Dave to do something like this,’ Sheree told Daily Mail Australia, laughing.
‘When Dave puts his mind to something, he would just do it.
‘I was shocked when he brought it home. My first reaction was “what have you done”… he’s come back with a big shed and a whole lot of brewing equipment.
‘He initially told me was going to get some bits and pieces but he came back with a full blown brewery.’
Dave Henderson decided to build his dream brewery in his backyard without telling his wife
Sheree helped her husband get the beer business off the ground after they launched their own craft beer label Hop and Clover
Taking up nearly a majority of the family’s backyard, Sheree said she was not impressed to begin with
Taking up nearly a majority of the family’s backyard, Sheree said she was not impressed to begin with.
‘I told her I was heading out for the day to meet some Gumtree sellers to look at a few bits and pieces for a home brew kit,’ Dave, originally from northern Ireland, said.
‘She was shocked when I turned up with a kegerator, a shed, and a micro-brewery fit out, which I managed to save around $10,000 on versus if I bought it new.
‘Then, it was just a matter of a bit of persuasion and also making sure that Sheree was heavily involved in the quality control process.’
The young mother was at home looking after their baby daughter Ivy when Dave surprised her with the brewery equipment (pictured together)
And his beloved wife has since jumped on board, helping him get the beer business off the ground after they launched their own craft beer label Hop and Clover.
‘It has always been a dream for Dave to start his own brewery so he has my full support. I’m absolutely supportive of what he’s doing,’ she said.
‘My dad is very old school so he initially tried to talk us out of it. He wasn’t impressed with the backyard brewery. We had a few side glances, people saying we’re silly.
‘But as of this morning, it’s all changed.’
Dave purchased the kegerator for $500, the shed for $500 and the brewery equipment for $4,000, which was purchased by the first owners for $20,000.
Dave purchased the kegerator for $500, the shed for $500 and the brewery equipment for $4,000, which was purchased by the first owners for $20,000
The ingredients used to brew craft beer in the comfort of their backyard in Sydney
The brewer is now trialing a variety of craft beer flavours, including Bexley Red Ale and Rockdale Pale Ale – named after local Sydney Suburbs
His beloved wife has since jumped on board, helping him get the beer off the ground after they launched their own craft beer label Hop and Clover
‘He got some really good bargain on Gumtree,’ Sheree said.
‘We saved $10,000 on everything to set the entire brewery up. It would have been a different story if he got everything brand new.’
The brewer is now trialing a variety of craft beer flavours, including Bexley Red Ale and Rockdale Pale Ale – named after local Sydney Suburbs.
‘It’s a lot nicer than what you get in your commercial pub, that’s for sure,’ she said.
The couple have been operating their brewery in the backyard, and they even grow their own hops.
‘Our next goal is in two-and-a-half-years we want to move to Mudgee to open up our own brewery there.’