What's on your Xmas list?

Look what Santa's left me under the tree.


It's rich, strong with spice & liquorice flavours.

Make sure you collect yours if you don't already have them.

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Brewing 2

It's sparging time.


The wort is coming through dark & sweet.

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Brewing

After yesterday's day out some of us still made it to brewing day.


We are now starting on some porter.

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Beeston 4

Not Beeston at all.


Back in the Barley Mow.

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Beeston 3

One for the road in The Victoria


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Beeston Part 2

The meal in the Victoria was rather good.

We are now in the Crown.


Is it good or not so good?

I think it's really good.

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Location:Church St,,United Kingdom

Beeston

Arrived at The Victoria, first pint is going down well.

Cider Ready?

I racked some cider yesterday to free up 2 fermenting bins.

We now have a barrel & 3 bins of cider.


I took a gravity reading & it is well under 1 but doesn't taste as dry as that implies.

I will bring a sample to brewing on Saturday if you want a taste.

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Cider Racking

The first racking is now complete.


It has received more sugar to mellow out the flavour & boost the ABV to around 6 or 7%.

It just needs to slowly ferment for about 6 weeks.

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The BAD velociraptor represents everyone who couldn't attend.


It drank your beer.

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Joanne as host gets first try of BAD Tiger in our new tankards.


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Cider Pressing Post Script

At least the cider mascot is still smiling.


I really enjoyed the day & By The Rivers were fantastic as well.

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Juice

We have juice, 21 gallons to be precise.

Cider day

Apples have been collected and ready to chop.

Scratman!

Scratting the apples into little bits.

GCR BF

We have now finished & are on our way home.


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GCR BF

We are being "entertained" by the band playing 633 Squadron, Dambusters March & a Sound of Music medley.


A slightly surreal & discordant experience.

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GCR BF

The locals have arrived


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GCR BF

The beer is served.


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GCR Beer Festival

Time for a little train spotting while we wait for the festival to open.


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Great Central Beer Festival

Four of us managed to make the train.


John looks eager, Louise apprehensive.

JD & I are keeping out of sight.

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Apples

Given the amount of fallers & the forecast for high winds I have picked my apples.


The apples should keep if they are kept dry & well aired.

They will need regular picking over & any rotten ones chucked out so they don't rot the rest.

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Brewing Day 3

Joanne pitches the yeast & it's time for the magic/chemistry to happen.


And that's another brewing day successfully completed.

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Tankards

Seem very good. Sturdy and pleasant to hold.

Brewing Day 2

While waiting for the beer to mash it seems appropriate to christen our new tankards.


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Brewing Day

Joanne mashes BAD Tiger under the supervision of our head brewer.


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Tankards

Arrived today, one is broken - how typical is that! I've fired off an email to get a replacement.

Tankards - and the winner is...

...option 3. It was a close call with 6 votes for option 3 and 5 for option 2. Tankards have been ordered and should be here in plenty of time for the next get together.

Order Summary:
1618707

2 x Icon Pint Glass Tankards CE 20oz / 568ml (Pack of 6) (From stock)	43.98
Delivery:	3.99
Total:	47.97

Beer tankards

I've emailed you all but a couple bounced back. The beer tankard choices are:

If you haven't already done so, can you please let me know your preference?

Symposium 30 July 2011

Not a big turn out but quality not quantity is what counts.


The brew is not too lively & cloudy (it looks like scrumpy).

But it tastes good.

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The Dzelme Barbecue

Three of John's finest brews, Louise's actual birthday & lots of barbecue food.


A sprinkling of BAD boys & girls, I'm sure, added to the experience.

And there's a prize for anyone who can guess what I did to scare Louise.


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Xmas Beer Bottled

The Xmas beer is now in bottles.


The bottling wand in the picture made it a quicker & much less messy procedure.

It also tasted rather nice when I sucked too hard on my siphon!

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Riverside Festival 4

We made it to the band


By The Rivers by the river. It's got to be good.

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Location:Western Blvd,Leicester,United Kingdom

Riverside Festival 3

A round of perries.


Is this really a good idea?

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Location:Briton St,Leicester,United Kingdom

Riverside 2

Pub 2, The Western.


We found the beer tent at the festival but we also found the queue.

The Western is busy but not too slow to get served. And we got seats.

John is pensive. Still thinking about that yeast.

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Location:Western Rd,Leicester,United Kingdom

Riverside Festival Warm Up

A small but dedicated band assemble outside the Criterion.


Lobster skin, sunglasses & beer. There are worse ways to spend a Saturday afternoon.

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Location:Bede St,Leicester,United Kingdom

Brewing Day

Will our reclaimed yeast (in the milk bottle) rouse?


John gives it hard stares & hopes for the best.

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Brewing Day

Brewing kicks off again on Sunday 22 May 2011.


It's Bharat's house so he has to do all the hard work.

John Dzelme, Phil Pawley & I are here in a supervisory capacity only.

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Mini Keg

Time to crack open the mini keg.

There was plenty of gas vented when I opened the valve so the beer had come into condition.


It poured easily but not quickly under gravity.

So it keeps beer well while it is maturing & conditioning.

I'll issue updates on how well it keeps beer once it is open & if the kegs are reusable when I have answers to those questions.

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Next Brewing Day

Look what I have waiting for brewing day on Sunday 22 May.


As it is bottle conditioned we could harvest the yeast to brew our own version of Summer Lightning.

If only I could think of something to do with the rest of the contents of the bottles...

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Xmas Brew Fermentation

The Xmas Ale has fermented out at 8%.


It could be a very merry Xmas.

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Location:Leicester,United Kingdom

Xmas Brewing Day 3

Yeast pitched, work over for today.

Jingle Bells!



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Xmas Brewing Day 2

We got it all in - just.


We've also got Phil doing the sparging.

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Xmas Brewing Day

Brewing a stronger beer uses a lot more grain.


Will it all fit in the mash tun?

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Location:Pope St,Leicester,United Kingdom

Mini Kegs

I bought 4 mini kegs for a brew I did with Matt & his friend, Lavin.


It was a lot quicker than bottling but should still provide a smaller quantity of beer (5 litres) which should be drinkable before it goes off.

I'll report on condition, wastage, how long it lasts & how easy it is to reuse them when I know (I only kegged it today).

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Location:Leicester,United Kingdom

Symposium 2 April 2011

The evening went well, even though the space was limited.



And we celebrated Paul Wood's birthday a day early with cake & beer.


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Location:Leicester,United Kingdom

Testing, Testing

The brew has been settling overnight so it's time to check it's not vinegar.



It pours like Guinness but settles after a few minutes to a beige coloured head with a black body.

It doesn't taste like Guinness however. A smooth drink with almost spicy notes.

It is a mild so everything is understated but there are subtle hints of chocolate & bitterness.

It does slip down very easily & it's deceptively strong.

It should provide the lubrication for another pleasant evening.

See you later.

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Location:Craighill Rd,Leicester,United Kingdom