If you find yourself in Cheltenham's Brewhouse and Kitchen in early October, drinking their American IPA, you'll be surprised to know that it was my son and I that brewed it.
I'll be checking the untappd ratings with my fingers over my eyes.
With an August Birthday, Mrs M thought hard about what you can gift to a man that has everything.
Experience always counts for more than possessions.
Arrival is at 10am for breakfast, a morning of pumping hot water over grain, lunch, pumping hot water between vessels, adding hops and yeast and then scooping out the leftovers for a good clean. Troops kept motivated through a walk/talk through of all their beers by a knowledgeable chap called Alex, who will surely ace his upcoming beer exams.
 |
| Opening Stage - Soaking the grain |
 |
| Mid Stage - Operation Tidy Up |
 |
| Final stage - adding the yeast in the fermenter |
5pm and there's nothing left to do, other than leave the yeast to do its magic over the next couple of weeks.
Brewer Alex tells us that the Sandford Ale House - a much loved former Camra Pub of the Year - is starting Oktoberfest celebration today. The 5l keg mementos of the day failed to slow us down, as we tramped across town to our next destination.
It's a top afternoon - a huge marquee in the garden, five Oktoberfest beers on and authentic food to complete the experience. Possibly mistakenly (although not really), I confirmed that I would like our Spatens in steins.
The £23 bill instantly showing me that I had got the volumes all wrong.
A student moaning about getting a 2 pint chalice was something I never expected to hear.
 |
| Some would say we have enough beer for a day |
Of course the day's not over there. Next to the railway station is the Deya Brewery. Thanks to our towns recently opened craft beer bar, their beer had to be the find of lockdown(s). Steady Rolling Man on draught when the craft bar was allowed to open, exotically named cans of high percentage IPAs when not.
And its quite a setup down on the out of town industrial estate - a huge outdoor area under a silo that may be for show, street food and an equally sized indoor area - next to where the magic happens.
And we are newly trained to know exactly how it all works.
 |
| Surely for show |
 |
| Deya People |
 |
| Shiny Happy Vessels |
No comments:
Post a Comment