Got hops?

2 Bare hop plants came in the post this morning wrapped in damp moss. One challenger and one golding. Put them both in separate 3 gallon buckets for the time being. Once I've found a place to plant them in the allotment I can move them in the autumn. I'm not going to get any hops this year obviously but I will have a more established plant for next year on the allotment.

I will post pictures if they get going. Somehow I need to set up a trellis in the allotment. No doubt it will be made from odd bits.

Wychwood White Wych

Commercial Description:

A golden fragrant ale brewed with goldings and northdown hops and a pinch of malted wheat for that crisp sparkling flavoursome finish.

Clear golden appearance with a nice white head. Aroma of spicy hops. Ordinary light mouthfeel. Tastes of musty light malt with a little honey and citrus. Bitter after taste. 3.8% strengh. I don't mean to be a snob (Which I'm not) but it's unbalanced. I mean for a bitter it is to floral and citrus. I can still drink it but its not going to win awards.

Rating: Okay
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Unbalanced. Might like it if your into light ales.

Pauwel Kwak

A Belgian Strong Ale brewed by Brouwerij Bosteels in Buggenhout.

Commercial Description:

Full-bodied Belgian Specialty Ale. Amber in color with beautiful foam and slightly sweet, seductive malt character. Rich, satisfying Belgian experience.

Was given this by Ben. Pours a cloudy dark orange. Champagne like bubbles stream from the bottom of the glass. Even white head. Aroma is a complex sweet cherry fruit blended with nice spicy hops. Smells like goodness in a glass. Mouth feel is ordinary. Taste is complex as the aroma. Bitterness, caramel, dried fruit and yeast. Dry warming biscuity sweet finish. At first the taste maybe overwhelming with its 8% strength but it grows on you and you can enjoy it.

Rating: Nice
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: An ale worth taking your time over.

Wychwood Circle Master

Commercial Description:

"Circle Master is brewed using a unique blend of Plumage Archer Barley Malt, organically grown for us in a dedicated field under the auspices of the Prince of Wales Duchy Estate in Gloucestershire. Whole leaf target hops, naturally grown in a single garden in Kent, are added to create a beer of exceptionally taste and character. A tantalising citrus aroma heralds a delightful malt flavour, rounded off with a spicy bittersweet finish."

Its organic so I am interested to see what this is like.
Pours a clear gold colour. Small white head. Aroma of citrus, corn and sweet biscuit malt. Mouthfeel on the light side. Orange and apple fruit flavours with a crisp biscuit malt. No bitterness at first but has a slightly bitter sweet citrus after taste. A good 4.7% strength.

Rating: Not bad.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Despite it being 4.7% I could have a few for a session.

Black Wych Stout

Brewed by Wychwood Refresh (Marstons).
Commercial Description:

Black Wych is a spellbinding brew of roasted black malt and oats with a broom-full of progress hops. This is a recipe for a velvety smooth stout with a full dry and biscuity flavour and a clean cut aromatic bitterness.

Deep black appearance. Little brown head. Roasted malts with a little lemon hoppy hint aroma. Quite a light mouth feel for a stout. Has a strong roasted malt flavour with a light vanilla taste not to overwhelm. Dry chocolate malt finish. Little spicy after taste. Well balanced. 5% is a good strength.

Rating: Not bad.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Quite light bodied yet strong flavoured.

Specially Selected Golden Pale Ale

Brewed by batemans for aldi.
Commercial Description:

Specially produced for Aldi stores. The finest Maris Otter barley from Lincolnshire and Yorkshire is delicately malted then roasted over traditional kilns, before being skillfully blended with only hand picked female hops. Brewed by Batemans in their 130 year old incolshire family brewery.

Sweet toffee aroma. Clear bronze (not golden after all) with a small white head. Little carbonation. Light body. Sweet butter, light biscuit notes and a overwhelming toffee taste.

Rating: Okay but not great.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Bland and too sweet.

Specially Selected I.P.A.

Brewed by Batemans for aldi stores.
Commercial Description:

Specially produced for Aldi Stores. The finest Maris Otter barley, Lincolnshire and oven roasted crystallised malts are matured that little bit longer to replicate the ales which were transported over to the East India Company in bygone days. Brewed by Batemans in their 130 year lincolnshire family brewery.

Looks like a IPA. Nice head. Has a IPA aroma but isn't as strong like empire. Butter, honey notes and the style defining oak wood hints (its meant to be aged in wooden casks). Smooth mouth feel. Taste: butterscotch, little honey maybe and crisp spicy with noticeable warming alcohol after taste. Tastes stronger than 5%.

Rating: Not bad.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Not enough hops for my liking but its still drinkable.

Schöfferhofer Hefeweizen

Brewed by Binding-Brauerei (Oetker Group). On opening this beer I could already smell a classic hefe. That fond sweet banana and yeast smell. Pours a hazy yellow. Great white head that lasts. Mouth feel is smooth and creamy. Taste is pleasant clover, light wheat with lemmon fruity hints. Little bitterness.

Rating: Nice.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Pleasant Hefeweizen. Good price. 99p in aldi.

Creative writing tips

I was looking for short story tips for writing of course. This site has some really useful information.

Short Stories: 10 Tops for Creative Writers

What is a Short Story?

A short story begins as close to the conclusion as possible, and grabs the reader from the very first line. It conserves character and scenes, typically focuses on just one problem, and drives towards a sudden, unexpected revelation. (Kathy Kennedy and Dennis G. Jerz)