Sundays Rain

This morning, half a sleep, I walked to my grandparents around 2 miles away. It was so humid and warm. All the more reason to be astonished by the afternoon pour.

Sundays public transport is dire. Rain makes Taxis harder to come by as if they all magically dissolve. While at the bus station you will always find that your destination isn't fully met so you have to settle for a bus that has a stop several blocks away.

Potatoes from a bucket

Around march time I put 3 seed potatoes in to a 3 gallon bucket complete with home made compost. Placed it in a sunny sheltered place and this is what I got back from just 3 potatoes:

Some are like the size of big roast patatoes. The others could probably be used for mashing or salad. The variety is desiree.

Also I have been busy on the allotment weeding, digging, manuring, harvesting and gerneraly getting ready for next year. I'm thinking of starting an allotment blog for next year.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale

Commercial Description:

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a delightful example of the classic pale ale style. It has a deep amber color and a exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. The fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor are the results of the generous use of the best Cascade hops.

Pours a copper colour with a thin white head. Aroma of cascade hops (you never forget that cascade smell once you've brewed with them) and pine notes. Great aroma. Light body. Smooth mouth feel. At first the taste is dominated by the citrus hops then the moderately sweet malt. After taste has a dry mild bitterness. Well balanced. 5.6% strength. Bottle conditioned.

Rating: Nice.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Well balanced and lots of hops.

Fullers Organic Honey Dew

Commercial Description:

Served chilled, Organic Honey Dew offers both refreshment and an unbeatable taste. The real organic honey in the brew gives a gentle sweetness that appeals to a wide range of people, even those who perhaps wouldn't usually drink beer, making it a very popular choice!

Pours a pale clear colour. Thin white head. Honey with floral hops aroma. Soft smooth mouth feel. Very light body. Taste is solely a sweet mellow honey flavour with light malt and slight bitterness. Nice 5% strength. Quite balanced but maybe too sweet for some. Malt after taste is pleasant yet short lived.

Rating: Okay.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: Refreshing honey goodness. The non ale drinker will like this one.

Caledonian Deuchars IPA

Commercial Description:

A distinctive golden beer that's long on refreshment. It's dry and delicious, a brilliant blend of malt and hop with a hint of citrus, that leaves your taste buds calling for more.

Pours a very clear golden amber with a thin white head. Citrus and slightly fruity hay like aroma. Light body. Smooth mouth feel. Taste is sweet caramel with biscuit like malt. Very nice dry bitter after taste. 4.4% strength. More like a bitter than IPA. Perhaps its the lack of a oak taste (this is from a pasteurised bottle).

Rating: Nice.
As you can see am a professional at rating beer
Overall: I don't think its an IPA but still its a nice hoppy session beer.

Update on beer and hop matters

The hops are okay and I think they have survived the post. The challenger lost a vine but has new growth on another (look below). The golding vines died but theres a tiny new growth so it will pick up.


Iv also been brewing. Last week I brewed a Pilsener lager. I got to experiment with rice and I think its going to very strong. Yesterday I brewed another, a dark gingered ale using nottingham yeast. Will see how gingered it is when its finished fermenting.