Appreciate that on a niche website, that this may be even more niche and there are a few members who are under age - but is anyone else into their craft beers?

It seems to be all the rage at the moment, amongst the trendys, but I have had a geeky soft spot for them and real ale for a while now.

Favourites at the minute include a good old fashioned IPA and some of the American craft beers , like Blue Moon 

Any Brewdog fans out there? How about BBQ lovers?

https://mobile.twitter.com/DogHouseMCity

Brewdog are introducing a new type of bar to their portfolio.
Beer and BBQ!

(26 Oct 2015, 8:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote Any Brewdog fans out there? How about BBQ lovers?

https://mobile.twitter.com/DogHouseMCity

Brewdog are introducing a new type of bar to their portfolio.
Beer and BBQ!

I'll have to try that down here at our branch, looks right up my street   . Not really a craft beer but I am much happier now that my local serves Pilsner Urquell, a beer that I thought was only available in the Czech Republic.

(02 Jun 2015, 9:52 am)Andreos1 wrote Appreciate that on a niche website, that this may be even more niche and there are a few members who are under age - but is anyone else into their craft beers?

It seems to be all the rage at the moment, amongst the trendys, but I have had a geeky soft spot for them and real ale for a while now.

Favourites at the minute include a good old fashioned IPA and some of the American craft beers , like Blue Moon 

I'm rather fond of a good beer and IPA is one of my favourites - I like the sourness.

Actually drinking a bottle of one I picked up in M&S on their dine in for a tenner offer - so not strictly small scale, but not mainstream, either. Adnams Suffolk single variety hop pale ale. Tastes like pineapple!

(26 Oct 2015, 8:07 pm)Andreos1 wrote Any Brewdog fans out there? How about BBQ lovers?

https://mobile.twitter.com/DogHouseMCity

Brewdog are introducing a new type of bar to their portfolio.
Beer and BBQ!

The Town Wall in Newcastle was doing this during the Summer. Seemed to be quite popular.

(26 Oct 2015, 9:02 pm)Simmy wrote I'll have to try that down here at our branch, looks right up my street   . Not really a craft beer but I am much happier now that my local serves Pilsner Urquell, a beer that I thought was only available in the Czech Republic.

You have been missing out - or going to the wrong places.
That has been about locally for years. Not that popular it seems, cos never found a good pint of it yet!

(26 Oct 2015, 9:57 pm)BusLoverMum wrote I'm rather fond of a good beer and IPA is one of my favourites - I like the sourness.

Actually drinking a bottle of one I picked up in M&S on their dine in for a tenner offer - so not strictly small scale, but not mainstream, either. Adnams Suffolk single variety hop pale ale. Tastes like pineapple!

I have noticed Sainsburys seem to be going down the route of using (and stating which) breweries on their own brand stuff too.

Not sure I have had any Adnams yet. Used to keep a log, but I have lost track.
The same memory that remembers PTE routes, vehicles and allocations from 30 years ago, strangely struggles to recollect which weird and wonderful beers I consumed the night before!

(26 Oct 2015, 10:05 pm)Adrian wrote The Town Wall in Newcastle was doing this during the Summer. Seemed to be quite popular.

Went in there for the first time in ages on Friday afternoon. No BBQ's unfortunately!

(27 Oct 2015, 8:44 am)Andreos1 wrote You have been missing out - or going to the wrong places.
That has been about locally for years. Not that popular it seems, cos never found a good pint of it yet!


I have noticed Sainsburys seem to be going down the route of using (and stating which) breweries on their own brand stuff too.

Not sure I have had any Adnams yet. Used to keep a log, but I have lost track.
The same memory that remembers PTE routes, vehicles and allocations from 30 years ago, strangely struggles to recollect which weird and wonderful beers I consumed the night before!


Went in there for the first time in ages on Friday afternoon. No BBQ's unfortunately!

There has to be some cause and effect, there. Maybe worth some scientific study?

I'm sampling the brandy I bought for the Christmas cake, tonight. Got to make sure it's not poisonous.

I have just got a little bit excited after reading this article.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...m-10406353

If you haven't tried beers from Wylam Brewery (and you are above the age of 18), give one of them a go.
They do some lovely stuff.

Hopefully the taste, doesn't change too much after the move.

(09 Nov 2015, 10:17 am)Andreos1 wrote I have just got a little bit excited after reading this article.
http://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/nort...m-10406353

If you haven't tried beers from Wylam Brewery (and you are above the age of 18), give one of them a go.
They do some lovely stuff.

Hopefully the taste, doesn't change too much after the move.

Heading home to Whitburn next week so I'll give them a go . Need a replacement as Jarrow Brewery appears to have had financial difficulties recently. Miss Rivet Catcher .

(15 Nov 2015, 1:45 am)Simmy wrote Heading home to Whitburn next week so I'll give them a go . Need a replacement as Jarrow Brewery appears to have had financial difficulties recently. Miss Rivet Catcher .

Aye, heard a few tales about Jarrow struggling. Which is a shame.

Had some Newton Aycliffe brewed Steam Machine the other night.

http://steammachinebrew.com/phone/the-beers.html

Had the IPA and Afternoon Tea.

The tea had a more bitter taste to it than the IPA.

Making my first dabbles into the world of home brewing soon.

Got my hands on a decent looking set-up, that only requires yeast and hops.
Hopefully I will be able to come up with some decent brews over the next few months.

If anyone else on the forum has dabbled, feel free to share some tips!

(26 Jan 2016, 1:06 pm)Andreos1 wrote Making my first dabbles into the world of home brewing soon.

Got my hands on a decent looking set-up, that only requires yeast and hops.
Hopefully I will be able to come up with some decent brews over the next few months.

If anyone else on the forum has dabbled, feel free to share some tips!

Only one bit of advice from distant but bitterly remembered experience:

Airlocks are not ant proof!

(26 Jan 2016, 1:57 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Only one bit of advice from distant but bitterly remembered experience:

Airlocks are not ant proof!

Haha, I will bear that in mind!
Mind, it can only add flavour. Surely?

(27 Jan 2016, 4:29 pm)Andreos1 wrote Haha, I will bear that in mind!
Mind, it can only add flavour. Surely?

Crunch, definitely.

And I shall now step away from this thread. I've drunk nothing more potent than Erdinger since NYD and I'm determined not to derail that, before February.

(27 Jan 2016, 4:39 pm)BusLoverMum wrote Crunch, definitely.

And I shall now step away from this thread. I've drunk nothing more potent than Erdinger since NYD and I'm determined not to derail that, before February.

The brew is on and hopefully I don't find a queue of ants waiting patiently to try it!

All fermenting nicely, with some hop pellets to chuck in at some point later next week!

The beer is now in the barrel.

Had a little sip when siphoning and it is a waiting game now.
Priming sugar in, valve locked and hopefully a nice beer in a few weeks!

(14 Feb 2016, 5:46 pm)Andreos1 wrote The beer is now in the barrel.

Had a little sip when siphoning and it is a waiting game now.
Priming sugar in, valve locked and hopefully a nice beer in a few weeks!

What kind of ale are you brewing?

(14 Feb 2016, 5:51 pm)Adrian wrote What kind of ale are you brewing?

With it being my first go, I wanted to use a kit that had step by step instructions.
I thought it would help me understand the process more and develop the confidence to brew from scratch in the future.

So having identified the hop that I like the most (cascade) and then finding a kit that was easy enough to drink and which contained cascade - I found 'Golden Stag'.

Fingers crossed it works!
The alcohol content is lower than it is supposed to be (3.94% over the supposed 4.5%), but it is a learning curve.

I was warned that brewing can become addictive.
It has!

If you havent given it a go, I would give it a try.

(14 Feb 2016, 6:09 pm)Andreos1 wrote With it being my first go, I wanted to use a kit that had step by step instructions.
I thought it would help me understand the process more and develop the confidence to brew from scratch in the future.

So having identified the hop that I like the most (cascade) and then finding a kit that was easy enough to drink and which contained cascade - I found 'Golden Stag'.

Fingers crossed it works!
The alcohol content is lower than it is supposed to be (3.94% over the supposed 4.5%), but it is a learning curve.

I was warned that brewing can become addictive.
It has!

If you havent given it a go, I would give it a try.

I'd thought about doing cider once, but as I don't have a garage, it'd be a bit difficult I reckon. I'll have to buy a brewing shed or something! 

You'll have a Fencehouses Micro Brewery in no time

(14 Feb 2016, 6:14 pm)Adrian wrote I'd thought about doing cider once, but as I don't have a garage, it'd be a bit difficult I reckon. I'll have to buy a brewing shed or something! 

You'll have a Fencehouses Micro Brewery in no time

A kitchen or spare room should do the job - unless you're gonna be pressing the apples yourself.

http://www.ciderworkshop.com/howtomake.html

I had my fermenting vessel in the kitchen this time so I could keep the temperature constant.

Go on, give it a go

Almost completely drank my first brew.

Not bad for a first attempt.

I will hopefully be making another soon.

Just read this too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35917816

It is a shame so many pubs are closing. Yet others are managing to change and adapt to serve a new market.

(31 Mar 2016, 7:11 pm)Andreos1 wrote Almost completely drank my first brew.

Not bad for a first attempt.

I will hopefully be making another soon.

Just read this too.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-35917816

It is a shame so many pubs  are closing. Yet others are managing to change and adapt to serve a new market.

Got a pic of how it looks?

(02 Apr 2016, 3:36 pm)Adrian wrote Got a pic of how it looks?

I don't. Will try and remember next time I pour a pint of it.