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The Owl Brewery – 15th January 2012
the home of Trevor
Happy New Year to all our readers throughout the world.
The first meeting of 2012 kicks off at my brewery/pub. The weather is bitter and so is my first offering, Hoppy Scops 4.2%. Pearl and crystal malts, torrefied wheat and flaked maize combined with Mount Hood hops for bitterness and Bobek hops for aroma, to give a hoppy beer which some would say a bit too bitter but I liked it. EBU = 40
Coming in at 4.4% abv is Brown Wood Bitter: Pearl malt, torrefied wheat and chocolate malt; Target and Pilgrim for bitterness and Mount Hood for aroma. A well rounded beer with chocolate aftertaste. EBU = 35
Up next is an experiment – Banana Bread Beer (4.5%). Pearl and wheat malts, torrefied wheat and roasted barley with bittering hops Mount Hood, Target and Pilgrim; Bobek for aroma. Added to this was a couple of pounds of bananas and a loaf of bread. I told you it was an experiment. Anyhow, the aroma of bananas was prevalent when the beer was being dispensed but nothing in the taste. Maybe if I allow it to mature for a week or so it may change – beer does that, you know! EBU = 30
Last and by no means least is everyone’s favourite (I make more of this than all other beers combined!) Owl’d Peculiar 6.6% abv. Pearl, crystal and black malts, torrefied wheat and Pilgrim hops make up this vinous delight. EBU = 32
First to arrive on his trusty stead is a very cold John, our Glorious Leader. With a candle dangling from his nose, he sniffs and removes his jacket but the first thing on his mind is the darts final on the telly. On goes the television and the first pints of the evening are pulled. Another trusty stead brings Jacko who pulls his own pint and comes and joins us.
The bar is now filling up with the rest of the guys, those interested in the darts pull their pints and exit into the lounge leaving the rest of us in the bar. Only Mark didn’t show. The darts final is now over, so it’s all in the bar and getting on with what we all do best, drinking and talking. Jacko shares the problem he has at work (he’s a brewer by profession you may recall). The gasket of one of the fermenters has finally given in to old age and until a replacement is found the vessel can only take half the volume. The bar is awash with ideas.
This wouldn’t be a review without, “Right, listen to this, right?” and our Glorious leader taking centre stage with the hottest topic of the night – our tenth Anniversary. I will guide you through, dear reader.
“My place is too small,” he shouts. “There will be loads of people there!” Admittedly, his bar is small and can only hold five or six at the most. As to who the ‘loads of people’ are, I question. We are told that a local journalist is coming, as is the ex beer writer for the Newcastle Journal. Add them up and you get ..... two! Add to that the nine members of the group, that’s eleven. Who knows, WAGs may be invited and perhaps the odd ex-member may turn up. Then there’s the lads from the BBC (a couple of years ago we were featured in a programme and our hobby gave root to a group being set up in the Newcastle area). So he could be right.
“I’m telling you,” cries our Glorious Leader. “It’s too small.” It’s okay because I’ve offered the use of my bar, along with the lounge and dining room. Should get the hoards in here.
“There are so many people who want to come,” he says. I refer to my comment earlier. Perhaps we should inform ‘Hello’ magazine!
The upshot is that it will be held at the Owl Brewery (Ye Owl’d Pub) on the 1st July. I bet you can’t wait for the review on that night.
Nothing to do with that – one of the nibbles on offer was a prawn ring. Poor Stuart. He was starving. “I’m so hungry I’ve eaten a prawn, and I don’t like them! I was forced to!”
Chicken al a King was served.
The problem of using two rooms is that as your ace reporter can only be in one room at a time so I apologise for not recording everything that was said, even though it might be profound. Who knows?
A conversation struck up about farming with our farmer in situ Richard. Things are not good in farming so why continue, I ask him. “It’s in the blood,” he answers. Without people like him where would we get our barley and wheat?
Next we have a deep discussion about the Darlington Beer Festivals of the future. You see, with the economy being as it is, councils throughout England are having to make cut-backs. The Arts Centre, venue for the festivals in the past, is closing. Where is there a facility for holding future events? Much debate followed.
Stuart is in a quandry whether to persue his lifelong ambitions or continue a humdrum existence – no competition, I say. Still on the subject of Stuart. He volunteered to do a few of these reviews when I’m off on my travels. He volunteered! Not only that but he smiled when he said it. Wow!
Next meeting is in three weeks at Pete’s, the home of Mitrhril Ales
Beer of the Night was Owl’d Peculiar - Cheers
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