h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Seriously lots.

Coding is still happening over on the test system, the new database is coming along nicely, *much* quicker than the current one and far more organised. There's still a way to go, but it's getting there.

I've got a book of short stories soon to be released, it's on its final proof reading now. Mostly this is to tide the fans (well, the readers who didn't hate the first book ) over until I've finished writing the second book. Which is taking longer than I'd like. The problem is, there's parts of it I'm not happy with. Parts that just don't seem right. So rather than just churn it out, it's going to take a bit longer while I rewrite them.

And if that wasn't enough, as some of you are aware, I've converted part of my garage into a brewery. A fully registered commercial brewery. I did the first two brews the beginning of this week, and will be doing two (maybe three) more this weekend.
I've been worrying a bit about this, because brewing beer's one thing, but you've then got to sell it. I've had a word with a couple of the places I drink in, and they're willing to give it a try, and if they like it they'll stock it. Which is okay.
However today I got a message from a bar (that I admit I've not been to (yet)) asking if they can stock it when it's ready.
I've not even bottled the first batch, and a bar is asking to stock it.
I can only hope that this is the start of a trend, because brewing leaves a lot of spare time during the day that I use up by writing and coding.

And if *that* wasn't enough, last night I think I may have suggested that we (me and the better half) do a sportive next year, a 100 mile timed cycle run. So I was out on the bike today to test what my distance cycling is like these days.
Thankfully, even with the *cough* years gap, I comfortably managed 30 miles with an average of around 10 miles an hour. It would have been faster, but this was a lot of city cycling, and that's a lot of traffic lights.
I did run out of energy around the 20 mile mark, so a quick dash (slow crawl) into a shop and stocked up on chocolate and energy drinks, which I then scoffed.

I'm planning on trying to fit some sleep in next week.

Very active indeed, and I shall indeed enjoy reading those short stories to tide me over


Any thoughts on the naming of these beers? ...If you offer free samples the meets will become much more busy, I'm sure



The long cycles sound horrific - my brother and sister-in-law are in fact doing a 100 mile cycle this weekend (weird people)

I've got a set of "house" or "portfolio" beers, although I've just added one to it that's not named yet. Well, it's sort of named for the test/initial brew, but I'll tweak the recipe for the final on.
It's a 3.5% pale session beer, half Maris Otter (standard English pale malt) and half lager malt, single hopped with Ella.
The other standard beers are Body Snatcher, a 4.2% traditional Manchester style bitter, Manchester Sun, a 5% hoppy golden ale, and Uncle Sam, a 5.5 - 6%, very hoppy IPA, and Satanic Mills, a 6.6% stout porter.

Then there's the occasional/one-off beers. And these are where I experiment. There's so many really famous people from Manchester, that I'm going to be brewing beers named after them, but also "styled" after them. Which sounds weird, but is easier to explain with examples...
Burgess, named after Anthony Burgess, the author of A Clockwork Orange, also an English teacher in the armed forces out in India. Brewed with oranges and cardamoms.
Lowry, after L.S.Lowry, extraordinary painter who depicted the "Dark Satanic Mills" of life up north. Brewed with lapsang souchong to give it a smokey aroma.
Pankhurst, named for Emily Pankhurst, one of the original fiery suffragettes. Brewed with chillies

I'm working on a recipe for a Turing beer at the moment, as well as researching more famous Mancunians.


I actually really enjoyed the cycle this afternoon, except for the rain. My bike held out really well, but I will have to buy a pair of proper cycling shorts. Chaffing occurred

Naming a stout porter Satanic Mills is inspired I hope Manchester Sun makes more appearances than its namesake though

I wonder if there'll be a Dibnah at some point - served in the tallest of tall glasses, naturally.

That'd have to be a mild

I'd drink it

I did have the feeling you were sort of doing other things...

for all those things that are going on!

"There's so many really famous people from Manchester."

Yeah, but half of them are really from Salford.

Chafing - aargh... Reminds me of the days when I used to cycle on a chopper tricycle rather than a handbike - the chafing was legendary... Didn't stop me going cycling again the next week, though Fun times in the summer holidays from school

Those beers sound good - I look forward to seeing what you come up with for the Turing beer

The recipe for the Turing beer so far is passion fruit and beetroot. Lots of brain chemicals, and bright pink!

Trying to decide if it should be a dark porter, a mild, or a session/golden beer.

Sounds good so far I'd definitely like to try it.

Not sure which type I'd prefer it to be, though, as I'm not much of a connoisseur of beer... I like Guinness and I've tried Speckled Hen once, which was quite good, but these days I'm on the cider

I can't find the thread where you mentioned one of your batches of beer had an aroma of elastoplast, but I just wanted to let you know you're in good company - my cider today has a similar bouquet... I'll see what it's like tomorrow after the bottle has been open overnight...

Fascinating

The aroma is caused by chlorophenols, themselves caused by chlorine.

Tiny amounts of chlorine can cause it, when heated up. The trick is to make sure all equipment is thoroughly rinsed with hot water, and any water used as an ingredient is either boiled, or use half a campden tablet in the boil.

Ah, fascinating indeed! Not that I plan brewing my own scrumpy, but it is very interesting to know what is likely to have caused the problem with this bottle I bought from the supermarket.

Yes, leaving the bottle open for a while did reduce the chlorophenols, so last night's wasn't too bad.

It's quite bad that you're getting those flavours in a commercial product. Which cider is it?

Magners - I have sent them a message today to tell them about the problem, so I look forward to hearing from them!

You have* to do a loverly dark rich creamy porter/mild/stout..... really* really* dark.... and.... call it.... nighthoover! anyhow..... - how big is this garage of yours?; room to hold the next meet in it? assuming...... of course.... I'm permitted to drink

It's just a single garage I'm afraid. Can fit about 6 people maximum.

right... but once you've sold your first 1 million barrels, and have moved into a larger brewing facility, with attached 'tasting room/tap-house', we'll all be invited, right? Maybe the 'h2g2' beer range as an inorgeral opening of the tap-house, and combined h2g2 meet....... Nighthoover stout..... slartybartfast mild.... Fenchurch porter.... Infinate IPA.... S.E.P... GPP (Genuine People Porter)