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

Since the last entry, way back in August, things have been happening.

So a quick catch up...

The first two commercial brews both had to get poured down the drain. There was a chlorine spike in the water supply which led to a chlorophenol infection in the beer. This gives it a sticking-plaster smell and taste, and obviously you can't sell that. Thankfully the third batch was okay, as that was for Mr603.

The fourth batch was a strong stout, and should have been absolutely fine left alone to ferment for four weeks while I went to New Zealand. Unfortunately the yeast went mad and by the time I got back it had turned to vinegar.

Not the best start to a business, but there you go.

Since then however things have gone better. I now have four regular outlets for the beer, with a potential two more. I've also just taken my first "commission" to brew for a member of the public who runs a bi-annual event, which is really quite a big thing for me if I get it. Additionally, a bar in Manchester (one I've never been in) has got in touch about getting some samples with a look to stocking my beers.

At the moment, I've got one I'm currently bottling, and then four more that are fermenting, one of which is almost ready to bottle. Until some of these are bottled though, I've run out of space. The problem being it's currently too cold in the garage/brewery for beers to ferment properly, so I'm having to bring the tubs into the kitchen, and there's limited space there. So my bottle neck really is the bottling side of things.

Hopefully though, by next winter I'll have sold enough beer to get an electricity supply out in the brewery along with more insulation for fermentation cabinets. So this won't be a problem.

Once I have got these bottles done, I'll be brewing a load more beer to create some bottle stock, and then I'll be able to finally start brewing for casks to go into the pubs. But at the moment, I'm at capacity when I can, and still can't meet demand. I just hope this keeps up after the "new factor" has worn off.

How was New Zealand?

GB

Lovely!

I always wanted to visit South Island. *also *

When are we getting the holiday report for ?

*nudge*

Buy blankets from charity shops to wrap around the fermentation vats and keep them warm?

I'm glad it's looking up!