2009 Hoppy New Brew!

It is new Years Eve 2009 here in Newcastle Australia. I will be a day up on most my family and friends.

The beer for the day is a Sierra Nevada Celebration Clone that I brewed up with Aussie 2 row, UK Cara Dark and Ger Cara pils, hopped with USA Chinook and Cascade, dry hopped with more Cascade and Centennial. I can't wait to have the first pint from the keg.

I plan to spend part of the night at the local pub combined with bbq with my wife and fun with mates.

I experienced a couple of things that were new to me this year.

#1 That I can brew enough hoppy beer myself here in Aussie to keep the Mrs and I in good beer.
#2 To not ever allow myself to work for someone I don't trust and treats people unethically. It just is not worth the mental strain it causes.
#3 Although 99% of all people I have met in the craft beer industry over the past 25 years have been great like minded folks, there are a few bad apples in the scene who some how have slipped through the cracks. I will make sure to keep an eye out for these types and steer clear. It can almost make a good beer taste bad.

That's it, only 3. What I do know for 2010 is that I can make my own destiny as I have always done, and will do it with good beer.

Cheers

Russian Beers

I have picked up 3 Russian beers to enjoy with a brewer mate of mine tonight over a nice pork BBQ. I think it is called Bajitnka, number 3, 4, and 8. The 3 is a pils, the 4 a dark and the 8 is a wheat. They interested me as I have received numerous emails lately advertising bulk hops from the Ukraine. I will report back with my findings tomorrow. Cheers AA

Aussie IPA

I have just tasted the new IPA from Murray's brewing company, named Big Wednesday. It has great NZ hop aroma throughout the entire quaf with very littel hop bitterness. The malt has a big presence that compliments the hop aroma. On the first drink the arome is prevelent that I thought I had just had a hit of it's cousin, what a flavourful taste. Only 8 kegs brewed and most people will never taste it, but fantastic just the same. Thanks to head brewer Shawn Sherlock!