bottled beetle

[photo taken using my mobile phone]

The Very Merry Andrew has fermented out at approximately 9.2% ABV and we were looking at the 330ml bottles in the hope that we could use them tomorrow for this extremely potent brew. Unfortunately the elements had worked their way through the packaging. As had beetles, slugs, snails, spiders and worms. Plan B is to use the 500ml bottles instead.

As only the second person ever to test the Very Merry Andrew can I just say WOW! this thing has a kick that leaves the tongue tingling. Definitely one for Xmas day if you can get hold of it. The limited size of the brew, and lack of 330ml bottles, means that there will be a maximum of 200 bottles available this year. We are hoping that another 200 will be set aside for next year by which time the flavours will have matured to provide a more satisfyingly complex drink.

The rest of the day was spent with the first run of our new Hop Token variation. We were immensely flattered recently when we found out that another small local brewery has decided to produce a beer flavoured with the same amarillo hops that we used in the first Hop Token incarnation. More on the new beer once it's ready for bottling next week when I can give you a better indication of how it tastes but early indications are it's going to be very good indeed.