HOME BREWING

A recent post on Facebook has prompted this blog. 

The Hop and Cleaver in Newcastle are promoting a home brew competition in September this year. ( Details here Hop & Cleaver Home Brew link)

This got me thinking about my own home brew experiences.

It all started way back in the early 70's when Washington Development used to hold summer barbecues. This particular year the theme was come dressed as a tramp and bring some home brew to be judged in a competition during the evening.

Having successfully dressed as a tramp , which wasn't difficult as my mates set upon me before we set off and ripped most of my clothes to shreds. The home brew was more of a challenge as only one of us had bothered. So we met in The Coach & Horses ( now closed but that's another blog), which had an off license, So we had an empty pop bottle with no labels on it and bought a bottle of Newcastle Brown Ale. We poured the Brown Ale into the empty bottle and entered it into the Home Brew competition. IT DIDN'T WIN. 

That says it all - I don't think Ive drank the stuff since..  

But this experience got me into home brewing. Bought all the kit, scrounged a load of empty bottles from a mate at work and soon I was in business. I used to brew Boots Extra Strong Bitter which had a lethal kick. 

One year my mates came round to our house ( I think it was 1985) to watch the FA Cup Final. This unfortunately coincided with us selling the house and a viewing was arranged for about 6pm.

I was so rat arsed off the home brew that after the match Mrs Ken politely suggested I go for a walk and keep out of the way till after the potential house buyers had been and gone.

I was found about an hour later slumped on a park bench asleep.

I believe  this was my last foray into home brewing ( I got fed up with all the bottle washing) but at least we sold the house !