Beer Reviews - A Few Core Brands

Today I’m doing a few reviews of the core brands. BrewDog has 5 and I’ve only done one so I feel like it is time for some more.

Trashy Blonde – You know you shouldn’t

This beer is one of the core 5 and we have had a few debates about how it got its name. Some say that it was a good (or bad) night in college for James or Martin and others argue that it is because it is a blonde beer and it’s a bit dirty. Looks like we may never know.

Look – It is very light in colour with a pale gold colour, just a bit darker than the generic lagers you see out there. There is nothing special or interesting going on.

Smell – The smell is very mild. It has a slight hop smell with some sweet malt coming through but past that there isn’t much else. Like the look, there isn’t anything too interesting going on.

Taste – Surprise!! There isn’t anything special here either. Some malt sweetness and a bit of bitterness coming up front. The hops show up at the end with a decent bitterness but not much flavour. The bitterness lasts for longer than you would expect with such a low profile everywhere else. The body is quite thin and would attract a lot of drinkers. Maybe that is where it got the name? Sure you would have it because of its thin body and easy drinkability, but you wouldn’t be too proud.

Punk IPA- Post Modern Classis Pale Ale

This label is great. It tells you that you don’t know shit about beer and that you might as well have a generic lager since you can’t really appreciate this IPA. In you face and a no bullshit attitude, the BrewDog way. Is the beer actually that good? I should note that this is the new Punk, formerly Punk X so it has only been on full production for a few weeks at this point.

Look- A very pale golden yellow colour. Nothing too Punk yet.

Smell – The smell is great. Very aromatic with the big American hops. Fruity, resiny, some citrusy and a bit of a floral smell. The hop smell is also sweet and not too pungent. Maybe touches of sweetness from the malt, almost cinnamon or piecrust like.

Taste – Malt up front. You get this nice sweet maltyness that is biscuity and piecrust like with a bit of a toffee flavour mixed in. The hops you see in the smell are in the taste as well: Citrusy, a bit resiny and a touch of fruitiness in there. The bitterness is tame but present and gives a great balance to the beer.

Compared to old Punk this one is tame. The old one is very bitter in comparion, almost double the IBU’s but lacks the dry hop finish, which gives a great complexity of flavour to the beer. It also is less pungent smelling than the old punk. I personally like both of them but they are quite different beers. The new one has more flavour and hop presence while the old one is bitterer. I’d say the old is truer to the name but hey, I’m just an intern.

Exciting New Projects

Since I’ve been here, BrewDog has done a lot of new things and I’m sure I’ll be seeing many more in my time here. I've even had the chance to mash in an imperial pilsner with beer blogging legends Zak Avery, Mark Dredge and Pete Brown. Great guys. They have an exciting project coming up that I’d really like to share though. Sadly, most of you probably won't try it.

IPA is dead

IPA is dead is a series of 4 IPA’s with the same malt base. Brewed to roughly 7.5% (I can’t remember exactly) and all with the same IBU’s. You may ask “what is special about that?”. It’s a good question and I haven’t told you yet.

Each version has a different hop added to it. Each is a single hop and only a single hop. There are (obviously) 4 different hops from 4 different continents. They vary is alpha acids (so there is a change in the amount added during the boil) and each is dry hopped in the same manner. What hops you ask? There are Citra, Bramling X (cross), Nelson Sauvin (which has a cool story about the name) and Sorachi Ace (Japanese).  It will be released in a 4 pack with a bottle of each soon. Bottling starts next week I believe. This is a great project as not many IPA’s are single hopped and while not a new idea, it is a very interesting project. Wouldn’t you like to stand up countries side by side and pick your hop?

I have to say it. IPA is DEAD. Lone live IPA.

Watch for it and I hope you get a chance to try it. I’ll post my opinions once they come out.

Don't Be Proud of Me

When I started to tell people that I was coming here to brew they were thrilled for me. The one thing that I was told most often, I think, was that they were proud of me. While I really appreciate that I’ve earned their respect and that I’m a person to be proud of, I don’t want to be.

The main reason that people have said they are proud of me is because I am going to do what I love and want to do. To me, that doesn’t seem like grounds for them to be proud of me. I think it would be more appropriate if everyone were happy for me.

I don’t think that finding your passion is something that people should be proud of you for, but rather be happy for you. It isn’t something you have earned or been working on (well not directly) for a long time, it is something you stumbled on while living life. Sure I think it is an accomplishment to find your passion and it surely shapes the things you do in life but it isn’t anything to be proud of. We will all find it at some point, some sooner than later. I’m happy that I’ve found mine early and that I can get into it this early while others will spend years looking for it and may never find it. I get to travel to pursue it and work for a the company of my dreams but are you proud of me, or happy for me?

My best friend Michelle has wanted about 6 things over the past few years from med school to research and a ton of other things. I think the process is just as important as the result for most things in life. I think it is great to for her to realize that maybe med school isn’t the place for her. I don’t think it is since she isn’t a person who can purely memorize stuff like a (useless) robot. She needs to apply herself to something and you won’t find that as a doctor. If I were to guess, she will change the world in a big way, something doctors don’t do regularly. Especially if they are 9-5 ER doctors…. I’m proud of her for a number of reasons but never because she has found her passion. I’m proud of her for being smart, a great problem solver, an amazing lobster roll maker, a rock star pancake cooker (even the batter by herself now) let alone a great person and an even better friend.

I’d rather people be proud of me for the things I’ve done to help others, for being a good friend or being supportive of my friends. While chasing my dreams is something to be proud of me for, it isn’t that important and I’m not chasing it yet. I think that chasing your dreams is expected of everyone and if they don’t do just that then what good is discovering your goals in the first place

HELP

I need your help. Yes you, the person reading this. I’ve made up my mind about what I want to ultimately do (I think), but I want your opinion.

A few weeks ago I blogged about how I freaked out and started to look for jobs at home in Ontario. A few days ago I got a reply email from Mill St. saying that they had a position for the summer in the lab and would like to interview me for it.

I’ve always wanted to work for Mill St. and this is my in for the Toronto brewing world, a market that is very hard to get into from the outside from what I understand. I love the beer (mostly) and I really respect them for what they do. This is like a dream job for me.

On the other hand, I’m at BrewDog. The guys who make the worlds strongest beer and some of the best I’ve had. There isn’t one beer in the profile I dislike. I also started to talk with Bowman, the head brewer, about setting up some more quality control stuff for BrewDog and help start them in the right direction since they have never had the staff before. This is also a great opportunity for me. Working for BrewDog is also a dream for me.

So I ask, what should I do?

Interview with Mill St. and get the job, leave BrewDog and move home?

Would interviewing, getting the job and declining vote in my favor or hurt future chances?

Would work as a lab tech for Mill St. look better than helping to develop the QA at BrewDog?

Would having worked for a 4^th brewery within the past 12 months look better or worse on a resume (why such high turnover)?

I’m in Scotland, will I get this chance again

Will I get another opportunity with Mill St. on my next coop work term

A few points I’ve considered.

Mill St. will always be there, in Ontario and for the most part so will I

My work visa expires in less than 2 years now so I have limited time to work in the UK

The company has made me feel at home and the attitude has sunk in. “BrewDogs don’t die.” I think this means they don’t give up either

These are the questions and considerations I have asked myself and I’d like both personal and professional (from brewers) advice on this situation. I have some other things I’ve thought about but they don’t play into this as much. Get back to me ASAP if you can. I appreciate it.

Cheers guys.

If malt is the substance, hops are the soul

The soul is where you get who you are from, right? Either way, here is a brief lesson on american hops.

Hops

Hops. BrewDog bloody loves hops. Bloody, bloody, bloody loves hops. If you haven’t noticed everything at BrewDog revolves around different hops, dry hops and IBU’s (International Bittering Units for those who don’t know). They push the limits of high IBU’s while maintaining balance and sure they (or we?) rock out the ABV like rock stars. But the key thing here is hops.

I’ve really learned so much about hops since I’ve been here. The hop store has more types of hops than I’d ever heard of before I headed up here and they all have a place in the product range. Here are a few I’ve become a big fan of.

The 3 C’s: Chinook, Centennial and Cascade. These are the big 3 American hops. High alpha acids for bittering and a just packed with aroma and flavour. You get some pungent bitterness (yes, you can smell it a bit) and a bit of citrus. You get some earthy notes and overall just lots of awesome as well as some resiny flavours as well. These hops are what give American made IPA’s their edge over UK and traditional IPA’s and give make Imperial IPA’s boss.

Amarillo: Another big American hop with similar notes to the last one. It is full of flavour and aroma and could probably smack the taste buds off an unsuspecting victim. These bad boys are lethal and with the 3 above have redefined what beer can, and should, be.

Simcoe: See above. It might be fifth on this list but not in my, or any IPA lovers, heart.

  

There are many other varieties of hops out there but none have showed me the ways of the force like these ones. I know exactly what I’ll be brewing with when I get back. With new knowledge, new weapons and a new appreciation for Americans (well, their hops) I’m ready to take IPA’s to the next level. I hope you guys are ready!!

The PBACS - Peanut Butter and Animal Cracker Sandwich

I know PBACS sounds like a chemical journal, but it is much MUCH better.

It might sound like an odd concept but it is the best. Here is the back story.

The other night I got to the end of my loaf of bread and it was fucked. There were 2 pieces and they were in the shape of a 7 and a triangle. I'm not about to waste food, especially on a brewers salary so I looked around. Peanut butter, chips and animal crackers. And it was born.

So I've spent a few days doing my research and I now feel qualified to tell you how to make one. It is very simple and is 4 steps.

1) What you need - PB, animal crackers and a piece of bread

2) The combination

First spread half of the bread with a thin layer of peanut butter. Apply all animal crackers in a well packed fashion to cover the PB area. Always leave one out for you to make sure they taste ok. This is a delicate operation.

3) The fold

This is starting to sound like a poker game, but it is very simple. Fold the bread over, Should look something like this.

4) Enjoy

This is the simplest and best part, not to mention the easiest. Rock out and eat that shit. Now you can feel like a brewer.

End Notes:

- I used crunchy PB, but smooth will work too

- If your animal crackers have chocolate on half place the chocolate side against the PB for maximum flavour mixing awesomeness

- A beard (or even scruff) makes it taste better, as does a hard days work

- White bread is best as it doesn't impart flavours to ruin the awesome

- Beer pairings are BrewDog Alice Porter, Rip Tide, Paradox, Tokyo or TNP. Pretty much stouts and porters, although a nut brown would also work. Just something rich.

Cheers!

Don't Cry Over Spilled Beer

I know it sounds stupid. I'm most likely to cry over spilled beer (depending on how good it is/drunk I am). Working at Brick over the summer you start to see how much beer can be lost per brew (especially when you work with Mark Jahn). Working at BrewDog for the past 3.5 weeks (yeah, it has been that long) I've seen and poured more beer down the drain than I'd like to admit to. It is stupid. They do find ways to save some of the beer that they would otherwise pour out but it is just a small fraction. If I were to guess, I'd say that I pour about 20 L a day down the drain and that isn't including other people doing a similar job.

You can lose beer when you are taking yeast out of the bottom port, hops out of the bottom port, filtration, bottling, kegging or even packaging (if you drop it). So many ways to lose beer. It also takes about 6 L of water to make 1 L of beer so pouring it out is even sadder. (This comes from cleaning and stuff on top of brewing).

I can tell you one thing: The final product is the shit and well worth the wasted part.

Similarities and Differences - Part 2

This post is for yesterday, the 24th.

As I continue my journey to understand the Scottish people I keep noticing more differences. Some are funny, some are stupid and some are just weird.

1)   Where’s Waldo. Yeah, this one is stupid. We were trying to fit a ton of boxes into a car and I joked that it was harder than Where’s Waldo. I got a few odd looks. I explained who Waldo was and learned that it is “Where’s Wally”. Apparently here they have a show where he walks on the beach and has a 6 pack (one of the office girls was saying how amazing he was. He’s a nerd!!). I’ve never seen Waldo on TV and hearing that, I don’t really want to

2)   Showering. Here apparently it is very common to turn the shower water on from outside the bathroom before you get in. This kind of sucks as you can forget to turn it off and have to get up again (which I’m doing now) or forget to turn it on when you get in. Also, on is down and down is off.

3)   Pitchers of beer. Apparently it is very uncommon to find a bar where you can get a pitcher. Instead you buy pints, ½ pints or 1/3 pints. They do know what pitchers are however and I tried to explain the advantage when taking a round back to a table. It is a supported idea but very rare.

4)   Pubs. Pubs here are amazing. Very dimly lit, soft and nice inside. No sticky floors, no shitty mixed drinks and walls of whisky. The one horrible thing is that the pubs are not obligated to serve food at all. It is rare to find a pub that does serve food. I’ve raved aobut how pubs have to serve food in Canada and people love the idea. Eat dinner, get drunk, and order more food at 1 am. Thinking about it now, it does fucking rock. Oh Canada!!

Just a few more things I’ve noticed in my time here. No matter how cool this place is, Canada is cooler (minus the craft beer, the whisky and the accents).

General Update

This is the fist live (not written in word and copied over) post I've done in about a week. I figure I'd update you on what my last week consisted of.

Tuesday to friday, working. New guy from Denmark arrived as well as a guy from Israel. Both good guys but only one is a good worker. Friday night headed out and got fish and chips after work with the 2 of them and then we hit up the pub. The Elizabethan. It is a nice little pub with a great whisky selection, of which we had 2, and a decent beer selection. The owner bought us 2 rounds and sat with us for a bit. Told us all about the area and told us how to solve the worlds problems. Apparently the scottish love dropping nukes. We talked about everything from beer, spirits, travel and politics. Here is a pic of Mahil (Israeli, left) and Tabias (Danish) arguing over politics.

 Yesterday I headed down to Aberdeen with Tabias on the bus. We hit up the BrewDog bar and met up with Jack, Red, Franz and a friend of Jacks from California. We get more international yet again. I didn't eat much or sleep too much and was still a bit hungover. I have never had 4 beers hit me so hard before (2 were 9.5% abv). I got on the bus back and felt a bit "dodgy" as Bowman (the head brewer) put it. I passed out on the back seat of the bus and woke up at home. Walked home and passed out until about 11. Got up to go to the bar, as I told Mahil I would, and he bailed. What a loser. So I walked to the brewery and hung out until about 1. Came back and crashed.

Today was back to the usual, walks and bad TV. It was a great weekend and I hope to do it again soon.

Beer Review - Lager edition

To be honest, it is as boring as it sounds. With that out of the way, read on.

77 Lager – Juxtaposition Pilsner

Look – The look is a hard thing to truly appreciate since I’m still drinking out of a coffee mug, but I can tell you from the pour that it is pale with just a hint of darker colours. Nothing that would make you look twice.

Smell – It smells sweet, very malty. Mostly pale but there is a bit or a red licorice smell in there as well which is interesting. Most likely from the Cara we use.

Taste – It tastes like it smells with sweet malt, mostly pale and again with a touch of that licorice sweetness in there. Very little hop presence, if any, stands out.  A bit of a dry finish with a bitterness that seems more like it is from the malt than the hops.

I have brewed this beer and I can say that I’m not a huge fan. I’m not a fan of the direction they are going with it either. Sad to say, but I’ve lost a little faith.

Zeitgeist – German black lager

Look – This is a black lager. It looks like a stout and has that tan head most stouts have, but it dies quick.

Smell – Very light in aroma, nothing like a stout. Some mild coffee, and mostly just a malt flavour which is very light. Nothing jumps out.

Taste- Just like it smells. Light coffee and very malty. No hops at all which isn’t surprising, but I’d like some hops in there for me. I’m a bit of a hop head.

Haven’t brewed this one yet but I am monitoring a fermenting brew of it. All I can say is that these are not the best BrewDog has to offer but are still much better than any mass market poison out there.

Paying Your Dues

This one is for the 21st. I haven't been online much since I'm out most of the time and this internet is expensive. Here it is.

This is something I’ve been told many times by many people: You have to pay your dues. No matter what field, what job, what career or what sport it needs to be done. You can’t start at the top, it just doesn’t work that way (unless you suck a lot of cock, really well I guess). Why do I bring this up? For starters, Matt Howell (yep, I’m calling you out) said that he prefers his self-cleaning mash tun, and I don’t blame him. But it is nice to see the roots before moving on just in case the situation arises where you lose the luxury. Also, this conversation happen at work today:

Mahil (guy from Israel, 2^nd day working): So who gets in [the mash ton] today?

Me : you do

Mahil : Why me?

Me: because you are the new guy.

Mahil: How long am I the new guy?

Me: Probably as long as you are here.

I’ve been here for just over 2 weeks and I’m no longer the new guy. Kinda weird eh? Mahil is from isreal and arrived a few days ago. He isn’t in very good shape and bitched a lot about cleaning the mash tun and kettle. I understand that it isn’t a great job (although I love the mash tun as you may have guessed from an earlier post) but it is part of the job. He is here on a trial for an assistant brewery position. You work 2 days and complain about the job? I wouldn’t hire you and to be honest, I don’t think that he will get a job. If he does I’ll be pissed as he will make more money and will be a much shitter worker than I am (not tooting my own horn, but its true. Ok maybe I am a bit).

I realize that every job has ups and downs. I can’t think of anyone that has said everything about his or her job rocks and I doubt I will anytime soon. I’ve put in a good amount of work to meet people, get my foot in the door and learn about beer, inside and out. I’ve worked retail, promotions and now as an assistant brewer. I’m still paying my dues and I don’t think it ever changes. Even when I’m a brewer someday (I hope) I will be paying my dues. To whom you ask? To everyone who has taught me anything about beer, either brewing or tasting, and whisky. I think remembering where you “came from” is as important as what you have achieved. I know years down the road I will still look up to my buddy Matt Howell. He got me my first job in brewing, helped me with my fist homebrew on the first time meeting him, has taught me more than I can thank him for (about both beer and whisky), has let me taste some very rare whisky from his personal collection and above all else he is a great person. Adam Pines is another person I will always respect. Taught me lots, brought back a very special beer (BrewDog Paradox, even though we never drank it. I have 4 bottles of Isle of Arran btw guys) and we have had some funny drunken nights (like Matt’s story about how he “took it all in one go”).

So this guy who wants to be a brewer? I think he has had a rude awakening and won’t be so anxious to jump in over his head next time. No matter what, no matter how, pay your fucking dues. You will feel better at the end like you’ve earned something. I’d rather earn my way than be given it on a silver platter, wouldn’t you?

Expectations - Waste of time

And for today, the 20th.

I feel that I might have written about expectations already, but not in full detail like I am about to. Expectations are absolute shit. They can be good, when you underestimate what is going to happen and then it surpasses it. More often, for myself at least, I feel that I overestimate how great something will be.

I came expecting to sit in a nice warm room that was prearranged for me while I typed this. I expected to work about 8 hour shifts doing beer analysis all day and I expected to not miss home or my friends. Man, was I wrong.

I work long hours as I’ve told you doing much more than sitting around. I got here to no ride and a bed and breakfast and I missed home and my friends WAY more than anyone expected. These expectations nearly ruined it for me. NEARLY. I was told when I was heading over to not have any expectations about my trip. I tried not to, I really did. I did expect 2 things. I expected it to be cold and I expected it to be an amazing experience. I was right about both but my expectations I had that I didn’t think about, like those mentioned above, nearly ruined the 2^nd expectation that I had knowingly. Looking out now, this is a great adventure so far and it looks bright for the future. Everyday I just want to stay more and I’ve had thoughts about staying after august is over (which I’m not doing, but It’s a cool thought).

I’d like to say that I will NEVER have expectations again, but that would be a lie. Once you come to a realization that your expectations are both conscious and unconscious you can deal with it better and be ready no matter which way the wind blows. Excitement can overshadow expectations, but I’d advise that you try and see past it. Use that excitement and make it a positive attitude and I think (which I realize might not have a lot of merit) that you will be better off, I know I would have been.

Diet

For the 19th.

Since I’ve been here, my diet has changed quite a bit. Let’s walk through my day of meals.

Breakfast

Since I’m still at a Bed & Breakfast, I get a freshly cooked Scottish breakfast every morning. For those who don’t know what that entails, let me share. Everyday I get an egg and 2 pieces of bacon for sure. Most days I get a hash brown and a square sausage. Every few days I usually get mushrooms and tomatoes as well as black pudding which is similar to haggis I’m told, some other round meat thing with raisons and of course I eat my cereal. I also get tea and orange juice. I understand not why people drink coffee everyday (other than from addiction). It warms you up and I really like tea in the morning now. Once I move out I’ll be back to cereal but I may keep tea on the agenda. As you can tell already, there is loads of salt, protein and fat to start my day. It is good since I work hard but man it gets heavy.

Examples

Lunch

Lunch is usually one of 3 things: A peanut butter and banana sandwich hot dog style, a ham sandwich with cheese or a ready prepared meal that I throw in the microwave. At happens at about 2pm. I leave about 6 hours between meals. The ready-made meals are about 50% of my daily sodium alone but are decent calorie wise. I also usually eat at least 2 pieces of fruit and up to 2 bags of chips (or animal crackers or rice cakes) a day. It sounds like a lot but I’d love to know how many calories I burn. I also drink lots of water and juice to keep me hydrated. On top of my work schedule I walk everywhere as well as all day at work so I need the liquid.

Dinner

Dinner is very similar to lunch: PB and banana, sandwich or prepared meal. Since I don’t have a kitchen I can’t make much and I love the foods I eat so I’m not suffering. I then also usually have a bag of chips, rice cakes or animal crackers with dinner depending on how many bags I have a day. I’d say I average about 2. I also have fruit as part of or as desert. I also usually have juice or a beer or 2 with dinner. Sometimes the beer comes at the end of the day. I average about 2 a day thus far which I think is pretty controlled.

Conclusions

This diet for breakfast is heavy and killer (literally). I can’t wait until I get cereal everyday and can wake up when I want to. Lunch is repetitive but I need the energy at work from the foods I eat. Dinner is the same story. Overall I’m eating more junk food, although I am finding the healthier of the junk food, but am also eating more fruit. Does it balance out? I think so, as these foods are both good and it isn’t like I’m sitting in a classroom all day doing next to nothing and then consuming these foods. I’m working for 12 hours, at least 10.5 of which I’m on my feet, and learning a hell of a lot. And when I get to the end, I gotta start all over again. Look at your diet, does it fit your lifestyle?

Delinquints

This is for the 18th. I know how much everyone missed these.

I’ve realized lots of things lately. Some are very deep and useful, some not so intelligent and funny. This one is the latter. It seems that I am drawn to delinquents.

I started to skateboard in grade 7. Yes it was the cool thing to do but it was the start of my path towards where I am now and I wouldn’t trade it for anything. Those days I would stay out later than I was supposed to and didn’t like rules. It wasn’t me but the people I was with. Skaters are notorious for drugs, booze and stupidity. I was only having the last one but it might as well been all three.

Music was second. I started playing guitar in grade 8. It wasn’t until around grade 10 that I started to really love playing. I started writing songs all the time, jamming with friends and recording the odd thing or two. We would stay up late, mess around and have fun. I really just loved to dislike the system. I think it is because of my constant listening to Bob Dylan after he was introduced in history class. Everyone knows that musicians are delinquents. It is pretty much common ground. Ozzy, the Stones, Bob Dylan and Neil Young to name a few are very good examples not to mention the others that have died due to an OD (Jimi Hendrix) or other party related death. Those who are alive are probably pickled inside.

Next I found magic. It started off simply enough with a few tricks, a deck of cards and a DVD or two. Like any passion, it grew into an obsession and I found camp. As a camper you don’t do much aside from do what you are told. After a year or 2 I started to hit up conventions and this is where it took that more trouble/fun path. We stayed up late, got into places we shouldn’t be and smoking up (well I didn’t but I hung around with lots of guys who did. Seriously, I’ve never smoked pot). These guys were older and I made friends with them. As you become a CIT you fall into the same habits. Staying up way too late, drinking when you shouldn’t be (I think it was pink lemonade crystal light into a mickey of vodka??) and again, breaking into places you shouldn’t be. Yes we had lock picks and yes we used them well. As staff you pretty much do the same, just with the people that have watched you grow up and are your superiors. It is a great life.

So I get older, I hit pubs and I find beer. Amazing. But brewers, as you have guessed are delinquents. Of course brewers love alcohol and we all know what that does. We also know where that leads: more bad choices, even later nights and the odd regurgitation of your dinner (St. Patrick’s day first year anyone?). Its so much fun and here I am in Scotland brewing with people from all over the world and drinking a solid amount of beer (amazing and free beer at that).

Does this make me a delinquent? I hope not since I’d like people to respect me and not see me as a criminal. At the same time, I like being a delinquent a bit. Its more fun and I am just very happy doing what I do. Whatever I am, I love doing it and really, isn’t that the important thing?

P.S. I prefer the term badass to delinquent. Thanks

Music - the cure for anything

No I'm not saying I cured cancer. Not yet anyway, but I assure you if I do it will be with beer and not music. As another note before I start to explain myself, I won't be updating regularly over the next few days. Internet over here is expensive and I'd rather save it for my day off and not my nights when I have 2 hours if that to spend online. I will be posting some early and some later, but there will be one a day, I promise.

Back to music. Something I didn't realize until earlier today was that I've been listening to a lot of music since I've been here. Work, at "home", out walking or doing just about anything. I think that it has really helped me adjust to everything. Music is like beer, a common denominator of people everywhere. We work and we rock out to music. Could there be a better job?

I don't only listen to the music that I like, I have been listening to a lot stuff at the brewery. Some of the brewers love Billy Talent, Sum 41 and 5 for Fighting among others, which is funny and I ask if they are trying to make me feel at home. Others listen to more mellow stuff like Bob Marley and others listen to rap/rock blends and remixes of songs I'd never think to put together. I like it all because it all has a place.

Out walking I've been listening to the playlist I made for my flight. I went through my 2205 (a few thanks to my friend Alex for the iTunes gift card before I left, and to Shane for the proclaimers CD. It is very fitting) and picked out the stuff I actually like (just over 500). I have a mix of just about everything. You might think that listening to Frightened Rabbit, Mumford and Sons and the Proclaimers would make me feel at home here since they are from the UK, but it makes me feel more at home. Many nights I stayed up with friends drinking, smoking cigars and chatting with these songs filling in as background noise.

On the other hand, there are lots of songs that are American or Canadian that make me feel more at home here. Guns & Roses, John Hiatt, Clapton and others like them actually make me feel more at home here. It really didn't make sense to me until I thought about it for a second or 2.

Clearly the songs from the UK make me feel at home here and the others remind me of home, it just depends on the song, the tone, the lyrics and the setting. Music is like beer in the fact that everything has a time and place where it brings through different aspects of a song of brew. Different times call for different measures. Music just makes me happy. It teaches you, it reminds you, it helps you forget and it just flat out rocks. If there is anything that can help you wherever you go it is music. And thanks to iPod's and every other apple product (because lets face it, the other products are shit) you take take pretty much every song with you everywhere you go. iPods are like having your best friend in you pocket (which is a bit odd and I'm laughing at myself right now) as well as infinite inspiration you can draw from and take with you.

The song that has made me feel most at home here? Nova Scotia by David Cavan Fraser. A little known acoustic rock artist from Ontario. Why this song? Look it up and read my blog, but I'll give you a hint: "I'll be fine by the sea shore, by the sea shore I'll be fine."

Oh, the places you will go

As most of you can probably tell from my long walks, the time I have to write up this stuff as well as keep a personal blog and the fact that I've probably mentioned it many of times, there isn't shit to do here. I've asked many people too and some of the first advice was to get out of here and get to Aberdeen on your days off. The brewers, a few locals and even the bed and breakfast owners have told me there is nothing to do. Sounds promising.

Last night I was walking to get some fish and chips after work so I ran home, didn't shower because I was starving, changed and headed out again. I got to the place and it was closed. It was only 9pm, small town life I guess. As I was walking back to the B & B there was a group of 3 younger looking girls walking down the street. I stopped them (in the polite canadian way of course, "excuse me") and asked if there was anything to do around here. They laughed and one of them asked if I was canadian. We chatted for a bit and I explained that I worked at BrewDog and stuff. They asked me to come with them, they were heading to a pub. I didn't ask questions or hesitate (I think the only condition was that I wasn't an axe murdered. Weird worries around here but they might have confused that with lumberjack) and we started off, still chatting about why the hell I'd move up here, a question I still ask. We start to head down this back alley, and I commented on how "safe" this felt. Knowing there was a ig drug problem up here I started to worry a bit, but they seemed nice. We get into this alley and there is a pub tucked away so we step inside. Once we get in there are no seats and it is packed, something I didn't really expect. I found out the reason is because there was some sort of commemoration of Fraserburgh FC and the one girls dad was part of it. Makes sense, we are the only people under 35 I'd say. The one girls aunt offer to buy me a beer, I politely say no and tell them I'll get my own. I turn away and chat with some others and I have a beer in my hand. Amazing, these people are great. We stay for the ceremony shit and then I finish the beer. These girls CLEARLY do not want to be there so we head out and since I don't know anything, I follow after thanking the lady for the drink. I talked to lots of locals and I understood most of it, it was great. I might be "Brett from Canada" for a while if I see them. I also didn't learn their names until this point. Carly, Katie and Mary. They work as a gardener, for an oil company and an oil company respectively. North Sea, oil? Never knew.

We start walking down toward the bowling alley, the one thing I have been told that you can do here. I learn that one girl works there so we enter and another girls brother is there with some friends. We start chatting and next thing I know, I have another pint in my hand. These people are mental. I love it. We then start to bowl. I keep offering to buy a round of drinks since these people are so great about it and they will NOT let me pay. Nothing, not even 1 or the bowling. So we bowl for an hour and I did pretty well for my first time in 3 years (??) and had a blast. We talked about Canadian and Scottish music and sports, the country and just normal stuff that people talk about. Cool.

Bowling ends and I'm ready to head out and go for a walk down the beach, something I have really started to love doing when I can. This "leisure centre" has a bowling alley, and a bar. Guess where we go. Next thing I know, the one girls brother buys me a drink. I insist that I get this one. Not happening. So we stand around the bar and chat for about 30 minutes and they are telling me crazy stories about traveling to canada, cop cars and hostels with aussies. They aren't to keen on aussies, but love Kiwi's, which I had a laugh at. We talked about BrewDog, whisky and just random stuff. I felt like I'd known these people for months the way everything was. Just so unreal. Once we finally left I went down to the brewery to see if the guys were on lunch and hang out for a bit. Luckily they were so I stayed and hung out.

All of the people who have told me that there is nothing to do here, as I've learned from telling a few people the story, haven't looked or tried at all. And it really made my realize something. Well, 2 things. I hate getting up for breakfast at a set time. It sucks.

The other, more important thing is that I am VERY used to the city, a place where approaching people on the street even if you were foreign would not come with an invitation to the bar let alone 3 beers bought for you by strangers. This is absolutely great. I am so used to a city that I was hesitant to ask locals about something to do, I just asked the people I "know". I didn't come here to live in a city and make beer like I could anywhere at home. I came to have an adventure and experience new things. I like the change of pace, the scenery and the friendliness of everyone around here. Things like these are more important that making money, being a brewer or as part of my school program. This was such an eye opening experience and I'm so happy with the town right now. People don't like small towns because there are boring. Fun is where you make it, and as I finish, fun is a skype BOC with Mike. Cheers.

Nanny State and Rip Tide- Reviews

First off, I know I missed yesterday BUT I have to pay for internet by the day and I wanted to save one for today since it is my day off. I'm only doing reviews for yesterday, so there is no harm init being a day late. I know how much everyone loves reading my shit everyday, but I'm over it.

Nanny State

This isn't a girls beer in anyway aside from alcohol strength. Weighing in at a solid 0.5% (I think the website says 1.1%, but that is last years recipe) it is sure to get you drunk if you can't drink them fast enough without puking due to volume. A typical beer is 5%, which is equal to 1.5 shots of 40% spirit in alcohol. This is 1/10 that, so it is 0.15 shots of 40% per bottle. You would need 7 to have a single shot of spirit. This is a great beer if you want to drink and drive.

Colour- You wouldn't expect this to be a beer with any colour to it aside from pale yellow. It has a nice reddish amber colour and looks beautiful. The colour comes from the stupidest malt bill I've ever seen. 8 types of malt. The smallest malt bill BrewDog has, and the longest to set up due to a stupid measurements. They pretty much took spare malt weighed it and threw it in. Funny enough there is no pale malt at all.

Smell- Like a bag of hops. It smells great actually. 4 types of hops and they kick hard. Love the smell of this beer.

Taste- Hops. I know that the guys describe some beers as being so hoppy it is like chewing hops, this one beats them. It is overpowering actually. Too much of a raw hop bitterness for my tastes, but if you wanted a beer to have and not get drunk, this would be ok.

Rip Tide

This is a great imperial stout. They do make 2 versions, a casked one at 4.1% and the bottled one at 8%. The bottled one is better. I had the casked one straight out of the fermentor so it was true cask beer, no additives, little carbonation.

Colour - like any imperial stout, it is black. I didn't have a clear cup but I could tell that it was black from the pour. Nice tan head on it too. Looks good already.

Smell- Coffee, chocolate, bit of toffee and a nice alcohol sweetness. Probably smells as good as the best imperial stouts I've had before.

Taste- like it smells. The coffee is milder than I expected but is there. A blend of this coffee and the alcohol sweetness gives an almost chocolate taste which is good. The end is a bit of a malt bitterness but it works really well. A great imperial stout. No wonder it has won awards at a few competitions.

Well, that is all for today. I'll do another one tonight so I keep up with the 1 a day rate. Cheers!!

Tales from the Mash Tun

Since I just finished work and cleaned the most of malt out of a mash tun I ever have, it seems fitting.

For those who don't know, the mash tun is where the malted barley is combined with warm water to extract the sugars from the malt. These sugars are broken down into smaller sugars so that yeast can eat it and make alcohol later on. It is a big stainless steel tub with a lid that opens 1/3 and a small hole at the bottom for pushing malt out. There is a false bottom to separate the malt from the wort (unfermented beer).

I'll put this in perspective. Shovelling this is like shovelling 1400 kg of soaked cereal inside a sauna where each shovel releases more heat and makes it warmer. A more canadian example is like shovelling wet snow in the summer with a snow suit on. It is fucking hot. The water is condensing on you and you are sweating. You can't see all the time due to steam. You have NEVER worked out until you have cleaned a mash tun. Trust me, it is a unique experience and its kinda fun. If you aren't lazy. Pictures of my in it coming soon. I promise.

When did a bit of hard work every kill anyone?? And at the end, a beer tastes even better.

You never know, it could happen to you sometime. And if it does, do it. You will thank me after (you finish and then a beer)

Similarities, differences and everything in between

When I first got here, everything was so different. SO different to the point that I didn't care for it.

What was I expecting? Of course it is different. I'm 20 hours away from everything and everyone I know, working as an assistant brewer and learning the art and science hands on. There is no way it could be the same. There are a few things I've learned so far that I enjoy and want to share incase you find yourself over here.

Language
I know they speak english. and when Homer says speaking english is for the English, he is right. Scots speak scottish. Although close to english it is VERY different. I've learned and heard words like "canny" which is careful. Guess what "Fit like" means. It means how are you. No way to peace that together, not even in context of a sentence. I've not only been learning scottish but also some australian as well. I work with 2 aussies almost everyday so I really don't know how my "accent" will be in the end. Hopefully a mix of canadian (mostly), scottish and aussie. Combining them would give, at least in my head, a very powerful and loud voice with some cool slang (scottish), with that nice romantic aussie sound but keeping the intelligent and charming canadian as the strong point. I'm a bit biased but fuck it, this is my blog. We call things different names, but that is expected. I learn from they and they learn from me. They don't know Irish car bombs here, which is odd I thought. One thing they do have, the Wizard staff. That shit is universal.

Setting
As I've mentioned previously, I'm on the coast. A place I've never lived and yet it feels like home. Sure, Hamilton has a lake right there but it smells like shit and is toxic I'm pretty sure. I'm living on the north sea, one of the coldest bodies of water around. The sea is beautiful and I enjoy seeing it everyday regardless of the fact that North means cold. It is so cool. I'm also at a bed and breakfast which is a new one. I don't do these places ever. It is usually a hotel with no breakfast and just a place to sleep. This is weird. I'm in someone else's house and they make me food everyday. The diet is REALLY heavy and I can't do it much longer, but warm food to start the day is great. I still prefer cereal, even ask anyone I live with (especially michelle as she makes pancakes and I'll still take my cheerios). Working is so crazy to look at. After work we grab a beer or two and chat for a while. In a circle there is me (the canadian), up to 2 aussies, a german, polish guys, from 2 to 4 scots and an english guy. What a crazy mix of people from all over the world. I guess beer really is the common factor amongst men (and women not to discriminate. Why are women so touchy anyway? Who gave them a vote... Sorry).

In the end, it is the same. I'm a person, you are a person and that person over there (yes there --->) is a person. We are all people and deserve to be treated like people. I've been treated well and I've treated everyone well. Its a mutual respect thing that is global. If a pint happens to be the reason, all the better.

It is ALL about perspective

I decided this blog won't be all about what I'm doing and photos of the trip. That can be done later. What can't be done later is my thoughts, feeling and experience of the trip. Those are things I need to tell as I live them. This one, about being homesick.

I got here a week ago today. The 5th. They forgot me at the airport. I wasn't worried but I was a little pissed. It got worked out. They put me up in a Bed and Breakfast for the night (which is now a week) and are covering the costs. As soon as I grabbed dinner (some bad fish and chips) I got back, ate it and got ready for bed as I had to work the next day at 8. As my head hit the pillow, it hit me. I'm 20 hours away from everyone I know, love and want to be with. I can't say that this was entirely due to the homesick factor, since I was REALLY tired, but I can say I wasn't in good shape.

Next day, I started work. I felt that brushing off the missing feeling would be easiest if I got into it right away and met people. It didn't help as much as I had hoped but I figured it was because I was still tired and not in the right frame of mind. The next day I started to email breweries to come home and work at. I panicked.

I ploughed through 4 days or work and I was still dead at the end, feeling like I got nowhere. I spent my time off going for walks, seeing the town and on the internet. I started to feel better.

Why? For some odd reason my 2 hour walk along the beach in the dunes and with my music on made me feel at home. I don't know why, I have never lived by the water in my life. I've always felt that I wanted to live by water, more populated of course, but the water helped.

The reason? I could say it is because I'm a pisces, since fish love water. That is bullshit. I could say it is because I worked at a seafood store and that I feel at home since it was at home. That, while being great years of my life, is bullshit. I could say that it reminds me of my cottage and swimming in the lake with friends and family. While this is much better I'd think that tennis would do it to the degree I felt. It might be the fact that water is always changing and that I can relate, but we all know I'm not that deep.

The real reason? It is because (I think anyway) I was born far from where I am supposed to be. Bob Dylan says that he was born very far from where he was supposed to be. I think we all have that in us. There is something that makes us feel at home and safe when it isn't something we would expect. I wasn't born near water, raised as a fish monger (shout out to the Caudle's) and died as a fisherman. Not even CLOSE. I was born and raised like my parents were but I am not supposed to be what they are. I'm not meant to be a teacher, and I never fucking will be (not officially anyway). I encourage everyone to get out there and find your calling. Don't listen to people telling you what to do, people are idiots. Myself included. Just get out, explore and shake off expectations. They are honestly fucking useless.

Day 7 (in the country)

Well, I've decided to start a blog instead of using just Facebook since I don't have everyone that may want to see this, they may not have it, or an odd combination of both.

I'll start by filling you in on my whole trip so far. I got to the airport super early as I was anticipating traffic on the way and in the place, but there was none. I spent 4 hours on facebook and wandering around the terminal. I noticed that the booze isn't even that cheap at duty free, so don't listen to people who tell you it is. It is much cheaper in the states or here in Scotland. I then spent 2 extra hours on the plane since there was a problem with something and we lost our spot in line as they fixed it.

The flight was good. I've never spent so long on a plane but I couldn't sleep so I watched Scott Pilgrim, a few episodes of Big Bang Theory and then the Expendables. I attempted to nap in between them but it just wasn't happening. I did manage to steal the blanket they give you though. (WIN). Also saw the sun come up at 3 am (Ontario time). It was so cool.

The layover in Heathrow wasn't too bad but it is a very boring airport. Not as complicated as I was told it was but wasn't as simple as Pearson. It is a truly international airport. Grabbed a sandwhich and watched planes take off. There was also a very cool vending machine. Ben and Jerry's!!!

My next flight was a short one (only 2 hours instead of 7). I managed to sleep through this one which was good. Luggage was delivered safely, good. BrewDog forgot me at the airport, fail. I waited about 30 minutes and then called them. They did come get me and stuff but didn't have a place for me to stay. So they put me up in a Bed & Breakfast for a week. I get a place on Thursday. I am just really hoping I get a kitchen because this diet, although tasty, is too repetitive and I just want large mounds of cereal everyday.

I started work the following day. Guess what, I am not doing lab work, as they don't have one!! I'm much happier not being stuck sitting in a lab all day. I know I'm a chemist and I know that people think we like labs. I do, at school since its I get to do stuff, be up and move. Compared to lab, this is much better. This is a great experience, and will be very valuable to me in the future. I am doing quality stuff but it isn't intensive so I am an assistant brewer!! Great for the resume.

As the asst. brewer I work 12 hour shifts, 4 days in a row and then get 2 days off. My weeks are essentially 6 days long. I do everything from mash in, transferring and boiling and then casting. Lots of moving, lifting and twisting but it is a good work out. I also clean the kettle and mash tun (which is fucking hot!! but again, a good work out). I'll post pictures of it shortly.

The beer is amazing and I will be posting reviews soon on here. Just hope that someone cares, but they are fucking great beers. Better than just about everything I've had in Ontario, not going to lie.

On my days off I have been going for walks, yesterday around town and today along the coast almost to another city. What else is there to do?? The beach is beautiful and I've always wanted to live by the coast.

I have lots of pics and videos coming but not right now. I don't feel like the upload at the moment. I'm also sure I've forgotten stuff but you can't win 'em all!

Cheers.