I have mentioned my cut up wrists that make me look slightly suicidal if someone were to look at my wrists. I've noticed that my wrists are getting more resistant to being so marked by the bags but I've found a new problem with those small, unnoticeable cuts. While mashing in water rises and gets on your arm. You then need to take the salts and throw them in with your hands. These salts dissolve and flow with the water that condenses on your arm and guess where they get to. My cuts. There is nothing like steam and salt to remind you where all your small cuts are. Same goes for caustic burns.
I've also noticed that from wearing welly's all the time I'm missing a ring of hair on my leg. While this doesn't hurt like being suddenly reminded of your caustic burns and wouldn't be noticeable to anyone unless its summer or your pants are off (I prefer being pants less. Boxers in public should be trendy any day now I hope) but its still there. Its funny because you look down and you just see hair, hair, hairless ring and then hair.
Yes, I felt anyone who wants to read this should know about my leg hair.
And why only real brewers? Because if your brew doesn't required to wear welly's while brewing you are probably pushing lots of buttons or working for some faceless shit brewery. Yeah, I said it.
Tuesday, 24 May 2011
May 16- Perks of the Job
As most of you know, I probably have the best job on the planet for me and a great job by any standards. I get loads of perks such as free beer, a fun work environment and to work with my hands. I'm part of a cool company who are growing very fast.
This is all stuff I've told you before. These are some of the perks you expect from a brewery and things we all want in our jobs (imagine if everyone gave out free beer to employees. life would be awesome). Free whisky is not something you would expect from a brewing job yet there it is. We get loads of barrels to use for aging our beers and when we open them, most have some product left. From these barrels I have bottles of Ardbeg from 2003, Laphroaig from 2003, Jura from 1972 (yes, 39 years old) and bottles of Jura from 97.
I'd love to know how much money these cask strength single cask bottles would be worth but the distilleries are willing to just throw it out. I prefer to be the saviour of this whisky. It is much better suited in my stomach than on the ground.
In a way, I'm a hero.
I also happen to have the best job ever and being a hero is just part of the job. Win.
This is all stuff I've told you before. These are some of the perks you expect from a brewery and things we all want in our jobs (imagine if everyone gave out free beer to employees. life would be awesome). Free whisky is not something you would expect from a brewing job yet there it is. We get loads of barrels to use for aging our beers and when we open them, most have some product left. From these barrels I have bottles of Ardbeg from 2003, Laphroaig from 2003, Jura from 1972 (yes, 39 years old) and bottles of Jura from 97.
I'd love to know how much money these cask strength single cask bottles would be worth but the distilleries are willing to just throw it out. I prefer to be the saviour of this whisky. It is much better suited in my stomach than on the ground.
In a way, I'm a hero.
I also happen to have the best job ever and being a hero is just part of the job. Win.
May 15- iPhones WORST Application
This is LLLLOOOOONNNNNNNGGGGGGG overdue. I'm sorry but I've been busy, mostly with having wifi finally and just doing nothing on the internet. I've been doing a bit of work too.
If you know me, I love apple. The iPhone, iPod and computers are top of the line and are seriously innovative and amazing. That being said, this innovation could be the downfall of fun (with the exception of angry birds, everybody loves that one).
I'm talking about arguments. Think about it. If you are at a pub and someone asks a question you can easily look it up online, case closed. But what fun is that? Part of what makes a question good is the possibility of an argument over the correct answer. It gives you something to talk about.
What about if you forget a name and it keeps bugging you that you can remember it. You look it up and thats it. You lose the entire feeling of satisfaction you would have had from remembering the name, even if it were about 3 hours later when the topic had changed 30 times. It still feels better to remember.
Phones are great and do loads of good things but I don't think that in a pub, especially during arguments, it fits. I lost a bet the other day and now I owe someone a stout cake. I don't care about that but I do remember how fun having a brief argument about absolutely nothing was.
These are the little things you need to appreciate. Pint in hand, phone out of sight. The good old days.
If you know me, I love apple. The iPhone, iPod and computers are top of the line and are seriously innovative and amazing. That being said, this innovation could be the downfall of fun (with the exception of angry birds, everybody loves that one).
I'm talking about arguments. Think about it. If you are at a pub and someone asks a question you can easily look it up online, case closed. But what fun is that? Part of what makes a question good is the possibility of an argument over the correct answer. It gives you something to talk about.
What about if you forget a name and it keeps bugging you that you can remember it. You look it up and thats it. You lose the entire feeling of satisfaction you would have had from remembering the name, even if it were about 3 hours later when the topic had changed 30 times. It still feels better to remember.
Phones are great and do loads of good things but I don't think that in a pub, especially during arguments, it fits. I lost a bet the other day and now I owe someone a stout cake. I don't care about that but I do remember how fun having a brief argument about absolutely nothing was.
These are the little things you need to appreciate. Pint in hand, phone out of sight. The good old days.
Wednesday, 18 May 2011
May 14- Scotch Whisky Experience
I neglected to tell you about this in the Edinburgh post. This place is on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh and is a tour that details the production, variety and some flavours of whisky.
I decided to get on the tour to save my parents and sister the pain of having to sit through it while I'm nearly peeing my pants at the place. You are welcome.
If you have never been to the city and are going to go, this is a cool place to go because you will learn a lot about whisky in general. If you know something about whisky then its still worth the trip.
I didn't learn much while on the tour but this made it all worth while.
I decided to get on the tour to save my parents and sister the pain of having to sit through it while I'm nearly peeing my pants at the place. You are welcome.
If you have never been to the city and are going to go, this is a cool place to go because you will learn a lot about whisky in general. If you know something about whisky then its still worth the trip.
I didn't learn much while on the tour but this made it all worth while.
THE GREATEST ROOM ON EARTH
This collection is owned by Diageo (one of the 4 share holders in the company) and they house it here. I can't think of a better spot to have it than Scotland. It was a mans private collection of 3300 (give or take) bottles, all unopened. The oldest is from 1897 and the 2nd oldest is from 1902. Amazing.
May 13- Home
I know I blogged fairly recently about missing home and what my reasons were but I’ve learned something within the past few days that has made me miss it even more.
First off, I missed my cousin Brooke’s birthday on the 12th and missed seeing her getting a pie in the face. Nothing like a kid getting a face full of whipped cream. Priceless.
Also, the other night my cousin Blake said to my uncle Bob (something along these lines. Sentences are made up to make sense):
Blake : “Dad, when is Brett coming home?”
UB: “In august, so 4 months from now.”
Blake: “Oh man, now I have to wait for 2 things”
UB: “What is the other thing you have to wait for?”
Blake: “Brent’s cottage”
To most of you, this might not seem like much but to me it means heaps. Brent’s cottage is probably the thing that Blake looks forward to the most, save maybe his birthday and Christmas. For me to rank right up there with that is pretty awesome and seems to confirm George’s prediction that when I get home I’ll be a mild celebrity for a few weeks.
This story made my want to get home sooner just to surprise him. I love shock value but I just can’t afford it. It also made me feel missed for the first time. Of course my parents, friends and other family miss me but when most people say it, it does sound mildly robotic.
See ya soon Blake!
May 12- Heist
If any of you are Dane Cook fans I’m sure you are familiar with his bit on being in a heist. I’ll tell you its true. I’d love to be in one.
I’m not sure what it is about watching movies with a clever well thought out bank robbery or similar plot but you just think to yourself “fuck yeah I’d do that” and dream of being in a super large con. At least I do.
Since I’ve discovered magic I’ve learned I’m more interested in scams, cons and gambling than in magic itself and while the people in magic are some of the coolest people I’ve met it seems that you get more “characters” in gambling. They are also more legendary and heavily influenced magic.
Some day, I want to be part of a con or heist. There, I’ve said it. Well I can’t be now since I’ve said it but its good to dream, eh?
May 11- Edinburgh Again
Following my night with Franzy and Chris I had curry for breakfast and a bit of whisky as well. After a bit of chillin with the 2 of them Franzy and I headed out to catch the bus. I was heading to Heriot-watt to learn about the brewing course and Franzy was going back to the pub. He’s a mad man.
When I got to Heriot-Watt I was lost for about 20 minutes and finally found a map. Once I reached the building no one was there. So I went for an hour walk around campus and found this.
What a great campus. I’m sold already.
I then went back to the offices because they were on lunch and most were still not there but I did find one person to talk to. I got an email and the booklet that outlines the courses we take. Looks cool and I clearly have an advantage over most who enter since I have been brewing for almost 2 months now full time.
I then headed to Cornelius to get a few beers. I stayed for 2 hours talking to Pete, who I apparently met at the BrewDog bar the night before. Thankfully we both forgot names so it wasn’t so bad but I still felt a bit retarded. We had a good chat about beer, marketing, music and lots of other stuff. We also split 2 beers in the shop, which were both very good. The Gueze was awesome. Thanks Pete.
Then I got back to Chris’s flat with some fish and chips and a deep friend mars bar. It was killer (and might be literally killer in the future. Oh well). As chris went to work I just chilled out, watched a movie and had a beer. Chatted with my parents for a few hours and relaxed a bit. Something you rarely get to do when you travel unfortunately.
Awesome day, lovely city and good beers. I love Edinburgh and I look forward to moving there in a few years.
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