Maister.org.uk » drink http://www.maister.org.uk/blog Assorted Ramblings. Mon, 23 Jan 2012 16:44:35 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Brewing update http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2010/09/05/brewing-update-2/ http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2010/09/05/brewing-update-2/#comments Sun, 05 Sep 2010 12:36:20 +0000 Sam http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/?p=184
  • Dandelion and Apricot Wine – ended up more Apricoty than a very Apricoty thing.  I only have one bottle out of 6 left.  It was pretty good for a first attempt at wine-making.
  • Mulberry Mead – just keeps getting better and better.  The Mulberry flavour has come out a lot, almost competing with the heather now.  Wonderfully drinkable considering how dry it is.
  • Sorb, Orange & Ginger Wine – bitter yet sweet, and hard to drink…a sipper.  Still balanced and pretty yum, despite the malty aftertaste dropping off a bit.  Smells like Pink Grapefruit.  Could do with a bit more roundedness, hopefully another 4-6 months aging should do it.
  • Elderberry and Mulberry Wine – FINALLY bordering on drinkable, although still tastes like a young red wine.  This one may need another year before it’s good; I wonder if this is because it was made from 100% juice?
  • Rowan and Spiced Plum Wine – The overly sweet pre-mulled christmas delight is still overly sweet, and still tastes like a mulled wine should.  I think the plum might be coming out a bit more, which is nice.  Should be really good when it starts to get properly cold – assuming we don’t have a horrible mild and wet winter like most years these days.
  • Rosehip, Blood Orange & Hibiscus Wine – I took forever to get this one going, for one reason and another.  It’s fully fermented now and somehow really rather drinkable; I thought this was meant to take 2 years?  Anyway it can wait at least a year; my patience scares me sometimes :)
  • Elderflower and Rhubarb Wine – Again, just finished and strangely drinkable.  Very weird, although this one should only be 6-8 months before it’s properly tasty.
  • Dandelion, Green Raisin & Ginger Wine – On the way to fermentation, I just need to get some bottles to free up a demijon and more sugar.
    • ]]>     http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2010/09/05/brewing-update-2/feed/ 0     Some lists of stuff… http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2010/01/11/some-lists-of-stuff/ http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2010/01/11/some-lists-of-stuff/#comments Mon, 11 Jan 2010 21:53:52 +0000 Sam http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/?p=143 So, here are my favourite albums of 2009 – as of now.  It is in vague order of appreciation, although don’t pay too much attention to the order as they are all fantastic.

    1. Blut aus Nord – Memoria Vetusta II: Dialogue With the Stars
    2. Nautic Depths – Siberian winter
    3. Mathias Grassow & Tomas Weiss – Quiet Calling II
    4. Arktau Eos – Ai Ma Ra
    5. Mathias Grassow – Transpersonal
    6. Steve Roach – Afterlight
    7. Troum – Eald-Ge-Stréon / Abhijňâ
    8. The Mount Fuji Doomjazz Corporation – Succubus
    9. Wardruna – Runaljod – gap var Ginnunga
    10. Isis – Wavering Radiant
    11. Fall of Efrafa – Inlé
    12. Steve Roach – Immersion: Four
    13. Kylesa – Static Tensions
    14. Raison d’être – The Stains of the Embodied Sacrifice
    15. The Ruins of Beverast – Foulest Semen of a Sheltered Elite
    16. Zu – Carboniferous
    17. Yhdarl – Drone Nightmares, Part II: Buried Burnt Earth
    18. Devin Townsend – Addicted
    19. dredg – The Pariah, the Parrot, the Delusion
    20. Tombs – Winter Hours
    21. Cobalt – Gin
    22. Urfaust – Einsiedler
    23. Steve Roach – Dynamic Stillness
    24. Skagos – Ást
    25. Sun of the Blind – Skullreader

    I tried a lot of fantastic beers in 2009, so here are my favourite bottled beers that were new to me:

    1. Thornbridge St Petersburg Highland Whisky Reserve
    2. Goose Island Bourbon County Stout
    3. Nøgne Ø Dark Horizon First Edition
    4. Thornbridge St Petersburg Speyside Whisky Reserve
    5. Thornbridge Alliance PX Reserve
    6. Thornbridge Alliance Madeira Reserve
    7. Flying Dog Gonzo Imperial Porter
    8. Rochefort Trappistes 8
    9. Ayinger Weizen-Bock
    10. Struisse Pannepot
    11. Spire Xtinguisher
    12. Moor Old Freddy Walker
    13. Thornbridge St Petersburg Imperial Russian Stout Islay Whisky Reserve
    14. Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch Weasel
    15. Anchor Old Foghorn Ale

    …ditto for Cask Beers:

    1. Thornbridge Handel
    2. Marble Ginger
    3. Brewdog Paradox Isle of Arran
    4. Crown Ring Of Fire
    5. Spire The Wall
    6. Thornbridge Cherry St. Petersburg
    7. Crown Wood Street Porter
    8. Thornbridge Alliance
    9. Fugelestou Sledgehammer Stout
    10. Thornbridge Halcyon

    …and again for Ciders:

    1. Dunkertons Black Fox Organic
    2. Sheppys Dabinett
    3. Newton Court Medium Dry

    I was tempted to carry on with a list of spirits and one of honeys…but I think that’s quite enough for one day.

    ]]>     http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2010/01/11/some-lists-of-stuff/feed/ 0     Random cool cocktail #1 http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2008/12/18/random-cool-cocktail-1/ http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2008/12/18/random-cool-cocktail-1/#comments Thu, 18 Dec 2008 23:02:50 +0000 Sam http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/?p=32
  • Rum (any type) – 1 measure
  • Benedictine – 1 measure
  • Grenadine – a good splash
  • Angostura Bitters – a few drops
  • Tonic – add to taste
    • ]]>     http://www.maister.org.uk/blog/2008/12/18/random-cool-cocktail-1/feed/ 0