Where I am today

[Mash]

Yup made me grin, bee's on my hands as I sat watching with a hot sweet coffee!

[gaza the instructor]

Spring is a coming guys, we had a mahussive Bubble Bee in the Garden
yesterday. That has to be a good sign.

[Easydrinker]

May your Bubble bee produce bigger bubbles than the ones that we currently live with.

Robert.

[Mash]

May your Bubble bee produce bigger bubbles than the ones that we currently live with.

Robert.

Should get a nice harvest of "Matey"

[gaza the instructor]

Careful, you are talking to a good friend of "The Foam Ranger".
A true story I will tell you one day.

[Easydrinker]

That did take me a few seconds.
Please spare us the details.

Robert.

[gaza the instructor]

Its amazing what three bottles of Matey in a recirculating
fountain will do. 6 foot of foam, stopped all the traffic on
the Fountain roundabout in New Malden.
Sign on the fountain ""The foam Ranger strikes again".
We were never caught.

[Easydrinker]

I hope there were no fish harmed in your prank?

Robert.

[gaza the instructor]

No but it didn't half clean up the fountain well.

[Easydrinker]

Spring Break, as one of my old teacher buddies used to call the first hols. of the new year.
I have just had one away from the forum.
A nice, long weekend for other stuff.
Last Friday really was like a spring day,- it only rained a little, the sun shone when it wanted to, and it was mostly above 10°C.
Skylarks were singing.
My bees loved it.
A few came out to fly a couple of days before.
Friday thousands flew, and it really was an immense relief to see that they have survived the bad times.
Not through it yet, but they are alive, and they have lots of honey in the hive to get them to the summer.

The ground is just right for setting mole traps.
So although I expect some more shitty weather soon, I feel rejuvinated by the break.
I will be sowing veg. seeds in the greenhouse this week.
So looking forward to a better year than the last one.

Robert.

[Mash]

Spring break indeed. I enjoyed the holiday too.
What fabulous weather. Didn't have a fire!
Spent my time planting tayberry's. Really looking forward to their fruit. Thank you.

A local grower is selling trees for a fiver. Had a cherry and 2 plums. No idea where they are going

[Easydrinker]

Bird flu, is a M.F.
Our ducks normally have the run of the orchard, these days, to comply, they are virtually caged.
But the first 3 eggs of the year appeared today.
And the virtually caged chucks are running about 6 eggs a day.
There are only so many ways to eat eggs.

Robert.

[Mash]

We give ours some light, so we get eggs 365.

There is loads of recipes for eggs... Gives me an idea

[Windoe]

I set about making up a three roller grain mill that was delivered earlier this week. To my utter amazement Mrs W, who’s only interest in brewing is drinking wine, set about explaining why my crush was too coarse when I did a trial batch of grain with it. Her dad was a maltster and aged 6+ she spent many mornings down the maltings with him! Sadly he passed away ten or so years ago.
Annoyingly she many be right, again!

[Easydrinker]

Youngsters can suck in lots of knowledge.
Well done Mrs.W!

Robert.

[Mash]

I set about making up a three roller grain mill that was delivered earlier this week. To my utter amazement Mrs W, who’s only interest in brewing is drinking wine, set about explaining why my crush was too coarse when I did a trial batch of grain with it. Her dad was a maltster and aged 6+ she spent many mornings down the maltings with him! Sadly he passed away ten or so years ago.
Annoyingly she many be right, again!

1.2mm

[Easydrinker]

I order mine ready crushed.
I'm not sure that they state to what size.
I'm guessing small, as there is sometimes a fair amount of flour.
But it all seems to work, so, no grumbles, or wanky beer forum type comments from me.
Beer forums can be more precious, precosious and pernicious than distilling ones.

Robert.

[Windoe]

I set about making up a three roller grain mill that was delivered earlier this week. To my utter amazement Mrs W, who’s only interest in brewing is drinking wine, set about explaining why my crush was too coarse when I did a trial batch of grain with it. Her dad was a maltster and aged 6+ she spent many mornings down the maltings with him! Sadly he passed away ten or so years ago.
Annoyingly she many be right, again!

1.2mm

I was running at 0.95 and a double crush. The trial BIAB got me about 75% brewhouse efficiency according to an online calculator.

[Mash]

No offence, but I really can't get hung up or make decisions on brew house efficiently.

With the sort of volumes we do, the difference will be an extra tuppence of grain.

Make beer that tastes stunning and makes you grin! Leave the numbers for the commercial bean counters.

[gaza the instructor]

Mash altogether now
"Quality not Quantity".

[Easydrinker]

I have to agree, the taste comes first.
But, I still try to get what I can from my grain.
I have settled into an easy routine, and can smile with the Bhudda.

Robert.

[buffalobob]

Whatever floats your boat, it's all good , but flavour has to come first in my book (and girls )

[gaza the instructor]

BB you will have our Nigel round in a minute, he likes Boats.
"I see no ships only hardships !!"

[Easydrinker]

Oh, life's a bitch and then you die.
Racked a beer today.
Should have thrown some yeast into a neutral wash, I may yet manage that.
Set mole traps on 200 ' ish acres of land. another 1000 acres or so await me on this farm.

Robert.

[buffalobob]

Gaza I tend to get on with boaty Mcboat face types. There is nothing better than bobbing around on the briny looking for a few fresh fish.