“Seven months and two lonely days
I've been away from home
Been travelling the country from city to city
Trying to find somewhere to belong
So come on train….

Oh how I long, yes I long
To see your smiling face
But I know it's been so long
I hope it's not too late
So come on train….. Come on train…. “

“Come On Train” - Don Thomas

Now then. The tunes at the top of the Webpost ordinarily link in to the brewery or the beer we are making. But this one felt right.

Catching the train felt overwhelmingly like the end of something, the end game to a ridiculously stupid (but immensely fun) idea of taking part in so many brewdays.

And getting back to normal life.

Until you realise that there's less than 3 weeks until the doors open at Hemsley House!

And anyway, Come On Train is a stone cold Northern Soul classic and floor filler.

Treat your ears. Have a listen.

Another early start.

An Uber may have been needed - buses not running to the train station that early (sensible, sensible buses)

But this 2 change journey is worth it. To brew with a bit of a hero (he'd never accept that - the finest humans never do).

Luckily, Don Thomas wasn't needed. The trains were - unusually - on schedule.

Fuelled by coffee and eager anticipation, if I have a “best foot”, it went forward. It really is the only way.

Preston Train Station grows on me. A big station with a little personality. (And crucially, didn't need to change platforms to catch the Glasgow train…)

Now you know about my kit Nerdery. This kit is beautiful. A fabulous set up. Logical. Designed to make great beer.

And it does. Well, Matt & Alex do……

And no. Those wooden stakes were neither going into the beer (cue a chat about Budweiser using beech chips in the 80s), nor to be used in a local vampire cull. They were headed to Ambleside. To address an outdoor “planning” requirement….

Matt did warn me that he would be in early. Mashing in was done and transfer to the kettle was almost complete as I arrived at around 07:45!

The colour in the beautiful SSV kettle was visually warming. Right in my yard.

Hello Darkness my old friend….

Chocolate malt, Chocolate Rye, Carafa, Crystal, Roasted Barley…

Just look at all those lovely dark grains, sacrificing their sugars and flavours for the greater good….

Utterly selfless…

I chatted, via email, with Matt about the recipe, the malts, additions. And got excited WAY before I set foot on the 06:09 from Bolton.

Now there are a few other friends of darkness due to enter the granular fray, a small amount of specially selected coffee found its way into the mash for flavour & mouthfeel.

More to go in later.

It was at about this point that we had a “serious” issue. Walking into the office, I detected some audio filth…. “The Accursed Song” was on the Radio.

Me to Steve “I can't stay here…. “ cue Steve's chuckle

Later, we discussed the awfulness of “The Accursed Song” with Matt being absolutely on my wavelength.

At no point was “The Accursed Song” given its awful true name. But I felt a distinct twitchiness as I left….

My new best friend Loki took my mind off it with his constant play demands! And - despite Bob (always a pleasure) turning up to present a new playmate - he never stopped. His control of two footballs at once was quite stunning!

Brewdays are 10% of constant motion and 90% chatting and sitting around. And anyway, some things are best left to the Alchemists, like Matt.

I had some gaps on the Keg list I needed to fill. And got to it…

Lactose added late in the boil - body and a little sweetness - transfer to FV was looking good.

I mean just look at that colour!

With that transfer done. There'll be an addition in FV of a dark chocolate blend, Cacao, vanilla pods and a coffee infusion late in the process…

There are a number of things that attract me to Lakes.

There's the exceptional beer, obviously, DUH!

There's the generosity of spirit and sense of community, that being OF the community that the best local breweries have.

There's absolutely a resilience. Overcoming adversity to set up this fabulous business.

Walking around Kendal (as we did later), there's a sense of mutual respect

But what strikes me most, it's the sense of being a tight team. Togetherness. Everybody at the brewery coming together to overcome, to achieve. I, for one, can't wait to visit their new Bar in Ambleside when it FINALLY opens.

Knowing the people involved, it's going to be special.

So. What have we brewed…. “Four Bean Stout” at 5.6% abv. A coffee infused Stout with Tonka, Cacao & Vanilla.

A mighty beer. And first available at Hemsley House.

I'm not sure that I have the right words to express my gratitude to Matt, Michelle, Steve and Alan (not to forget Loki!), but time spent with people you admire and respect is always a joy.

Thank you all.

Back soon

Be kind to one another.

Jim x