“There’s the progress we have found (When the rain), a way to talk around the problem (When the children reign)

Building towered foresight (Keep your conscience in the dark) isn’t anything at all (Melt the statues in the park)

Buy the sky and sell the sky and bleed the sky and tell the sky

Don’t fall on me (What is it up in the air for?)

Fall on me (If it’s there for long)

Fall on me (It’s over, it’s over me)

Don’t fall on me...”

“Fall On Me” – R.E.M

(It’s SO easy to forget quite how bloody fabulous REM were - thank you Brian for the nudge!)

Walking through Leeds - from the train station - I was constantly reminded how (relatively speaking) “human sized” it is in comparison to Manchester. I’ve always had a soft spot….

Brewing Season Starts – in earnest - Here.

And it’s always an early start. The 06:30 walk to the train station (no buses THAT early in my manor!) was certainly refreshing.

I’m lucky in that there is a direct train from my nearest station to my destination – and my second brew on this rather special Pilot Kit. I love Leeds. And Leeds International weekend seems like a perfect time. The first major Craft event and an inspiration in many ways to what we tried to do with the “first runnings” of ISBF.

The walk through Leeds was slightly confusing, but that’s Google Maps for you!

Arriving at my destination, all seemed quiet – mainly because Brian was in Greggs ordering a recuperative Sausage butty...

Suited & Booted (almost literally), Fraser (actual brewer for the day) and ourselves were soon off into the Brewhouse to start mashing in with the world’s tiniest paddle. Pale, Brown, Chocolate malts – along with oats – all blending together with some beautiful initial coffee & other dark aromas filling these nostrils.

The World’s Tiniest Paddle - Honest Guv!

On this lovely wee kit, mashing in was really straightforward. The recent gym sessions didn’t help my shoulders however (note to self!) but it was soon time for the hot liquor to do its thing and release those beautiful sugars.

I don’t wish to come across like a fanboy, because I’m quite difficult to impress (I’ve been doing this event for 13 years, effectively), but to be stood in the shadows of some quite enormous tanks, storing some of the best selling Craft in the UK (inc the BEAUTFUL “Further Beyond” WC DIPA!), being invited to brew on a kit the size of which Amateur Brewers would deem “adequate”, it’s a bit ******* humbling.

A brewery like this. Enabling me, for our little do, to brew something quite exclusive on this little kit....

But that’s Brian. One of the genuinely nicest people in the game.

(Unless you’re talking Fantasy NFL. In which case – like a certain Mr Parker – he’s a complete git 😂)

We chatted all things beer. Knowledge, hops, the general business and other stuff. You can learn tons talking to someone like Brian – all of it forgotten by the next morning (but not the insults to my Fantasy Drafting skills – oh no.....)

We had a wander to collect the hops for bittering and aroma (Chinook & Mosaic, seeing as you’re asking) at which point, I was informed (politely, obviously) that my grandchildren had been kidnapped by The Lactose Liberation Front – Leeds Division – and to release them, i needed to embrace the Devil’s Effluent.....

Grandkids released, we added the (stunningly fragrant) hops and awaited transfer to FV (fermenting vessel).

I may have “dug” some grain out, but given the size of kit, it was barely exerting... 😂

We were then pretty much done. The wort was nestling nicely in the FV and we were off on a stroll to The Refectory for a beer and to bump into the Fake Tyke (aka Yorkshire’s Oldest Brewer….)

So. What have we got for you? Well – and this is the mark of Brian, Fraser & NMB – AN EXCLUSIVE!!!

In Keg – AND CASK – a rather beautiful example of my personal Catnip, An American Brown. Currently unnamed, but I’ll forgive Brian in his attempt to find an anagram from “Bless the rains down in......” No! I just can’t name the continent.

I WON’T DO IT!!!

But an exclusive. From Bri & the team. Makes me feel a little teary. Thank you all SO MUCH for the day.

And where can you get this delicious drop of Yorkshire Heaven?

Silly question!

Got your tickets yet? Still some left for Thursday & Saturday evenings (with a tiny number left for the Friday Evening Session)

Link here.

Come join us. We’re not a bad bunch......

Back soon.

Jim x

#ISBFXI Brewday 2 - Life’s Rich Pageant : With Northern Monk

#ISBFXI Is GO!