Rather A BrewDog Than A Watchdog

The ongoing saga between BrewDog and The Portman Group is set to move on apace with the "bad boys of British brewing" (their words) threatening to sue the namby pamby self proclaimed watchdogs of alcohol morality.

It's a shame things are dragging on like this and that my earlier advice appears to have been ignored.

I'll watch proceedings with great interest and hope that common sense eventually prevails.

Portman Group Being Prats Again

The ridiculous Portman Group are up to their old tricks.

Admittedly the BrewDog boys don't shy from a fight and maybe they shouldn't provoke the poor loves so much, but when are the old fuddy duddies going to get a sense of humour? It may be time to all a truce now. Sit down, have a bottle of Speedball together, admit there is no harm in labelling beer in this way, and reach the final conclusion that actually the group are a waste of space and money and disband.

Job done - I should work for ACAS

Black IPA And Other Projects

Following hot on the heels of IPA And Black, we have the latest update on the BrewDog Black IPA they will be brewing. In case anyone is interested I have voted for Ginseng and dry hopping.

It's going to be a busy year for BrewDog as far as brewing IPAs is concerned. The project to brew a 19th Century IPA and age it as sea is moving on apace, and is looking very intriguing.

Britain needs more innovative brewers and these boys are certainly delivering. More power to their elbows.

BrewDog Beer Rocks Week Three

It's BrewDog Beer Rocks week 3 time, and this week it's hops. Last week's winning choice for malt and ABV was 6.5% ABV using Pale Maris Otter, Amber Malt and Black Malt. So bearing that and the fact that it's to be a black IPA in mind, your choices this week are:

Cascade and Centennial
East Kent Goldings, Fuggles and First Gold
Warrior, Chinook, Simcoe and Motueka

Three quite different choices there; a regular pairing of American hops, a triumverate of British hops, or a hop bomb using US and NZ stuff. Plenty to ponder.

The video and voting can be found here.

BrewDog Beer Rocks Week Two

Those of you paying attention will be aware of the Beer Rocks competition currently running on the BrewDog blog. Last week's result saw Black IPA beat Porter and Barley Wine to be the style of choice.

Week Two is to choose the ABV and the malts for this beer which will form part of the reange next year. Watch the video for the reasons why the following are your three choices.

8.5% ABV Munich Malt, Dark Crystal Malt, Pale Chocolate Malt
6.5% ABV Pale Maris Otter, Amber Malt, Black Malt
7.5% ABV Pale Marris Otter, Roasted Barley, Pale Chocolate Malt

It's option three all the way for me, but then I wanted a Barley Wine.

BrewDog Rocks Project Week One

Don't forget to place your vote in the BrewDog design a beer video blog. The choices are Black IPA, Porter and Barley Wine.

For some background information on the project click here

For the video and thinking behind these choices click here

Help Design A BrewDog Beer

Non-conformist Scottish brewer BrewDog are launching a project this weekend where you can have a big say in a new beer to be brewed. As an unprecendented act of total democracy in the beer world, akin to Ebbsfleet United Football Club, decisions will be made by readers and viewers of their blog.

You can have the chance to choose the style of the beer, the malts and hops used, the ABV and starting gravity, any added extra ingredients (fruits/spices) and the beer's name and labelling.

BrewDog have the full support of their overseas importers so the final beer will hopefully be on sale somewhere near you early next year.

Beer Rocks as the project is called is open to all beer fans so tune in and have your say.