Yesterday was, in relative terms, an oasis of calm in a stormy week (we brewed every day). I only had to spend a couple of hours in the brewery checking fermentations, restocking the Ale House etc. I escaped late morning and went with my wife to collect her shiny new car. We then drove her shiny new car to collect shiny new firkins for me … I don’t know who was more excited about their new acquisition?! The firkins will be pressed into service quickly … tomorrow 3 of them will be home to Cherry Blossom Ale and on Tuesday the remaining 3 will be filled with 3 Spires Ale. We also took the opportunity to visit Rustico in Alexandria where we enjoyed wonderful food and I sampled some wonderful beer ( Harviestoun Ola Dubh 30 year Reserve (cask), Highland oatmeal Porter, BBC Jefferson’s Reserve and Hitachino Commemerative Ale, all excellent!) After that little “busman’s holiday” (as we say in England) it’s back down to earth today … in a big way! I’m brewing a 3 Lions Ale, a demanding brew day at the best of times let alone when you’re supposed to be relaxing at home! I’m also kegging a Bishop’s Breakfast and moving a Blonde Ale to carbonation tank. No rest for the wicked but I’ve got a breakfast quesedilla and Bloody Mary to help ease the pain! Next week will be another busy week. We’ll be brewing 4 times, processing everything from this week and we have 3 exciting events on the schedule. On Monday we’ll be at Victoria Gastro Pub (http://www.victoriagastropub.com/) where they’ll have 8 of our beers on tap including Hot Monkey Love, Cherry Blossom Ale and 3 Spires Ale. We’ll be there just as soon as we can get out of the brewery (probably by 6.30pm) so come along, get a souvenir pint glass, grab a beer or two and say hello! On Thursday we’re hosting the “My Monkey’s Got Wood” release night at The Pratt Street Ale House. A cask of this limited release will be on the beer engine at a special price of $3/ 10 oz snifter (5pm – 7pm) and we’ll also have the limited edition t-shirts available for sale ($20).

On Friday we’ll be at Metropolitan Coffee House (http://metrobalto.com/) with the Cherry Blossom Ale and Hot Monkey Love and maybe a little surprise as well! Again we’ll have souvenir glassware available so stop by for a beer.

Cheers

Steve