Then we had a 2016 & 2014 RIS, later was rested on Laphroiag soaked oak chips and was simply sublime, basically the best RIS I've ever drunk...

Outcome of probe into demolition of cherished but derelict pub without permission

All hail the Battle Pug! Torrside are my favourite brewery - truly unique and a little bit mad. This beer is all peat, tar, and leather, in the best of ways. Cheers everyone 🍻 #ukbeer #beer

Homebrewers of Bluesky! Where should I be looking/joining on here for engagement and chats about homebrewing? I am finding Bluesky to be a bit of a desert, but hopefully I'm just not looking in the right places yet. Advice appreciated - thanks! #homebrew #homebrewing #beer #uk

Bottled the rye porter, which used Espe kveik yeast fermented at 28°C. Chocolate and coffee aroma, with a taste of chocolate and rye tang, with subtle floral hops. Dropped perfectly clear within a week without a cold crash! 6.2% ABV. Can't wait for this to be carbed up. #homebrewing #homebrew #beer

I got more sloe gin out of the vessel than expected... result! Started on the sloe port, using the gin-soaked sloes and some sugar. I will add some brandy to fortify it in several weeks' time. #homebrewing #homebrew #gin #port

8.5 litres of rye porter into the fermenter. The wort smells fantastic. Hoping that the Espe #kveik yeast will do its thing at 25°C and give us a slightly fruity ale. Brewed using Admiral and Fuggles hops. Brewed with a good friend, over good beers; what more can you ask for? #homebrewing

After twelve months of being an adult getting in the way, I am back brewing, albeit on a smaller, more refined scale.. but I have a gas stove now! This is a Bramling Cross ESB, with rum & fig 'liqueur' and bourbon barrel chips added. Go weird or go home. #homebrewing #homebrew

I finally bottled a whopping 3 litres of barleywine which had been resting in a keg for 15 months. It tastes of toffee, hedgerow and booze. Hopefully the Lalvin EC-1118 yeast will carb up well. Life got in the way of doing this sooner, but I've really enjoyed this evening. #homebrewing #homebrew

@vennart666.bsky.social Hi Mike. Shame about the Walpurgis gig! Is it likely to be rescheduled? The last two were ace.

Wyoming Sheep Ranch from Buxton is one of the few widely-available double IPAs that tastes like a true DIPA. An unbelievably accessible DIPA in a vast sea of overly-sweet double NEIPAs that fell into the wrong pool. It's fantastic. #beer #ukbeer

Megadave has sold out! And I'm all for it. This is a solid orangey IPA with a moderate bitterness. I was not expecting it to be brewed by Black Sheep. Bought from Tesco. #beer

This Guinness has been hanging around in the fridge for months. Tonight it went into a lamb and radish stew. I've not used radish in a stew before, but it lends a nice sweetness and pairs well with the stout.

I honestly can't find the words to describe this #mead. I am shocked, impressed, and laughing my head off. Love it! www.reddit.com/r/Homebrewin... #homebrewing

Finished the last bottle of my brown ale, which is nearly two years old. I wasn't convinced by this beer initially, but it's turned out good. Soft and malty, with good carbonation and a gentle hedgerow bitterness. #homebrew #homebrewing

Really enjoyed this video of the Great British Pub Crawl visiting St Helens. The Cricketers and The Lamb are my personal favourites, so it was good to see these on here. Also, good to know that some ropey-looking bars are indeed ropey! www.youtube.com/watch?v=CTbt... #StHelens #RealAle

Looking forward to the @elusivebrewing.com box from Brewser this month. I love malt, hop and yeast trials, so this demonstration will really showcase the effect that different yeasts can have on the same base beer.

Ironically enough, this Freeze pedal wasn't far off going on fire this evening! First time I've used it for a long time, it's one of my faves. Noticed my guitar signal was going weird... Touched the cable coming out of the pedal and it was red hot. Burnt my finger!

New Laura Groves EP released today! lauragroves.bandcamp.com/album/yes

Today sees the 30th anniversary reissue of Heatmiser's 'Mic City Sons'. The extra tracks are glorious; I am so happy to hear these rarities, including more unheard works of the late, great, Elliott Smith. What a lovely start to a Friday. #Heatmiser #ElliottSmith

Speaking of my cycle trips... I've been desperately searching for wild hops for weeks now, given that nearly all of my travels are done next to a water source and hedgerows. Not a single sausage. #homebrew

Nice cycle down the canal to Carr Mill dam this evening, which was pleasantly quiet. #StHelens #NewtonLeWillows

I suspect it will be a while before I get back into brewing, but when I do, copper coloured bottle caps will be my new thing. #homebrewing

I would honestly give anything for a new Rubberbandits tour! www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVV9...

SO VERY HAPPY WITH THIS! Finally, BEAT announce a physical release. Given that they aren't touring the UK, this was a no-brainer. Pre-ordered and arriving in September. Now I just need to find a Blu-ray player. www.sonicperspectives.com/news/beat-an...

23 miles tonight, down past the Ferry Tavern pub, towards Spike Island. I am always in awe of the remaining four towers at Fiddler's Ferry. They loom so large over the canal and railway. Aside from some scumbags on motorbikes and a quad on the canal path, it was a really lovely experience today.

A nice 15 miles around the Sankey canal and surrounding towns today. Trying to work off last night's (rare) takeaway! The wind was against me no matter what direction I turned in. I managed to hit a max speed of 28mph, which for a chunky old mountain bike isn't too bad. It was short-lived.

Another new platform, another new blocking 100 football accounts. And yet, literally no MMA posts show up on my feed, where they would be appreciated.

Paul Laurence Dunbar, Poet, Novelist, Playwright, #BornOnThisDay in 1872, in Dayton, Ohio “It is not a carol of joy or glee, But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core, But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings— I know why the caged bird sings!”

15.6 miles done on the bike this eve around Sankey Canal and surrounding towns. Decided to go off the beaten track at times and only got stung by nettles once. Hurrah! I'll need about 10,000 calories tomorrow, once my body starts to question what the hell I'm doing to it. #bike #cycling

Oh my word. There's a new 'A' (the band) record coming out! This must be at least 20 years after their previous release. Can't wait, I love this band. #atheband

Good to see that The Old Crow Inn in Newton-le-Willows, which had recently closed, will reopen under new management. www.sthelensstar.co.uk/news/2521348...

Nice little stroll in Newton earlier. Never get tired of 'the plughole' in Newton Lake. #NewtonLeWillows

An interesting week for beer releases, what with the release of potentially the final Wander Beyond beers and the "coming soon" announcement from Purple Moose. I'm expecting the Purple Moose 20 year anniversary beer to be a bourbon BA stout - Decadence version 2? #beer #PurpleMoose #WanderBeyond

St Helens walks to enjoy during May's National Walking Month

Mammal Hands at Manchester's Band On The Wall last night were sublime. Great band, great venue. #mammalhands

My small barrel dried out, lost its bung and started leaking, so I've had to improvise a new #wildlife & bird water fountain. It's not the best, but it'll do. I've also planted several shallow bowls around the gardens to help smaller wildlife AND MY RETURNING #HEDGEHOG (!!!) some well-needed water.

It's Eurovision NEXT WEEK and I have heard literally nothing about it to date! Only just realised myself.

Watching Cage Warriors for the first time tonight. It flows well and has a professional presentation, I must say I'm really impressed. And the fights are on at a reasonable time! #MMA

I am back into Steak Number Eight, having not listened to them in ages. This song remains a favourite - the tempo dynamics are insane! Can't help but hearing bits of Oceansize in there at times. www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZXfu...

It's Newton beer festival day!

I brewed this smoked ale with beech smoked malt, rested on oak chips, last year. It's been bottled for 7 months now and tastes better than ever. Subtle smoke and oak sit behind pleasant Fuggles hops. A rather gentle beer with an understated complexity. #homebrew #homebrewing #beer

Been listening to Raven again for the first time in a long time. It's my favourite album from the last 15 years, and I can't believe I've neglected it recently. I love how even having listened it a thousand times, I'm still picking up new little details. open.spotify.com/album/2xJFvV...

Had a good time at the Liverpool Beer Festival last night. I had walked past the cathedral and its crypt a thousand times at uni back in the day, but had never been in. It was pleasantly busy on the Thursday but not too mad - would consider the same day for next time. #Liverpool

Well this was disappointing to find. RIP Cains. So much promise; yet another casualty of the Liverpool brewery curse.

Rivington weren't kidding with this one! It's the silliest smoothie sour I've ever had, and it's brilliant. Full of mango and tropical fruits. Got to love the fruit pulp head. 😀

I have become addicted to this stuff. Unbelievable.

Gingerbread de-icer is either the most pointless or most genius product ever made, and I still can't decide which it is. I regret not picking this up in Tesco.