My new homebrew Black IPA this evening. It doesn't take much Nelson Sauvin & Moutere to dominate the hop portion of this beer, even though I used mostly Centennial. Bold roasted malt character from a little Carafa III added fifteen mins before the end of the mash.

Courier - the one beginning with E that is universally accepted as the worst, but cheapest - has had my parcel at their delivery office for 10 days according to the tracker. I asked the sender to nudge them & they said they'd just send another parcel via DPD to make sure I get it.

Another song my kid introduced me to that's very angry, pink & pop. Last shared one of the night as everyone else has gone to bed, so I can play back to back Marina for a while. youtu.be/-SyBR-M2YvU?...

Oh so '80s cheese fest. youtu.be/g5B8AFvWk8Y?...

Recently introduced to this band, I hardly ever play them in the van. I do enjoy their videos & live recordings though. youtu.be/LzG-qji05Lc?...

I never said I was cool. This is such a well put together video & it's the only song I like off her new album & it's a cracker. youtu.be/ko70cExuzZM?...

Not many people know Prof Hannah Fry was in a Eurodisco band before swotting up on her maths. youtu.be/32wDFCM7iSI?...

Surfing a wave of "if you like this then you'll like...". I've never seen this video before tonight, but know the song well from many greatest hits of the '80s.albums. youtu.be/iwWoGJXrPyk?...

I rediscovered this last year & it got plenty of play as I drove my van into the yard. youtu.be/on-y9Pv-CJA?...

I remember buying the album Magnetism on cassette on holiday in Torbay around 1980 & I've always liked this song. youtu.be/Ha4NHacX2kE?...

As you can see, my teen has left the telly alone & I'm taking advantage of the situation. I'm fairly certain if you look up New Wave in the dictionary it references this. youtu.be/lpqDTQOFvf0?...

Don't know what made me think of this when I turned YouTube on, but here we are. youtu.be/BuWrg80dXeU?...

I left ten litres of Belgian Blonde to ferment an extra week with the sediments from a bottle of Saison Dupont & a bottle of Gueze Boon, before bottling it. A few weeks later it has some saison-like qualities, but no sour qualities from the gueze. Nothing ventured though...

My last bottle of Straightforward Saison has been opened tonight. Next time I should make more so it lasts longer, as this has definitely improved with age.

IMDB has dramatically reduced conversations that start "Oh look! It's her from that series! You know, the one with the lady with her car..." It was the companion lady from Pluribus in an episode of House from 2004.

Friday.

If I were to recommend a slightly unusual brewing ingredient, I'd would be these fruits preserved in syrup from Lidl. I've used the orange in a stout, whereas the bergamot goes well in Saison, Hefe or of course if you want to brew an Earl Grey IPA.

I received a gift from my new friends at Jennings last week. It's a v serious beer, so stop chewing & pay attention at the back! Dark fruits, sherry & sandalwood come out of this chewy beer. The hops are restrained with a gentle spiciness & very gently bitter. I like it.

Been up north today at sunny Silloth & the big smoke of Carlisle. I was allowed to take pics from the port & the roof of a hotel I was working at.

Once in a while the algorithm actually suggests something I'd like. Even a broken clock is correct twice a day. youtu.be/JYOnDjPh7rc?...

Watching the NFL tonight as the others in my family are doing other things elsewhere. I'm really treading water until the Eagles game, but this Bills v Jags game is finishing well.

"He'll never sell any ice cream going at that speed...."

Just bottled my Black IPA this morning. Maybe I used excessive pellet hops, but I had plenty of Nelson Sauvin & Moutere lying around with no plans for them - so in they went with the Centennial.

As synthpop bands go, they make Depeche Mode look like Take That. youtu.be/GEnx9xS79Lc?...

Finished watching it now. Only six episodes ever made & it is still in the top ten best telly I've ever seen. Strangely not on ITVX anymore - who showed it in2017 - but AppleTV.

Light & dark. Yin & Yang. Speedy & Sylvester. Balance to the Force. My Belgian Blonde ale (pale malt, Hallertaur Blanc hops, jasmine flowers, Belgian ale yeast) & the last bottle of Red Ale (RedX malt, crystal rye malt, cherry wood smoked malt, EKG hops & English ale yeast) this evening.

There's the farmer in their tractor cutting the hedges across the road.

Taken from Allonby just now; England - freezing but some sun. Scotland - completely hidden under rain clouds.

So far this morning I've watched a Marina concert & started on rewatching Zomboat!, now I'm at the seaside. All in all not bad so far & it's only 13:00. youtu.be/iNY-NM8Kgsk?...

Watching Zomboat! again. There are some great lines delivered in Brummie such as "it can't be a zombie apocalypse, because that's not actually a thing". youtu.be/yFtdp3r-Gsg?...

subscriptions >>> shop.viz.co.uk/viz351bs

I would definitely check for Mynochs chewing on the power cables if I saw this.

After using RedX malt, crystal rye malt & cherry smoked malt in my Red Ale & really enjoying the combination of flavours, I've ordered more plus some Carafa III to make a mellow, smoky stout. Also Munich malt & Hallertaur Hersbrucker hops for a lager while the outside temperature is in my favour.

It's been warmer.

Seems leaving my Straightforward Saison outside the back door for two & a half hours makes it throw a chill haze. It *is* good & cold though.

Morning BlueSkyers!

Good evening people over fifty.

#BrewDay all over bar the washing up. 15 litres of Black IPA wort at 22°C & with a gravity of 1.046 #homebrew

Dark wort coming up to the boil now. Carafa III added to the hour long mash for the last 15 mins.

Pale ale malt, a little Carafa III & loads of Centennial hops. My first #BrewDay of 2026 is a black IPA. #homebrew

Can't find anything I want to watch on the telly, so went with something free that I've watched before. www.imdb.com/title/tt2937...

Opening a homebrew Belgian Blonde now it's gassed up, dried out & dropped bright. Pale ale malt, Hallertaur Blanc hops, golden syrup, jasmine flowers* & Belgian ale yeast. *Not strictly to style

Last but one bottle of Red Ale. It really is red, honest. You just need a little imagination.

My kid's grandad got himself a 3-d printer 🐈‍⬛🖨️

Sunset / moonrise seen from Allonby on Cumbria's west coast this afternoon.

I just need to convince others.

#NewYearNewBeer Mondo Brewing Texas Whistle. Fairly ordinary lager brewed in London. "Southern hospitality" my bum! Less than a quid at Home Bargains in Penrith.

If coffee could talk: "oh look who's come crawling back!"

Inspired by @boakandbailey.bsky.social these are my #GoldenPints from a person who doesn't get out much & mostly drinks homebrew at home.

Good evening to everyone who hasn't room in the fridge, so have their beer outside the back door to keep cold.