OK, Im feelin quite shady at the moment (its 8:50pm),
Yesterday turned out excellent. Despite the rain, there were heaps of people and probably 150l of beer made. We wont talk about the amount of beer that was drunk.
The day started for me in the early hours of saturday morning. I got 1-2hrs sleep as I was up all night babysitting the tarpaulin and tents from blowing away in the wind. At 4:30am I figured that it would be cancelled because of the weather, so I decided not to grind, but to go surfing instead. In the surf I decided - It was gonna be on no matter what! So I texted everyone and got it sorted.
I started the first brew with Duncan, my neighbor at about 7:30. A wheat beer we derived from a couple of recipes and some help from the main man Ross. During the boil I had to pick up Zizzle. Within 1/2 hour after we returned, Patch, Ross, Brian and Damian arrived. Duncan stepped in and out as he had to look after his little boy. His turn was to come. He had to make my beer!!!
Everything went really fast from then on. I think ross's first word where something in the effect of "Well, what are we doing? Lets have a beer!'". Patch was his usual funny self, promoting BIAB like a little salesman. I was very impressed with this method. Easy, fast and trouble free.
After a couple of hours things were starting to kick in. One brew down, 3 on the run and 2 more getting prepared. It was all go. Im so happy my parents were staying at my unit visiting us, because between them, and carina, they catered for all of us really well. They just made the day so smooth.
There was so many beer brought by everyone that I couldnt name them all. Everything from Ross's Russian Imperial Stout, to browny (another neighbour) who was drinking VB. Dont worry guys, we layed it on him proper all day until he came out and won the beer tasting competition.
The tasting went well. I printed off tasting notes off the net, handed them round, and carina brought round jugs of different beers for us to guess on our sheets. Browny and Duncan won getting 7/9, patch got 1!!!!!!! Sucked in mate. The funny thing was, during the whole tasting session, patch was talking it up like he was the australian beer tasting champion. You lose Patch!!!
The drinking went on till after dinner (more sausages) and the crowd was starting to thin. Patch and zizzle had a friendly political discussion
. Ross, Dad, Duncan, Carina and I sat on the sideline watching and listening. Whoa!
Dad drove zizzle home, and Ross, patch and I went to go to the Palmy Surf Club. Patch took a traveller (palmy is 150m away), the bouncers saw him with it and wouldnt let us in! The palmy hotel was shut, so we went to the casino. We were drinking pints of Kilkenny and I was dancing round like an idiot (yeah by this time, I had lost control). Ross went to get a round of beers, I vividly remember getting told to leave and patch went to get some food. So, The big man proceeds to drink all three pints to himself. By that time, I was in the taxi line trying to jag a lift to save cash!! This must have been at least 2:30am
I got woken at 7 by the local boardriders, saying that they need the tent. I couldnt even see, let alone pull down the tent. The rest is a haze of watching my parents, and duncan cleaning, hangover battling surfs and power naps.
Now, Im absolutely knackered and have to be up at 5:30am for work. Its been an effort writing this, so anything Ive missed, someone else can fill in!
Bloody awesome day. Full credit and thanks to all involved and all the beers brought to try. Impressive.
BRad
