(Note: I have lost a heap of AHB email addresses in a computer mishap so, if you haven't heard from me in a few months, please email me or PM me with your email address. If you want to receive a good forward from me every 3 or 4 weeks then do likewise.)
It's confession time but before I do this, I have to post a pic...
There's a story behind both the beer (Mooshell's ESB) and the gate. I can tell you about the beer but Screwtop will have to tell you about the gate. Mind you, it might be a while before we get that story as he is flat out pasting Inspector Pocket Brewery stickers all around southern Australia at the moment. Good on him! His gate story is a good one and you might even have to wait until the next get-together before he unleashes it.
Anyway the gate in the pic is at the beginning of the Nullabor and I have to say guys that because I did the trip in only two and a bit sleeps, I only had two of your beers on the trip from Sydney but whilst both tasted superb I am only certain of one and that was Frogman's. (Mooshell's comes later.) I drank Damien's on the day the pic was taken and by God did it taste great!!!! If there had been more than one I would have pulled over and drunk the lot without doubt. It was pure bliss to have a totally easy-drinking and interesting craft brew on the Nullabor when the temp outside was 33 and in the van, right above the engine, 38 - a lot more during the day. (I drank Fogman's at dusk.)
The beer I had the next day was a pure desert delight as well - I certainly remember that. But you guys know how it is on a swap. You remember the first beer of the day and then not much else. The same thing has happened to me with the passing of time. Greg, if I had to hazard a guess, and I think it's a good one, I think it was your pilsener. If it wasn't yours then it would have been a pale ale as I was focussed on light coloured beers on the Nullabor. Whoever it was, I am in your debt!
The rest of the beers, bar one, I drank when I got to Perth but over a month or so. TidalPete's rings a big bell but I can't remember if this was because it was great or green. You should put a 'Consume By' date on your bottles Pete
I don't drink cider but InCider, yours was tops! While there was no way that I was actually going to drink it, I gave it to a stray Norwegian hitch-hiker near Eucla who, after drinking your bottle, was able to display a mind-boggling array of advanced Hatha Yoga positions. All this she managed to do in the back of my van. Quite clever really. You probably should bottle that stuff.
I confess that I can't write up any more beers bar one but, I found all, bar about two, to be good to really enjoyable. These beers were exposed to shocking temperature flunctuations so to be able to say that all bar two were great or had no problems is pretty amazing.
The only one I have left to write about is Mooshells ESB. It's the one in the picture.
I used it in the pic as it was easily accessible in the back of the van and had a great label. (I actually had Frogman's beer cooling in my 12V esky at the time.) Even on the Nullabor, in the heat, I was actually looking forward to tasting Mooshell's beer as I knew it was going to be a style that was less than 4 billion IBU's. I respected this beer and wanted the perfect environment and mood in which to taste it like I try to do with all Swap beers.
Anyway, back in the van she went. She travelled all the way to Perth. She sat in my sister's shed during 40 degree plus days.
Finally, the day came when I said, 'Yep, I am having her tonight!'
So, about midday, I went out to the shed, pulled the Cooper's carton of Swap beers off the shelf and then I wept.
We are talking about a beer that had survived being devoured by Stephen and Les, a beer that had crossed the continent rattling around in the back of my van and then been baked in my sister's shed. A beer that I had been waiting for the right moment to bring to my lips.
I keep replaying it over and over in my mind. I'm sure that I pulled the carton out gently. I know I did. There was only a slight tinkling of glass upon glass and then....
Mooshell's ESB exploded!
Sorry guys, I really can't write anymore. Even talking about this now has been quite upsetting.
All I can say now is that if this ESB was really good, send me the recipe and I will hold a brew day requiem here in Perth. As I am once again in an apartment and now actually brew in the bathroom, the ceremony will have to be restricted to just a few respectful brewers.
Oh! And if it was a really crap beer just send me a different recipe for the same style. That'll do.
Pat
