Now this is what I call a usefull app

Oh! Happy Day

The weather over the Christmas/New Year period has been, quite frankly bloody aweful with rain and high winds. Fine for the farmers to grow grass but not much use to someone itching to get their recently renovated trailer sailer in the water!!!!

That is until yesterday when surprise surprise the weather gods decided to give us a reprieve and open a tiny window of fair weather.

The tides, coincidentally also came to the party with a morning/evening high so the scene was set for the maiden cruise to Big Bay and back.

Suffice it to say I had a great day with the mornings North Easterlies conveniently changing in the afternoon to a South Westerly to bring me home again!

Anyway I now have a list a mile long of little things that need addressing after being field (water) tested so to speak on the water – Buy hey isn’t that why we do it?

Into The Dark Side!

I have taken a small deviation from my normal tried and true brews and ventured into the realms of the Dark Side!. I have successfully brewed four batches of beer,larger and pilsener since starting home brewing again after a 20 year hiatus. So now with some confidence under my belt not to mention a beer or two I thought I should try something completely different as they say. Coopers of South Australia have in my view always produced great beer as a commercial brewer so why indeed when it comes to home brewing would you not have faith in their kits for the home? Since taking up the hydrometer again I have utilised the technology of the day and gone for enhancers to replace the old school white sugar of old. Enhancers are specially formulated mixes that replace sugar in the fermentation and improves the body, mouthfeel and head retention without altering the flavour. So after discussing things with my local brewmaster I ventured for an English Bitter enhancer - I can hardly wait!

Whiting 16 Trailer Yacht

I have recently become the proud owner of a Whiting 16 Trailer Yacht. Previously used as a sail trainer in Napier I am slowly returning her to her former glory and aim to seek out some of the less frequented spots around the creeks of the Manukau Harbour this coming summer - Bring It On

Rugby World Cup 2011 - New Zealand

Well we are down to the sharp end of the stick now with the last four teams being Wales, France, Australia & New Zealand. The tension is building nicely for the all or nothing semi finals this weekend - who will endure?
Watch this space. http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

Rugby World Cup 2011

New Zealand is defiantly the place to be for the next 6 weeks with the hosting of  The Rugby World Cup.
Go You Blacks!
http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/

Home Brew Revival

Many years ago I became an overnight manic home brewer, but with the passing years somehow the flame died. In the last couple of months I have re-ignited the flame with the purchase of a completely new Coopers Home Brew kit and have just bottled my second batch today.
The first batch, a Coopers Larger, is now 8 weeks in the bottle and tasting pretty good :)
Like all things the technology of Home Brewing has also changed and with it the surety of producing something approaching a VERY drinkable drop most times.
Cheers!