Beer, I like beer. I have a had a long and (fairly) distinguished relationship with beer over the years. From cutting my teeth on “proper beer”, McEwans Scotch, Newcastle Exhibition and Newcastle Brown Ale through to what felt like a lifetime drinking the ubiquitous pints of John Smiths and even, if I couldn’t get away with it, something awful from a 330ml bottle.

Although I’ve always been a fan of real ale, and spent a great swathe of my twenties in pokey pubs drinking real ales, more recently nights out have turned from standing in the corner of an awful night club with a bottle of Becks, to sitting around comparing notes on whatever real ales happened to be around. A lot to do with the increasing popularity of Real  Ales and the fact you can get them at most place now.

Result is I’ve decided to have a crack at the homebrew for myself. I’ve never done it before, and set this blog up to record my progress. This is just as much for me to record recipes, brewing times, dates etc as it is for you to watch and laugh at my attempts to produce something drinkable. Any comments would be greatly appreciated, especially pointers for when I’m doing stuff wrong!

Please find my Ale Adventures on the Adventure page.  I will also put my successful (hopefully) recipes on the Recipes page so I can repeat them. The Links page will have random useful stuff on it….It all begins with a £26 starter kit from Wilkinsons…..