I mentioned recently we have been having water issues since before the New Year. It was being rationed and turned off at certain times. Well since Friday we have been completely without water as has most of our community. The next housing estate over had a standpipe set up by Westmeath County Council to provide water for those who need it. Running the show was this little kid above in his yellow jacket and green boots. I had heard about him when I was checking with a neighbour I noticed get out of her car with lots of milk jugs filled with water. She told me to follow the road, I can't miss it because it is the one that has all the obvious use through the snow. She said this little 6 year old is running the show and sure enough when I got there, he was. There was an organised line and he was the one making sure everything was done correctly.
The image above shows one of my two fermenting buckets being filled. While this was being filled he noticed a leak in the standpipe so he got people with smaller bottles and containers to pass their bottles to another kid he recruited and told him to put them under the leak.
The real reason this kid is a hero, apart from volunteering his time is because I got to see the sort of person he will grow up to be and I hope to God that he turns to politics some day as he has the makings for a great leader.
The old man in front of me tried to give him a little money and he kept holding his hand up and saying (in a westmeath accent) no no I couldn't take that, no no I am happy to volunteer as long as someone breaks me. By break me I assume he means someone takes over for an hour so he can get some lunch.
That kid will go far if he sticks to those sort of principals.
Another less impressive hero, but a hero of the beer verity none the less is another
Goose Island classic.
Bourbon County is a bourbon cask aged stout weighing in at 13%. I thought it fitting to pour it in to a whiskey glass and set it on a pile of peat briquettes for the picture.
It pours a motor oil thick black with no head which is to be expected for this sort of beer.
On the nose is a powerful bouquet of Vanilla, Liqourice, alcohol and caramel.
All of these qualities come through with the first sip with the addition of sherry and a hell of a lot of chocolate, and not just dark chocolate either as I was reminded of milk chocolate at times due to its creamy smoothness.
Ruth over at Deveneys off license, where I bought this incidentally is in love with this beer. By the way, they are holding a beer festival next month and there are still tickets available. The proceeds go to charity and details can be found in store or on the blog. It looks like my wife is fecking off to Manila for three weeks for work so will miss out.
At the same time I got the Bourbon County I also picked up this
Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier. I had been meaning to try it for ages and have had beer mats for the beer but no beer. Now for those not familiar with a Rauchbier, it is a smoked beer. The smokiness is achieved by smoking the malt grains in the same way as you might smoke sausage or salmon. In fact a description of how they do it can be found on the website.
The beer pours a dark ruby, plenty of light shows through. It also boasts a massive head.
It smells very smoky like smoked bacon.
The smoke assaults you from the beginning and then wood notes come through. The beer is actually quite thin on body, which was a surprise but what that means is that this is quite a drinkable beer and could even be a session beer for people who like the smoked flavour.
I have some smoked malt myself and plan on making a Rauchbier. I need to have water though so brewing has been on hold for a while.
In the meantime I have
The Haka tapped and it is a lovely easy to drink pale ale. Not so bitter that my wife does not like it which makes her happy. It is currently cloudy and yeasty but a little time will clear it however I will keep on drinking it.
I reckon
Blonde Beggar is nearing the end and
Dubbel Whammey will go in soon.
