A new trick for an old Dog ..... Two things, actually. One is that I made my customary five FV's. One, of course, without a heater, because I only own four heaters.
That's always the one I get amongst last, because I leave it to do its thing in that relatively freezing cold room out there. So, the one I kegged tonight has probably sat there a month. I was a bit bloody nervous too. Because I picked up my next load of kits yesterday evening. Had to really set too and get some work done this evening. Only two rinsed out FV's to my name. Rest had to be completely washed up. One, of course, after I'd syphoned the beer out of it! Bloody long session for Ditch then!
Anyway, I'm nervous because if, for any reason, this last FV's managed to go tits up on me? I'm beer shopping for five days. And I'm f**king skint! Sucked the syphon. Liquid jetted into my mouth. And I'm like, " Eh?! " I swallowed it and didn't want to throw up. Thus I decided ~ all this in a split second, of course ~ that this should be drinkable. But, hell, was it
Different!
I poured a pint glass off and settled down to try and taste it properly. Freezing f**king cold was one thing. But, beneath that ....? It wasn't unpleasant. It was just totally 'new'!
As sheer good luck would have it, Dean O' happened to be out in my cow shed. I let him fetch a portable forge there and he helps himself to some peaceful work. Hammering away without invoking the wrath of the prick who's moved in next door to him. Dean was in at the start, with my stuff. We've stood together tasting just about every example of " Ditch's Stout " I've ever produced. I gave him the glass.
He was adamant that
Coffee was hitting him in the face. I suggested a
Roastiness and he vehemently agreed. But, there was a Lot more to this one than just strong, roasted coffee tones. It was
Weird! Dean was trying to explain a sort of sizzle on his tongue. I had
Bottled in mind. There was also definitely something going on at the back of the mouth .....
Then, I mentioned how I was relieved it wasn't vinegar. Dean O' listens to this. Takes another taste. Considers. And says; " It's not far off though. "
Insulting bastard!!! If he wasn't plenty young enough to be my son. With veined and bulging f**king biceps in arms as thick as my legs? I'd have slapped the c***! But, then he'd have just ripped me to pieces with his bare hands. So I took it on the chin
I'd poured me another pint of the stuff. Noting what a merry head it had on it. But, having got up later than hell and being determined to get some non alcoholic liquid down my neck, I left it standing while I got the next five together. All the while guzzling tea.
I drunk it a short while ago. It's got nothing to do with vinegar. As I worked though, having tasted it, I was toying with calling it " Ditch's Loovni ". (That's a private joke that only a Gypsy would understand
Because, after Dean O's outrageous comment, we agreed to settle for my own suggestion that it
was " A little tart "
God! I'm witty as a f**king hand cart!)
Most strange brew though. Seriously never produced anything like it before. And this, remember, is simply the result of doing what I do. Only in a freezing cold room and with no fish tank heater.
Now the next bit: I've brought the keg in here!
Stove's lit, at night. Room's full of (Dogs) bodies. No way does it ever get half as cold, in here, as it does out there where I ferment and store this stuff. So, in due course, this weird tasting stuff will get closer to ambient temperature.
Get the freezing chill off it and it should reveal its true colours. I wonder what they'll be ....?
I like it room temp or just a wee bit cooler.
, unless that is you like fizzy stout.. Ugh 
