Friday I caught a train back to London. I headed to Soho and explored the markets and a couple of music stores. I managed to replace my Portishead cds that have become scratched over the last 20 odd years. Then i had a couple of 1/2s in a nice Shepherd Neame pub opposite the Harold…

We got to Winchester late afternoon. Checked into our hotel and headed out to see the town. An old walled city it had plenty of old buildings and plenty of the wall still in place including one of the gates. We said goodbye to Charlie who jumped on a train back to London. Popped into…

Our collaboration brew with Yeastie Boys took place at Dark Revolution Brewery which is located at the Old Sarum Airfield just out of Salisbury. Old Sarum Airfield was a WW1 and WW2 air base. We started with a very peaceful mash in . Small breweries in the UK don’t have mills and source their malt…

We got into Salisbury as the sun was setting. JK had outdone himself , our accommodation was pretty bloody special. We stayed at the Sarum Theological College within the grounds of Salisbury Cathedral. As we got out of the car an old cleric shuffled past in archaic flowing black robes. After checking in we moved…

Weds I set off for Salisbury where we were to brew our collaboration Captain Planet with Yeastie Boys. I met Charlie from Yeastie Boys and we jumped on a train to Banbury where we were meeting JK as he drove down from Chester. We took this circuitous route to Salisbury as we had the great…

On Tuesday it was my big Fullers visit. I headed into London with Stu , had coffee in Borough Market before meeting with the NZ Beer Collective crew. We popped across to The George of Pete Brown fame. Had a pint of rebadged Greene King IPA as the guest Landlord was out. Then we moved…

Yesterday it was Brewday number one. My mate Reubin had a hatched a plan with me to brew an NZ hopped ESB with him and invite former Fullers Head Brewer John Keeling along to bless the brew and have some lunch. My day started with an experience of London Underground rush hour chaos. I made…

Today’s rest day included a lovely lunch at Stu and Fritha’s place with Reuben and Lizzy. Then an expedition to Chartwell the former home of Winston Churchill. The house and painting studio were closed for winter but we walked the gardens. Then we popped into two Westerham Pubs, the Royal Oak at Crockham Hill and…

First day and a 1/2 in England: Well I survived the flights , paid more than I should have for beers in Sydney, paid more than I ever have for a flat white in Abu Dhabi, and arrived to a suitably rainy Heathrow. Stu picked me up and it was straight to The Bricklayers Arms…