Homebrew Shop Blog

August

2008-08-14T22:59:00.002Z

August again and it's so hot in the shop that the banana's have melted.
Everything is fermenting like mad.
We're working like mad, Mark went on holiday to Norfolk, I went to Sidmouth, What globetrotters we are!
Johnny is off cycling to Switz i land, name a worse place to go cycling, maybe the himalayas but no where in Europe!
Me I'd prefer Norfolk or Holland, if you're going to go cycling at least go where it;s flat!
Then again there isn't much good hill walking in Norfolk, perhaps Switzerland is ok after all..
We'll let you know when he gets back.
Cheers!!

The New Van

2008-07-12T11:20:00.002Z

Woo!
We have yet another new van, it's a Kangoo.
Why do they give these manly white vans such Winnie the Pooh names?
What next, are we going to see the Ford Transit Tigger, or the Citroen Eeyore?
Mark is happy, it's got nice cloth seats and a radio!
For those who asked the new web site is still moving ahead, there are some teething problems, you can have a look here at the new design
http://www.thebrewshop.com/beginnerskits.htm
Don't bookmark it yet!
Cheers
Peter

Bank Holiday

2008-05-27T16:14:00.005Z

Well how was it for you?
We went fishing, caught no fish and got blown all over the plaice.
Good job I had a tin of salmon in the fridge.
I also had some nice pinot grigio chilling away to drink in the garden, dunno about you but when it's cold I prefer a red wine.
So, we opened up the Cab sav, drank a bottle , felt better, drank another, felt better, it's now Tuesday morning. My heart says work but my head says no.
It may be a cold and windy May but it's always August when you have homebrew!
Cheers
Peter

New page new blog

2008-04-29T08:45:00.002Z

The more eagle eyed among you will see we have a new loook front page!
It's time we updated the site, things are afoot behind the scenes. A new site with shopping basket and lots of new goodies is on the way. It;s a long job but we hope it's worth it.
It will look simalar but but be easier to use and have more information and pictures!
It's going to take a while so be patient!
Any suggestions or things you'd like to see, products we don't sell etc. would be helpful.
Cheers
Peter

Free Wine Making Recipes

2005-08-08T14:43:00.000Z

Yes!
Hard to believe but we've got a whole stack of free recipes on the web site. A complete A - Z of winemaking recipes.
We were stuck abit for wines beginning with Z. Yes I know about Zuccini's but they're just courgettes with an americanised name.
So, we have , Zebra Wine.

Let me know what you think!!

http://www.zen37219.zen.co.uk/recipes.htm

Cheers
Peter

Die Hard

2005-04-30T11:17:00.000Z

WWW.thebrewshop.com

We've got a new delivery van! It's an N Reg Daihatsu Hi jet. It's known as the Die Hard. Mark's taken to wearing a vest while doing deliveries. A quick plug for the shop... Deliveries are free if your order is over £50.
It's white and looks like the rascal, it's not as rusty and we're confident it may get up the hills to Buxton now.
It's even got wheel trims and a go fast stripe-Lynda and Johnny suggested an old butchers bike would be cheaper and more cost effective but I know there's no way Mark would ride to Buxton on a butchers bike.
Even for pies.
Cheers
Peter

Death Of The Rascal

2005-04-23T10:40:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

The rascal went for it's MOT, the mechanic brought the results and put on a black hat. We knew it was going to be bad. The rascal is now going to have to be sold for spares on EBAY.
Is anyone selling a cheap Rascal? Or a Suzuki?
Mark is heartbroken, he loved his Rascal.
We're in the process of buying a new second hand one unless someone comes up with an offer we can't refuse.
We were offered what some called a Rascal Convertible, I thought it was a brilliant idea. The convenience of a van with the aesthetics of an open top car.
It was a Rascal Pick Up.
Back to the drawing board.
Cheers
Peter

Reg Plate

2005-03-21T12:39:00.000Z

I 've just seen the reg C1TY X on an MG. Nice plate. It might leave you a target for aggrieved UTD fans but still a nice plate.
We've been looking for plates for the shop and Mark came up with M4LTY. Anything with 8REW has gone, 8EER is a no starter, there's W 8EER but it's 1,300.
Have a go here http://www.dvlaregistrations.co.uk/home/en/Search/p/prefix?searched=yes&prefix=all&numbers=8&letter1=E&letter2=E&letter3=R&pricefrom=&priceto=&x=66&y=3
You can play with all sorts on numbers, see if you find a good one for us!
There's a few rude ones you can stilll find though. We'll leave you to find those for yourself.
Mark fancies W1NES for the rascal!
Cheers
Peter

The Rascal

2005-02-14T14:52:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com
Mark's out delivering in the Rascal. What a name for a van! The Rascal. I don't think it does it any justice. We pronounce Rascal in the way Wally of Last of the Sumer Wine used to talk.
Stick your tongue to the roof of your mouth and don't let it move. Then say Rascal. If you think it's hard try,
"I'm going out in the rascal Mam"
Then try it in a Yorkshire or Bolton accent.
Try buying a flat cap and ordering a round in the pub or asking for discounts and pretending to be a thrifty Yorkshire Person.
It won't work in our shop...
Cheers
Peter

Whistling in the wind

2005-01-22T15:12:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

A customer came in while we were playing one the shops endless collections of hit singles. He said that modern pop songs are no good, they have no tune and you can't whistle them. We agreed. The next track was Sabre Dance, try whistling that one! Your teeth would fall out even before you tried to whistle the guitar solo at the end. For the interested it was released in 1968 with Dave Edmunds playing the flash lead guitar.
Other singles you might like to have a go at whistling would be- Down Down by Status Quo.Donna Summer I Feel Love is not so good either.
Suggest some worst ones and the worst one we get will win a prize!!
Cheers
Peter

New Year--Hooray!!

2005-01-12T14:50:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

To celebrate the new year I've been out delivering. Mark stayed in and I went out during school hours to deliver the goods. I.While I remember---There's a new discount system for our internet customers. Basically if you order over £100 you get 5% and if you order over £200 you get 10%. That's got to be worth it!!
Cheers!!
Peter

Xmas is coming

2004-11-26T16:38:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

The big Big topic of conversation in the shop at the moment is--'What's dirty old Santa bringing you for Xmas?'
Last year I asked for something with a pierced belly button , did I get what I wanted? no Chance. Year before I asked for something in a pink crop top, no chance.
I think possibly I'm being too subtle and people don't really understand what I really want. I'm in my late forties fat and bald. This year I'm asking for that actress that plays Bridget Jones. Forget the pierced belly button request, the tattoo and the space hopper. I'll settle for Renee. Hope this is direct enough for you Mum.
Johnny says he'd like a nice book of poems and a box of tea bags since he drinks all ours.
Lynda says as long as it wears trousers it'll be ok. She may end up with Wallace and Gromit
Mark says he wants pipe and slippers and a set of furry dice with a go faster stripe
for the Rascal.
I'm looking on Ebay for something for Trisha , there's some really good stuff under 'weird'. We've been married for over 20 years and it's hard to surprise her now. This one may cause her eyebrows to lift a bit on Xmas morning Stuffed piranha for sale
Cheers
Peter

November Chills

2004-11-13T13:50:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

It's freezing in the shop, the heating is alright if you're wearing a coat so the customers are warm but we're running around trying to keep from seizing up. After the big investments of the new double glazed front windows I thought it was going to be nice and cozy but the brass monkeys are moaning again.When we had the new signs put outside the shop we found that behind them was just a big hole into the shop. The 60's pegboard over the windows on the inside only managed to slow the wind down a bit. It's been like a fridge in here for 30 years and we never knew why. After all that time I don't know if I can stand the heat.
Mark will have to go out to B and Q in the Rascal and purchase some big sheets of insulation. Harry next door is very reasonable for that foam stuff that comes in cans.We'll cut up the insulation and glue it in with the foam. I think we can do it on the cheap which suits me fine.

Cheers
Peter

carrot cake

2004-10-02T15:10:00.000Z

Lynda's turned up with carrot cake, Mark doesn't even know whether he likes it, he's tried it with the wrapper on see here
http://www.zen37219.zen.co.uk/carrot%20cake.JPG
He'll have to write in and let you know what he thinks, if he likes it johnny better be quick or Mark will scoff the lot.
Trisha's also turned up and the future of the cake is in doubt.
Cheers
Peter

Saturday is cake day

2004-10-02T13:51:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

We're waiting for lynda to appear with the cakes, Mark doesn't eat cakes with nuts in, marizpan, currants, sultanas, cherries, raisins or a load of other stuff. It hampers Lyndas choice in the variety of cakes we get get. We've had doughnuts for the last two months, I've texted her and asked her to get something different-but will Mark like it? The camera is in the shop, I'll put up a picture of marks reaction to this weeks cake. Bet he doesn't like it. It don't matter, it's more for me and Johnny.
Cheers
Peter

Busy Busy

2004-10-01T13:40:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com
We're so busy at the moment it's unbelievable.
Lynda's taken up cycling, it's an attempt to get rid of the weight the Saturday cakes put on. She's borrowed my lads bike,apparently it won't go up hills . It's alright down hill and on the flat but inclines present a problem. She tells us it's always been hard for her to cycle up hills, much harder than it is for us...
Mark's been to Hadfield delivering in the Rascal, it's the place where they film League of Gentlemen. He says he keeps all the doors locked and the windows shut and doesn't talk to taxi drivers.
We might even send him with the camera next time....
Cheers
Peter

Elderberry Stout

2004-08-28T15:34:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

We have lots of slightly wacky ideas and recipes off our customers this one sounds pretty good. The elderberries are just ripening nicely look here for recipes for wine http://www.zen37219.zen.co.uk/recipes.htm
This one's for Elderberry Stout--we've not tried it but will do and will let you know. But, if you're going to make it before the elderberries go you're going to have to experiment yourself as well!!
2lb elderberries
A stout kit - Brupaks Scammonden dark would be good or use whatever you can get.
An extra .5kg of sugar
Put the elderberries in a big pan and cover with water, bring to boil and simmer gently for about 5 mins.
Strain off and squeeze gently into a bucket. Allow to settle for two hours. Pour off gently into the brewbucket leaving the deposit behind.
Add the beer kit with the extra sugar--if the kit says add a kilo, add 1.5kg.
Ferment out as normal--let us know how it works-better still reply by posting a comment to this blog!
Cheers
Peter

Special Offers

2004-08-22T15:35:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com

I've been asked for special offers--
OK so here's a couple.
The Brewking Vintners special reserve 30 bottle wine kit, normal price £41.00----wait for it, now on special at ....£36.00, internet customers can have this offer until the end of September.
Check page here vintners wine kits here for the complete range.
Only the Vintners is on special!! not the selection. Just ask for the special price on the order form or phone us up¬! 01614804880. Freepost on these as well. Blimey, how dop we do it!
Fantastic floor standing corkers.
These will put in any cork without soaking, it stands on the floor, you pop in the bottle and just pull the handle. Normal price £55.00---special offer......£45.00 and we'll bung in 30 corks as well. Freepost as well for all our internet purchasers. These are heavy, they're big and they're made of steel, ask if you want more info.
Cheers!!
Peter

Music in the Shop

2004-08-05T10:25:00.000Z

www.thebrewshop.com
Today I came in and Steve Wright's love songs were on the CD player. I knew Mark played them when I wasn't here. He's ashamed of it. Come on Mark 'fess up, who plays SW's love songs when he's in the shop on his own?
I'm not ashamed of playing*my* music...
Cheers
Peter

Bicycle Again

2004-08-04T08:40:00.000Z

http://www.thebrewshop.com

We're selling another bike, after all that Mark's said he's brought his own bike to sell. It's got 16" wheels and is a real sporty number. It would fit a small chimp or a large cat. I'm looking forward to seeing him ride it, this time I'm getting a photo!
We keep promising photo's and we will, as soon as I can find where my children have put the camera.
Cheers
Peter

Recipes

2004-07-31T10:06:00.000Z

A few people have written to me and asked for recipes for fruit wines, I've already posted a few up here
http://www.zen37219.zen.co.uk/recipes.htm
If there's something you want a recipe for, just ask!!
mail me at car@thebrewshop.com
or off the website www.thebrewshop.com
It's Saturday so it's cake day again, Mark's getting excited because there's been no cakes while I've been away.
Johnny's gone off cycling, he's reached Poole in Dorset and is getting the midnight ferry to Cherbourg. It's a long way over the Pyrennees to Spain and he's cycling all the way. They make 'em 'ard round 'ere!
We're drinking mead made with honey that was 5 years out of date, it's interesting. Linda brought it in when she cleared out her cupboard and challeged us to use it.We made it up using some grape concentrate, we should know by now it's only worth using the best ingredients, anything made from old out of date stuff makes old out of date wine!
Cheers
Peter

Monte Carlo

2004-07-24T09:22:00.000Z

http://www.thebrewshop.com

I m in Monte Carlo, I ve left the homebrew and the bike behind. I m a bit sad to see it go and I bet Mark sold it for far less than it was worth! It s a shame because we can t show you a picture now.
I ve just seen a ferrari with the UK reg of MU15_ anyone know who that was? We ve seen over 20 ferraris today, a brace of Maserati s and loads of others. I dont think this lot work in homebrew shops!
The wine is cheap, the women are gorgeous and I hope Mark Lynda and Johnny are all enjoying the Weather at home, its Saturday, cake day. Enjoy the cakes guys!! Im not missing the cakes at all.... I may go and drink a litre of Vino and pour myself in to the sunny waters of the Med.
As a footnote there s no apostrophe s on a French keyboard and all the letters are in the wrong place.
See you Monday,
Cheers Peter

Holidays

2004-07-19T13:40:00.000Z

WWW.THEBREWSHOP.COM

Today is the first day of Peter's holiday, so I have been charged to write the daily blog.
I finally got rid of that damn bike. The amount of abuse I got whenever I went into the other local shops was nearly enough for me to take off the padlock and let someone just take it.
As usual Peter has left me all the work to do and to top it all off there will probably be no cakes, as Lynda only comes in when Peter is in.
Cheers
Mark

Lost at sea

2004-07-16T09:44:00.000Z

WWW.thebrewshop.com

Mark's gone out delivering in the Rascal, he's been gone for three hours. I just got a phone call saying he's lost!
If you're waiting for your delivery of tasty homebrew it's been delayed. He's only gone 2 miles away, it's usually me who gets lost. He'll not admit he's got lost, when you see him ask how he found Cheadle !
We usually have cakes on Saturday afternoon, today's Friday but because of Holidays, today is cake day! yippee! It doesn't take much to keep homebrew shopkeepers happy.
Cheers
Peter

Bicycle

2004-07-15T11:52:00.000Z

Everyone loves the bike but no one wants to buy it, people keep telling us it's a classic and worth a fortune in Oxford! like, yeah.
We bought a shredder for the documents and orders recieved so anything usuable by thieves and rogues doesn't go in the bin.
We shred anything, it's a great feeling putting junk mail straight through without even opening the envelope.
My tax form just missed going in, I decided I'd better pay the bill first but, a letter from the town hall went---shrrriippp!!!
Mark took an order yesterday and then put the address form through the shredder--brrrapp!!,Johnny called as he passing on his bike and they spent half an hour trying to sellotape all the bits back together. They managed to get enough to deliver the goods, he says he'll not be so quick to shred documents next time.
Cheers!!
Peter
www.thebrewshop.com

Second Post

2004-07-13T08:56:00.000Z

Now I've figured out how to work the blog I'll try again. We're at WWW.THEBREWSHOP.COM
I'll put up some pictures of the gang as soon as I can.
Today we're selling my old bike, it's a hercules balmoral and is a three speed sturmey archer sit up and beg.
It's nothing to do with homebrew but it gives the customers a laugh, they keep asking if it's Mark's delivery bike! I'm clearing out the garage and it's in the way, I'm sorry to see it go though. Before the day is out I'll get a picture showing you how it looks, unless we sell it that is, anyone want to buy a Hercules bike for £25-00? A genuine classic.
Cheers
Peter

Home Brew

2004-07-13T08:21:00.000Z

Welcome to our blog, an account of the goings on in a home brew shop in STockport, an online diary of Homebrew and our customers.
My life and loves, and a few glasses of wine!!
Peter