Its been a while since the last blog and the Belgian Trappist Ale we brewed for the demo night has come out a treat. The usual manky flavours to start with, but now after a month or so in a keg, it has mellowed out into a much better tasting beer. I am keen to see how this one continues to develop over time. Its on tap at the store, but is getting drunk very slowly and should still be around for a month or more yet.

Our next interesting beer will be a Cerny Pivo fresh wort. This dark, czech lager is a easy drinking beer, with some burnt toast or coffee flavours, but without the heaviness of a Stout or the strength of a Bock. I have never tasted this style and am keen to give it a go.

In the meantime, we have brewed up a mean Rogers Ale style beer - basic kit and a bunch of grain to give it some real flavour. Rogers, by Little Creatures, has absolutely got to be my favourite commercial mid-strength beer - loads of flavour and not watery and thin like most mids.

And while we are talking commercial beers, I think I have found my favourite commercial (but not necessarily easy to obtain) beer - Weihenstephener Traditional and Original. Even the Krystal is a lovely beer and I am definately not a wheat beer fan. First Choice stocks these and should be commended for their stock of interesting, non-mainstream beers. Weihenstephener is the world's oldest brewery, based in a Monastry established in 724 by an Irish Benedictine monk. The monks were certainly brewing by 1040 and selling their beer to aid their work in the community. So if you see a bottle, grab it and enjoy a real beer, made only of the things beer should be made of.