I've had those Pie Minister pies. God, they are good. I had no idea you can get them in the supermarket. [Grabs coat and heads off to Sainsbury's]

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tribs

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Duncan

My Sainsbury's only had the Shamrock. Still, I'm excited to have it for my lunch tomorrow.

Some intersting wine offers

The Caserillo Diablo Carmenere, Chard and SB are on offer down to £4.65

There are some 2 for £10 which are all normally £10 each, so buy one get one free mix and match, effectively.

Vina Maipo GR Shiraz and SB are included, Bergerac White and Red and Heritage Road Reserve Merlot and Chard.

On the clearance shelf there was Grahams Crusted '02 at £8.61 and 98 Malvedos at £13.21

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tribs

Oh alright you lot. Has to be done I s'pose. Two outlets quite close and several Sains. Almost drooling already...double-cream mash seems requisite.

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Hmmmn .....Tribs, I haven't been down to Sains since the 25% x 6 promo finished. Are you able to say any more about their Bergerac rouge ? Must be '09 for a look-n-feel alike claret glugger. I liked the last Bergy they had on double disco.

Talking Offers:- Mozzy's have a 25% for 3 promo running at the mo, anybody seen anything that stands out in there ?

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Duncan

Duncan, I believe it is the same one. Grande Reserve de Bergerac 2009. I picked one up last time, but have not tried it yet.



I believe that is Morrison labelled wines only. At least it was a few days ago. I couldn't be bothered inspecting them to find if any were from noteworthy producers.

There are a few that might interest you in the latest WR offers, Dunc.

A CdR villages (Former WOW on the '06), a Crozes and a Saint Joseph. All '07.

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tribs

I had a look at the Morrisons wine offers this morning, including their new own-label range. The -25% off three bottles seems a decent promo, didnt have time to have a good look tho.

I left with a selection of real ales. On the subject of, I will be starting my first real ale homebrew this weekend, 5 gallon (40 pints) of Woodforde's admirals reserve. Wish me luck.

Hi GK.

I've done that one. When it goes well it is perhaps my favourite of the kit brews available. The hop aroma added by the sachet is really nice.

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tribs

Yeah......That Waitrose promo started yesterday, and there was an '07 Cairanne village CdR that I was waiting on (it wasn't moving at all at the full chat), anyway folks don't know it. On the best slopes up to the hilltop village, the wine is magnifique, and ageworthy depending on oak quality of course Thanks for the tip-off Tribs.

'06 CdR was generally austere, hard and a bit lean & mean.

(Former WOW on the '06) On the '06 ?? Which one good sir. Aha - This:-
Réserve des Hôpitaliers 2006/07 Côtes du Rhône-Villages, Cairanne, Only want the '07

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Duncan

Interesting, would you say it is better than a typical bottle beer from the shop?

Did you bottle yours (to condition) or move to a keg? Whats the longest you have left it before drinking and did it improve with age?

Any tips are greatly appreciated.

The one that you have already picked out.

I see you have already found it. Only the 06 was available back then. It had a star from Mel earlier and she reckoned that the 06 had since sold out at WR. If the 06 was good then the 07

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tribs

.

Cheers - a wander and then riffle the shelves for '07s is in order. If it got awards in '06 it must be a cut above the norm

That Jean Luc Colombo Crozes on '06 wasn't much cop and comparatively, a lot more dosh back then.

Good, I was surveying my stock last night thinking - I need midweek reds, and, there is no more bargain special parcel (and cellared) claret around at the mo.

I wish I'd taken you up on the La Courrone St. Emilion transfer

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Duncan

Cadmans have an '06 Blaye on offer af £9.99

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Four wheels move the body - 2 wheels move the soul.

Cheers for that Ba, wot you dont know..... is that Mr T and I were drinking '02 St. Emilion grand cru for £7.99 that had been laid down in dug-deep professional cellars. That's all gawwwwn now.

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Duncan

If it goes well it'll be fantastic. There are a couple of things that can cause it to be not quite as good as it could. Things that have tripped me up in the past are too much chlorine in the water, over compensating chlorine in the water with campden tablets and not being thorough enough in my cleaning.



I tend to do both. I have 20 litre kegs that fill to about 18-19 L which usually leaves me with about 12 bottles. The kegs I can run through my beer engine and its nice to have a few bottles to give to others to try or squirrel away somewhere. I have some bottles that I have left for years, but generally this is more out of interest or forgetfulness and not something I'd do with kit beers. The Admiral Reserve is best young to retain that hoppy character. 6 - 12 weeks if you can avoid oxidisation when using a keg.

Don't overly worry about splashing etc. while racking. Try to avoid it, but do not worry too much about it if happens. Most of the stuff I've read warns of causing oxidation, but its almost inevitable there will be the odd splash or frothing when racking, but its never been a problem in my experience.

With this kit, I would not add the hop sachet until as late as possible, maybe after fermentation is complete. Otherwise you may find a lot of the wonderful hoppy aromas are carried away on the released CO2.

I must do some more brewing. Its not easy when you are running a company and bringing up kids to find the time.

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tribs