Say hello to Vehnäolut

We at Phenix Brewery pride ourselves on obscure hipster names for our beers and with this latest brew there is no exception. Welcome to the Phenix Brewery line up Vehnäolut. A 4.33% wheat beer with a cheeky Columbus dry hop.



As you obviously know it's name is Finnish for wheat beer. The reason being my wonderful bee keeping friend Jussi supplied me with some of his honey from Finland to add to my brew instead of dextrose. This is some seriously yumi honey!
You may also be able to tell that I still have no label on my bottles. Although I have knocked up an option B I am still interested to have the input of a designer with a taste for beer. Otherwise its the below design being put onto 40 odd bottles. Some is getting shipped as far a field as Japan.

Strathaven Hot Air Balloon Festival 2014

An early dawn drive out to Strathaven to see the dawn launch of the hot air balloons. What a treat it was seeing them drift off across the landscape as the sun rose.
We arrived at 6:15am and with a quick search set up to watch the balloons fly over us. A great collection of colours and a great atmosphere with kids running around in pyjamas and half awake adults.
It was a ridiculous 6 degrees and our feet got well and truly soaked and frozen. Thankfully some (my mum would be proud of my prep) coffee helped but that soon ran out.
Overall a wonderful time and would highly recommend a trip out to the sleepy town of Strathaven. More info on the festival on their website here.

Chambara - Dare to Be Digital 2014 - Gaming

I was having a browse through the various wonderful games on display from this years Dare to be Digital.  I came across this game, Chambara and it very much grabbed my attention. The game is a local multiplayer stealth deathmatch. Whats not to love? Take a look at the trailer below.


A very simple idea but looks like amazing game play. You can get a download of it on their website . I for one will be giving it a cheeky download later on tonight.

Design a label for me, get paid in beer

One of the joys of running your own 'brewery' is the fun of naming and designing the labels and brand that goes with it. I have been brewing and designing my own labels for the past four years. Some have been better than others. Below is a selection of said designs.



So aye, I ain't that great with design, but at least the beer tastes good. Currently I am brewing a wheat beer that have Columbus hops added at the dry hopping stage.
What I want is a name for this beer and a designer (someone with MS Paint) to come up with a lovely label for it. In return you will get beer, tasty tasty mini-brew beer.

If that sounds good to you then post a name or label suggestion below.

 

Beats and beans for the weekend

I work in the digital world as I am sure most people currently do. Our life revolves around things that we will never even touch. Photos, Illustrations and even books, some never see the light of the physical world. That is why I love people who make physical items. A break from the current norm.

One of those people is a colleague who in exchange for some EH! gave me his latest musical treat.



 

The Nuclear Family is a combination of Tom Churchill & Laurence Hughes. I gave it a listen last night and loved it. My favourite track has to be Blind Spot

[bandcamp width=100% height=42 album=49517551 size=small bgcol=ffffff linkcol=0687f5 track=2563503374]

To quote Innate " “Blind Spot” is a clear ode to Chi-town – jacked up beats meeting a mayday style flange that gives way to a heavy sounding raw-edged bass, countered with jazzed out chords. "

Exactly not what I was going to say anyway.

Alas yesterday evening also meant a trip out to the land of Artisan Roast, another section of Glasgow that self publishes but in this case beans.



 

The Nuclear Family playing on the Amstrad and these beans getting ground will make for a wonderful start to the Weekend. Coffee a go go.