Been a little quiet on the blog front because we've been really busy gearing up for Colonsay's First Music Festival - sponsored by, amongst others - The Brewery.
The first night was really the locals warm up and what a success it was with a selection of island MacNeills bolstered by brewery magnate Keith's laddie Keir and then a ceilidh with top customer Donald providing the music.
The hall had about half the number of concert goers as it will have tonight and the bar was busy so we're looking forward to another great evening.
All three beers running beautifully on draft - music everywhere, surely the island has not seen anything like it before.
We'' labe spome pictures tomorrow (hint hint)
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We bump into brand ambassador Big Angus and he says something along the lines of: “Morning chaps. We seem to have a bit of a problem with the latest lager – I put it on today and can’t do a thing with it. It just froths and froths no matter what I try. I am beginning to wonder if there is something inherently wrong with it”
Obviously the quality control department leaps into life for our top customer.
We arrive at the hotel to find the problemn solved. An IPA keg had been put on by mistake - our fault sorry Angus. Right kegs connected and all is well.
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Busy old weekend and guess what - despite the increased capacity we seem to be running short of beer. The lager is down to almost nothing and the 80/- even less. Its hard predicting sales isn't it?
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You would think that brewing in the Hebrides would be a pretty stress free kind of occupation. The worst that might happen would be a bit of a hangover one would imagine.
However - let us tell you - its not as laid back as it may seem. Take this morning for example. Sitting out off the lighthouse hoovering up mackerel in the grey dawn - steady it was after 8 actually.
Then the phone goes. "Its George here I'll be up at the pier in 45 minutes ok."
George the Islay fisherman is key to distribution in our neighbouring island taking full kegs over and bringing empties back. It must be a nuisance for him but he's the kind of guy who likes to help. "Aye fine George see you then”, came the calm reply. Phone down and cue boat fired into life and full speed for the mooring with the lines still trailing. Throw the riser over the post - throw catch (substantial) into dinghy and row like hell for the shore. Find a passing tourist near the car - persuade him to jump in and help - race down to the brewery - load in the kegs and off to the pier just as George comes round the corner
Phew - - act all nonchalant and home for a lie down.
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George the Islay fisherman who kindly takes our kegs to the Port Charlotte fishes the Oransay shores over the summer for well tried reasons and only comes up past the Colonsay Pier every week or so for some fishing reason or other.
We have been phoning and phoning him to ask him to calll in when next passing but to no avail.
Then we are innundated with calls from PC regulars missing their Colonsay IPA. Then finally George phones the slaesman who asks when he's likely to be at our pier for some beer. "Try and keep up" says George. "The beers there", he said. He'd left the phone somewhere but called in by chance thinking it was time for a shipment, managed to get hold of Keith and the job was done. Innundated with calls? Well Mark from Bruichladdich called saying he was missing it. That's almost innundated. By the way, if you are a Malt fan try the new Bruichladdich Peat - it's got that wonderful Bruichladdich smoothness with a sophisticated peat finish, not the TCP style of some Islay malts. Please don't think we just sit round here making beer and drinking malt all day.
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