The detail of the journey really starts now!

Fast forward 3 years since the THE EVENT (not my wedding day or the birth of my first born), but that fateful trip out the back of Bathurst, I have had two more children. It was only a few weeks ago that I laid down a 50L all-grain batch of Marzen with my brewing partner, for whom we shall henceforth refer to as simply Mick!

Thus having three children in four years has led to the development or culturing of home bound hobbies. Gone are the regular outings of golf (had a shocking fade anyway), fishing (am a dangler not an angler) and the guitar (got one for a birthday and it stays in the cupboard). Now homebrewing is the true house-bound hobby for the house-bound man.

Now let's not mistake that I am some down-trodden, browbeaten, subjugated, broken, oppressed, demoralised and exploited husband because I know my cup is overflowing. This is a literal reference as I accidently over carbonated my Foreign Export Stout and it is gushing over my keyboard. For those beer wankers/nerds, it was because my beer did not attenuate enough and with residual/suspended yeast and sugars, it lead to an over carbonated beer. I can honestly claim, I am happier when I am at home, so much so, I will remain at home even when I am on holidays.

Yet, the death of a former work colleague, whose two children I taught momentarily prompted me to reflect on my life. Funerals are like New Years Eve Resolutions, where you boldly state or promise that you will henceforth change the way you live because life is too short and filled with too much negativity and selfishness. You make the commitment, not unlike that drunken one you made at midnight on NYE to lead a better life.

Yet the reality of life is that we are creatures of habit and seldom do our spots really change. My change has come about from the people who are still with me, who are continuing the journey with me. For the people I have lost on the way (family, friends and colleagues), I often reflect with a smile in a quieter moment with a beer in hand.

The 50L batch of Marzen is the most balanced beer we have produced, still a little cloudy, however, the flavours are so delicate. This beer is not the mouth explosion you get in other hoppier beers, it’s a delicate and soft beer. It is still really full-flavoured although without the overtop malt sweetness or harsh bitterness.

We have named this beer Marist’s Marzen and is dedicated to Peter, a delicate and soft man with a full-flavoured personality who compressed so much into a short life but never to be forgotten! We may not change our spots but I like to still toast and smile when we reflect on your life and the few experiences we shared, discussing your boys!

Vale Peter!