For International Women’s Day this year I thought I’d do something a tad different. After seeing advertisement for the Brewhouse and Kitchen Free International Women’s Day I was straight on the phone to my fellow drinking buddy and blogger, Emma, and booked us two spaces.
This is an event that Brewhouse & Kitchen have held in all their branches for the last 7 years. In that time over 9000 women have attended and have raised thousands for charity. If you wonder how a free event can raise money for charity, it is from the purchase of the beer that us Women start to brew at this event. Amazing right?
The day started out with tea, coffee, pastries and some amazing crispy bacon sarnies. Harris and Rich told us a bit about their beers. We were due to have a huge group of 30, but we ended up with a small group of 10 which meant lots of leftover food and more time to get stuck in and involved in the brewing processes.
Harris spent the day showing us how to brew a great beer from scratch and we were able to get stuck in. I had a go at Mashing, the process which gives you muscles! It does but its real job is to mix the malt with water, this is where the malt extract is produced. Some of us tried it after the next process had been completed and the solids had been separated from the liquid and it was a bit like extra sweet carrot water. Not really my cup of tea.
We got to help clean out the grains from the mashing vessel and Harris told us that the fire service come and pick the bags up to use. I great way of being sustainable, yet I feel this is something Brewhouse & Kitchen could educate it’s cliental on more. After all everyone loves a business who supports other business!
The other steps we couldn’t really help with, but we got to watch as Harris went through the boiling process and how they ensure that the liquid at this stage becomes clear and not bitty. The last step we saw was Harris adding in the dried yeast for fermentation and this is where our journey ended. It carries on being fermented and the product will be on sell in the pub from the end of March. I ironically this years, that we helped to make, is their Easter Chocolate Stout.
During the duration of the day, we were given lunch and lots of beers. There was lots of laughter, making friends and sharing stories. I’d highly recommended attending one of these events next year if you see it advertised!
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