The Beer is in the Fermenter

I am happy to report that yesterday we brewed our production batch of Finch, 'Robust Red Ale', and everything went great!

We had an early start - 6 am! - at Stewart's Brewing Company. Immediately before us were 16 or so full sacks of malt that we would be turning into delicious red ale. It was a pretty full load in the mash tun, but luckily we got the strike temperature right, and we ended up with the target mash temperature first try, no fuss!

After running off into the kettle, we took great pleasure in adding wave after wave of nice and fresh whole hops to the boil. The lupulin was coming apart in my fingers in its powdery yellow bliss as I pulled the hop cones apart. Needless to say, the kettle (and the building) smelled incredible.

After the boil, we added some more hops to the unique make-shift, and effective hop-back. We pushed to get every last drop we could out and into the fermenter. At last, the brew was in the fermentation vessel, yeast was pitched, and we were laughing! It was a proud day for Damon, our brewer, the wise architect of our recipe, and for all of us in Natural Selection Brewing.
The finch has come home to roost, you might say?

We'd like to send a big 'Thank you!' to Iain from Stewart's, who led us in brewing and who magnanimously tolerated us in his work space. He was informative, patient, and he was enthusiastic about our beer as well!

Colin was constantly taking pictures, and despite our best efforts to act like fools, he managed to get some good shots. Check them out on our facebook page :
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.133916190022162.36374.123334411080340

To conclude, the beer is in the tank! Now all that's left is packaging the stuff, and then drinking it! We will need all of your help with the latter....
Cheers!

Kevin Emms
Project Manager

but.... what actually is 'Natural Selection Brewing'?

Many of you visiting this blog are undoubtedly still confused about what you are looking at. I bet some of you are wondering 'what is Natural Selection Brewing?' Well, we have a very interesting story to tell you about how we came to be, who we are, more about what we are doing, and our plans for the future...

BUT

unfortunately we cannot divulge too much information at this time! Not until after the strategically timed publishing of our press release.

I will, however, give you some bare-bones information about us to alleviate any confusion:
- Natural Selection Brewing is a unique Master's Thesis project by 4 MSc Brewing and Distilling Students from Heriot-Watt University.
- The project is worked in a partnership with an award winning Edinburgh brewery to create a student designed subsidiary brand and accompanying beer style/product, to be launched Summer 2011 predominantly to the Edinburgh public.

We are not just hopeful, but confident that our brew will turn some heads when it hits pubs and stores, only a few weeks away now!

- There will be more information to come on the project itself as well as the students involved in it, but for now at least you have some idea of what Natural Selection Brewing is about.

Cheers!
Kevin Emms
Project Manager

Behold, our Artwork!

We are very to happy to unveil the artwork for our label:

This lovely piece, in addition to the logo you see above, was created especially for our upcoming release by the very talented artist, Claire Odecki, of Vancouver, Canada.

We hope you will be keeping a look out for the Finch, and for something Robust and Red that will lead you to a groundbreaking discovery in craft beer!

Finch Robust Red Ale hits Edinburgh pubs and select liquor retailers in a matter of a few weeks!

After tasting it, we hope you'll agree with us as to why it is a ... 'Natural Selection'!
(This is my future disclaimer for bad jokes you will see in this blog)

More to come soon!
-Kevin Emms
Project Manager

the drip drip before the flood (of beer)

Natural Selection Brewing now has a blog!
This is for those of you that actually want to read more than a twitter update! Bahh... imagine!

Now I can't say too much at this point but I wanted to get this blog started. There are going to be lots of updates, and lots of things to talk about in the upcoming days/weeks, so keep an eye on this page when you can! We are intending to release more information and more pictures, artwork, etc gradually (drip drip effect) to help build the momentum around our project on the run up to release. It was time to put this blog up because, well... a lot is about to happen!

STAY TUNED! And, I hope you feel a thirst coming on...

- Kevin Emms
(Natural Selection Brewing, Project Manager)