HayesenBrau Beers
I have brewed many beers over the last few years. Those that I either really liked or that I brewed often have ended up with names, and some of the lucky ones with labels.
Below are the logos of my main beers. Prior to their launch, I had only made no-name brands, many of which were interesting. Whale Horward claimed they gave him hairy eyeballs.
My beer was strong and black then - so black that I could smuggle it into the school hostel in Coke bottles. After rugby practice my mates would taste and comment - generally favourably so as to have more the next day.
Things have improved at HayesenBrau since then:
If you are the big tree, we have a small axe!
Axe is a medium strength lager. It is my most popular beer. It is also the logo that has appeared in the most places.
The inspiration for the name occured whilst bottling. Bob Marley was playing in the background - and the rest is history.
Axe was the house beer at the ChainSaw, which was a pub that I ran from my back garden for a while. The ChainSaw's claim to fame was that many actuaries lost their names - no small thanks to Axe. This lead to a temporary slogan of "Felled many a Fellow" - sad actuarial humour.
The future looks rosy for Axe. It is the style in which both my mates and I have the most interest.
I fought the Sword, and the Sword won!
Sword Bitter is increasingly brewed. English weather lends itself to ale brewing, and I have developed a taste for full flavour low alcohol beers.
The T-shirt says, "I fought the sword and the sword won." - a Clash reference.
Sword's claim to fame is a prize in Frothblowers' label competition!
Black as your Heart
Club Stout was brewed at the request of my Marketing Man - Gavin Wood. He says nicer things about my beer than I do. He tasted it back in the hairy eyeballs days. Gav thought it good. It has been called HayesenStout in the past.
I was massacred at the ChainSaw!
Trident Ale has been looking for a name ever since I started brewing it regularly. It has gone under the names of Chain Mail Ale (thanks to Gav Wood), Panga Ale, and Ant's Pale Ale - when I was really imaginative.
It is very similar to Axe Lager - only I use an ale yeast, a Golden Ale I suppose.
iBhiya woHayes
Umkhonto is my main sorghum based beer. I haven't brewed this in a while.
Black Jack is a London Brown Ale. On moving to England I encountered Manns. What a great beer. This is my attempt.
Other Beers
Other beers that I have brewed are: Flintlock Porter; Hela's Rake (which won the Wort Hog Brewing Competition in 2000); Hela's Broom (a geuze style beer); Broadsword Bitter; Ice Pick Ale (Wort Hog 2003 winner); Musket Stale; Dagger Mild Ale and Sjambok. Miölnir was brewed for Nicola and Daniel's 21st.
I also make mead from time to time - Morning Star Mead.