Crooked Trail Brew
@crookedtrailbrew.bsky.social
Husband, dad, homebrewer, neurodivergent, bi, MA medievalist.
❤️ - arts/media, history, languages/linguistics, ecology, travel, food, lots of books. Francophile, European, Green Party. He/him.
❤️ - arts/media, history, languages/linguistics, ecology, travel, food, lots of books. Francophile, European, Green Party. He/him.
I blame the neighbours for putting up their lights and making me feel festive. This must be the right glass for Stille Nacht.
November 19, 2025 at 10:04 PM
I blame the neighbours for putting up their lights and making me feel festive. This must be the right glass for Stille Nacht.
A delightful sour from my 'forget it' stock that I've just got out last month. It's still fizzy, there are floral notes, citrus too, wine undertones and ginger coming up afterwards. It's a great delicate brew, just sad that they're not brewing any more, but an inspiration to try this style myself.
November 9, 2025 at 6:45 PM
A delightful sour from my 'forget it' stock that I've just got out last month. It's still fizzy, there are floral notes, citrus too, wine undertones and ginger coming up afterwards. It's a great delicate brew, just sad that they're not brewing any more, but an inspiration to try this style myself.
The Duvel clone is forming a pellicle, not had chance to get one of those before. This should be interesting to taste before bottling. The original dregs were from a mixture of beers but ended up oxygenated without an airlock so I'm hoping I caught them early enough here.
#brewsky.
#brewsky.
July 28, 2025 at 7:16 PM
The Duvel clone is forming a pellicle, not had chance to get one of those before. This should be interesting to taste before bottling. The original dregs were from a mixture of beers but ended up oxygenated without an airlock so I'm hoping I caught them early enough here.
#brewsky.
#brewsky.
👋🏻
Looks good in the Summer sun. Coincidentally passing by today.
Looks good in the Summer sun. Coincidentally passing by today.
July 17, 2025 at 8:10 AM
👋🏻
Looks good in the Summer sun. Coincidentally passing by today.
Looks good in the Summer sun. Coincidentally passing by today.
A memory day at Glastonbury. And it's only Thursday. Very lucky and glad to be here.
June 27, 2025 at 1:14 AM
A memory day at Glastonbury. And it's only Thursday. Very lucky and glad to be here.
It's taken a while, but I'm finally on the bus to pick up the van and head to Glastonbury. It's been a journey to get to this point, never mind Somerset today.
June 25, 2025 at 8:16 AM
It's taken a while, but I'm finally on the bus to pick up the van and head to Glastonbury. It's been a journey to get to this point, never mind Somerset today.
Cracked open a saison (a Blaugies yeast) with additional fermentation with yeast from the backyard fruit. A soft tang, I wouldn't say sour, and enjoyable after a 2 year rest in the bottle. Please excuse the label, I never got round to soaking it off.
#brewsky.
#brewsky.
May 26, 2025 at 5:55 PM
Cracked open a saison (a Blaugies yeast) with additional fermentation with yeast from the backyard fruit. A soft tang, I wouldn't say sour, and enjoyable after a 2 year rest in the bottle. Please excuse the label, I never got round to soaking it off.
#brewsky.
#brewsky.
I managed to move my stuff round the office, dismantle a wardrobe and stick a shelf in for the record player. Divorce's first album gets an airing first. Crazy price I paid for the, er, vibration damping platform underneath the player 😁
Where's the cat? I now have room to swing it.
Where's the cat? I now have room to swing it.
May 26, 2025 at 3:52 PM
I managed to move my stuff round the office, dismantle a wardrobe and stick a shelf in for the record player. Divorce's first album gets an airing first. Crazy price I paid for the, er, vibration damping platform underneath the player 😁
Where's the cat? I now have room to swing it.
Where's the cat? I now have room to swing it.
I brewed a Duvel clone & split it into 2 vessels, 1 as-is, 1 with Brett/mixed yeasts/bacteria.
A starter from 2 Duvel bottles certainly proved powerful. 😂🤦🏼♂️
It's ramping up from 21°C to 28°C over 11 days.
Unhelpfully, the iSpindel ran out of charge but the Inkbird is accurate on temperatures.
A starter from 2 Duvel bottles certainly proved powerful. 😂🤦🏼♂️
It's ramping up from 21°C to 28°C over 11 days.
Unhelpfully, the iSpindel ran out of charge but the Inkbird is accurate on temperatures.
May 17, 2025 at 12:18 PM
I brewed a Duvel clone & split it into 2 vessels, 1 as-is, 1 with Brett/mixed yeasts/bacteria.
A starter from 2 Duvel bottles certainly proved powerful. 😂🤦🏼♂️
It's ramping up from 21°C to 28°C over 11 days.
Unhelpfully, the iSpindel ran out of charge but the Inkbird is accurate on temperatures.
A starter from 2 Duvel bottles certainly proved powerful. 😂🤦🏼♂️
It's ramping up from 21°C to 28°C over 11 days.
Unhelpfully, the iSpindel ran out of charge but the Inkbird is accurate on temperatures.
A superb 1st edition 😁
I dug this out to calculate some hop substitutions, and remembered I'd first brewed with grains in 1993 😳
I dug this out to calculate some hop substitutions, and remembered I'd first brewed with grains in 1993 😳
May 4, 2025 at 10:12 PM
A superb 1st edition 😁
I dug this out to calculate some hop substitutions, and remembered I'd first brewed with grains in 1993 😳
I dug this out to calculate some hop substitutions, and remembered I'd first brewed with grains in 1993 😳
My wife is making Easter chocolate crispy cakes. I've included the results, which signify gratitude, satisfaction, and endorphins. Mmmmmmmmm ❤️
March 27, 2025 at 11:23 AM
My wife is making Easter chocolate crispy cakes. I've included the results, which signify gratitude, satisfaction, and endorphins. Mmmmmmmmm ❤️
Not my picture, but I'm still worried.
March 25, 2025 at 1:30 PM
Not my picture, but I'm still worried.
I'm fermenting a barley wine with kveik. Has anyone had experience of the yeast not starting? That's happened on two different types I've bought. I added a second type & it's halfway through, delayed by me breaking the heating controls 🤦🏼♂️. I've siphoned some off onto mixed sour dregs as a trial.
March 14, 2025 at 9:27 PM
I'm fermenting a barley wine with kveik. Has anyone had experience of the yeast not starting? That's happened on two different types I've bought. I added a second type & it's halfway through, delayed by me breaking the heating controls 🤦🏼♂️. I've siphoned some off onto mixed sour dregs as a trial.
I'm starting up a yeast farm for mixed cultures. I've never enjoyed research as much! So far, de Dolle, Old Goat, & Rodenbach into 1 jar, & I'll keep the bretts in another. What styles have you used mixed yeasts successfully, & which were, well, unadvisable?
February 24, 2025 at 8:56 PM
I'm starting up a yeast farm for mixed cultures. I've never enjoyed research as much! So far, de Dolle, Old Goat, & Rodenbach into 1 jar, & I'll keep the bretts in another. What styles have you used mixed yeasts successfully, & which were, well, unadvisable?
It's been a tough month for physical & mental health in the family, a horrible time & we're not through it all yet. However, there are some steps towards improvements, which is such a relief. Tonight is the start of some changes, & I celebrate with a recent birthday present of a stein.
January 31, 2025 at 7:29 PM
It's been a tough month for physical & mental health in the family, a horrible time & we're not through it all yet. However, there are some steps towards improvements, which is such a relief. Tonight is the start of some changes, & I celebrate with a recent birthday present of a stein.
Seems an idea to play this to soundtrack my day. I saw the film A Complete Unknown on Monday. Good film, Timothee played him well. An oft-grumpy individual mistreating people whilst breaking free of the limited expectations forced on him.
January 29, 2025 at 12:19 PM
Seems an idea to play this to soundtrack my day. I saw the film A Complete Unknown on Monday. Good film, Timothee played him well. An oft-grumpy individual mistreating people whilst breaking free of the limited expectations forced on him.
OK, I've got a little homework over the holidays. Put some time in to educate my palate with this order.
December 24, 2024 at 11:56 AM
OK, I've got a little homework over the holidays. Put some time in to educate my palate with this order.
Tonight's festive tipple is a Tripel from Kasteel. I couldn't remember trying this, and have a clone recipe for this. So, for research... 🎅🏻
December 8, 2024 at 9:50 PM
Tonight's festive tipple is a Tripel from Kasteel. I couldn't remember trying this, and have a clone recipe for this. So, for research... 🎅🏻
Don't often have sours, this is one of a pair, saved for 2 years so far, and if I can remember, I'll compare it to the other in a few years.
Tart (go figure), fruity, does not especially go well with mince pies' ultra sweetness. I like what Holy Goat do.
Tart (go figure), fruity, does not especially go well with mince pies' ultra sweetness. I like what Holy Goat do.
December 6, 2024 at 9:45 PM
Don't often have sours, this is one of a pair, saved for 2 years so far, and if I can remember, I'll compare it to the other in a few years.
Tart (go figure), fruity, does not especially go well with mince pies' ultra sweetness. I like what Holy Goat do.
Tart (go figure), fruity, does not especially go well with mince pies' ultra sweetness. I like what Holy Goat do.
I picked up a couple of cans from Horsforth's finest, Horsforth Brewery, and Tartarus. This is the kind of dog I like. Not lost, just an abstract concept of an animal I don't need to walk, but can drink instead.
December 5, 2024 at 10:26 PM
I picked up a couple of cans from Horsforth's finest, Horsforth Brewery, and Tartarus. This is the kind of dog I like. Not lost, just an abstract concept of an animal I don't need to walk, but can drink instead.
I'd forgotten about this one till a chat about sours at the homebrew club last week. I have some magnums of a spelt saison with a Blaugies yeast, and then with some wild yeast harvested off blackberries in the back yard.
October 27, 2024 at 8:38 PM
I'd forgotten about this one till a chat about sours at the homebrew club last week. I have some magnums of a spelt saison with a Blaugies yeast, and then with some wild yeast harvested off blackberries in the back yard.
This is a screenshot of my phone. Medieval and Early Medieval have appeared. Or I've just noticed them. How does that happen?
October 22, 2024 at 6:19 AM
This is a screenshot of my phone. Medieval and Early Medieval have appeared. Or I've just noticed them. How does that happen?
Hmm, it's a bit wet today. Our last day on holiday before heading home. It's been a great week, but it's always nice to not get trench foot.
September 27, 2024 at 8:57 AM
Hmm, it's a bit wet today. Our last day on holiday before heading home. It's been a great week, but it's always nice to not get trench foot.
It's effectively my last day as an MA student today. I've handed my books in & had 2 pints to commemorate in 2 bars I'd not made time to visit. It's been a challenging & great year, I've learned a lot, including about myself. I will miss the academic life, but work is due.
September 16, 2024 at 2:51 PM
It's effectively my last day as an MA student today. I've handed my books in & had 2 pints to commemorate in 2 bars I'd not made time to visit. It's been a challenging & great year, I've learned a lot, including about myself. I will miss the academic life, but work is due.