Last summer I suggested to Martin that we try making our own elderflower champagne, with a view to serving it at our upcoming wedding this May. So out we went & picked wild elderflower heads &, using an adaptation of Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s recipe, together we brewed up 15 litres or so of the stuff.
The bottles now lie stored in crates in a dark cupboard, & we sample one every few months or so to make sure it is conditioning well. (So far the results are impressive & we’re very much looking forward to serving them at our wedding!) However, little did I know that Martin would enjoy this little brewing experience so much that a whole new hobby would be born…
the label we designed for our wedding champagne
With the help of his friends Chris & Buzz, Martin has now brewed half a dozen or so different batches of beers in our kitchen, from pale ales to porters, & all under the label ‘Two Hounds Brewing Co’. (Can you guess which pair of hounds might have inspired the label?! ) My contribution: I help pick the names, design & stick on the labels, &, well, allow it all to happen in our kitchen!!
a selection Martin’s beers: Requiem Raspberry, Cincinatti Pale Ale, Grinch Robust Coffee Porter, Fidra Bavarian Weissbier, Sunnyside Pale Ale
Of course the beer is all either for personal consumption or has been gifted to friends & colleagues. Although I’m not a beer drinker myself, it always seems to be well received & a batch never lasts very long!
Cheers! Martin enjoys one of his beers in the custom made glass his brother gave him for Christmas
I have created a printing screen based upon the label design & used it to hand print some cotton bags. Filled with a few beers each, these made great little Christmas presents for our friends & family. & I have even had a few requests for some T-shirts printed with the same design!
combining our brewing & screenprinting skills to make Christmas presents!
Meanwhile, Martin’s brewing habit shows no signs of letting up & I believe the next scheduled brewing is to take place in our kitchen this Sunday… 
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Wow… it all LOOKS so professional ! Are you sure you guys are not starting a biz ? and when is this infamous wedding taking place ? lol
xo
Nicole
Hi Jane,
I came across your blog via the SGS forum (my husband and I are about to adopt Smidgen from RGT Edinburgh) and I just had to say I am majorly impressed by your creativity! We got married last summer and I did lots of fun DIY bits and pieces too (although nothing quite on this scale) and it was so much fun. My day job isn’t particularly creative, so it was lovely to have an excuse to let the imagination run wild.
Belated congratulations on your wedding, and thanks for being so supportive of our new doggie adventure!
Thanks Kirsty! Looking forward to reading all about Smidgen on the forum & your blog