Hello everyone, it’s great to be back with a little update.
As I write this, it’s the 1st of September and I’ve officially gone 30 days without a beer. It almost sounds like a confession, doesn’t it? Those of you who follow my YouTube channel will already know why, but for anyone just dropping in: my blood pressure had been creeping up, and the doctors gave me two options, increase the medication or make some lifestyle changes.
I chose the lifestyle change. On August 2nd, after a farewell of four pints and a curry, I decided it was time to take this seriously. The last time I tried to step away from beer, I only managed 20 days before my body gave up and I ended up back at the doctor’s. But this time feels different. This time, I’m doing it for my loved ones and for myself.
The first week wasn’t too tough, as I was away driving most of the time. But when the weekend rolled around, it was harder. Football was back on, friends were enjoying themselves, and temptation was everywhere. Being born under the sign of Taurus, I dug my heels in and kept myself busy. One of my bright ideas was to tidy the brew shed, but walking in and being hit by that familiar brewery smell was rough! Still, I pushed through, got things organised, and carried on.
I’ve been lucky to have support, too. A brewing friend reached out with encouragement, which gave me extra determination. Over the past four weeks, I’ve kept a strict routine with food and drink, and I can honestly say I’m feeling much better for it. So far, I’ve lost 27 pounds and my blood pressure has come down. I’ve got another two weeks before my next check up, and I’m aiming to break the two-stone mark. I still need to add more exercise into the mix, but even walking more regularly will be a good start.
On a lighter note, the brewery was calling my name last weekend. With a three day weekend, the “Crewewolf” inside me wanted to brew. The big question was, could I do it without giving in to a pint while the mash was on? The answer was yes! I brewed a british golden ale I’ve named KNASH, around 5% ABV, with Azacca, Nectaron, Superdelic, and Krush hops. It went smoothly, I stayed busy, and not once did I feel tempted to pour myself a drink. I even set up a new piece of kit during the session, which you can see in the photo above.
Looking ahead, once these six weeks are up and the doctors are happy, I won’t be rushing back to old habits. My plan is to be careful and intentional perhaps brewing once a month, focusing on well planned, thoughtful beers rather than brewing for the sake of it.
For now, it’s good to be back, at least in part. Thanks for reading and a special thanks to my friend Dylan for the encouragement.
I’m off for a black coffee and some Greek yoghurt. Cheers!
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