The yeast was mugged by the wicked spoilage bacteria. Just when I had finally whittled my stash of 200-odd bottles down to the last half-dozen, through a rigorous program of after-work drinking. Now suddenly I'm going to run out of beer at Christmas. Funny how everything balances up.
I may even have to buy a six-pack or two to tide me over till the next brew comes to fruition. All that tax money going to the government, it's almost enough to put you off drinking.
Of course, I have already sterilised all the equipment and kicked off a new brew. You have to get straight back on the horse or lose your nerve. This batch should be ready just in time for New Year.
Meanwhile, the person who encouraged me to start drinking seriously this year has himself given up beer. I see his plan - drag me down to the gutter, then use me as a stepping stone on his way up. I'm always happy to help.
Thought for the day: "Omit needless words"
Vigorous writing is concise. A sentence should contain no unnecessary words, a paragraph no unnecessary sentences, for the same reason that a drawing should have no unnecessary lines and a machine no unnecessary parts.
--William Strunk, Jr., 1918
