IPA LOT 71- The Captains Tale

Here lies the legend of Captain Swurve.......

This tale begins in the late 1700's regarding the legend that is "Captain Swurve". This self proclaimed title was due to his world renowned ability to maneuver his ship with startling agility and guile. A hedonistic rascal of the high seas, he was contracted to the East India Company to ship fine pale ales to Calcutta. Setting sail from Moonfleet in his beloved Dorset, keeping the "land to the left" he would arrive in the east end of London to collect his load. The good captain strongly believed a happy ship is a safe ship and to this end he negotiated a deal for every 70 barrels loaded onto his vessel there shall be one for the crew, Hence LOT 71 came to fruition. The good captain paid special interest to the quality of the beers, as the years came to pass he became quite an expert on the noble art of secondary fermentation, as the beers would be "quality controlled" all along this perilous journey. Such was "Swurves" reputation as a crafty sailor and keeper of fine ales, he bacame associated with fellow gentlemen of the seas, preferring not to fly the skull and crossbones unless it was at the Portuguese or Dutch, he didn't care much for the title "Pirate" as this would invalidate his contract with "The company" but rest assured he was not a man to be trifled with, his cannons had the biggest balls and he wasn't shy of showing them. He chose not to have the de rigueur figurehead of a busty maiden, instead he chose the Cerne Abbas Giant with oversized phallus, depending where he would recount the tale, "it was made of the hardest iron and could crack an iceberg in half"

Legend has it that after a rather tiresome battle with some irritating French chaps that had dragged on for far too long and was going to make lunch rediculously late Swurve decided against the usual twists and turns and swashbucling swordfights and opted for the old favourite of ramming the belly of Jonny Forigners vessel thus sinking it in an instant, as the minutes ticked by half full barrels of brandy started popping up all around, after these were fished out by the men and drunk enthusiastically. Swurve decided to conduct a few experiments of his own. Not a man to be idle and having the eyes of a dreamer and the heart of an artist, he transferred some beer to the empty brandy cask and set it down for a few months to mature. This test was declared inconclusive and in later life he preferred the darkest of ales to be infused in a whole array of casks previously used for Whiskey, Rum, Brandy and the like. As life has a habit of immitating art, your good friends at Piddle Brewery have brewed a very special IPA to commemorate the bravery and admirably elegant style of this legend from days gone by. Some say he is laid to rest at St. Andrews churchyard on the East cliffs of Portland, but we may never know... So raise a glass to Captain Swurve, and enjoy this original 7.1% Proper IPA, Rest assured it's strong, heavily hopped and very tasty, Just as "The Captain" loved it...

Cheers Me Hearties, and Happy Piddling from Vic the Brewer p.s dark ale.. matured in oak whiskey, port, sherry, rum and brandy barrels....is there something secret going on under the stairs of the brewery?? shhhh you might wake them x