A Mid-life Journey

A few weekends ago I paddled down the Grand Union canal in a Canadian canoe garbed in a Native American headdress and war paint. This wasn’t on my agenda, it wasn’t something I expected to be doing in my middle-age but, then again, I hadn’t anticipated investing in a microbrewery.

The trip down the canal was to launch our new Totem AmericaPale Ale. We named the beer after Berkhamsted’s very own totem pole. This genuine totem pole, made by the Kwakiutl tribe from red cedar, can be found adjacent to the Grand Union Canal. We paddled to the totem pole and pulled up alongside to take a few photos; we didn’t have the courage to land or dance around the totem pole and we suspect it would have upset the elderly residents of Alsford Wharf (who now own the totem pole). 

The carvings on the totem pole represent four figures from North American First Nations legend. At the top sits Raven, the trickster and creator deity, who now adorns the new Totem pump clip. This is our fourth pump clip design and my favourite to date. The Raven on the top of the totem pole doesn’t have his wings out, but we wanted to show him in his full gory.

We continued on from Alsford Wharf to the Boat, where we shared samples of Totem to the regulars, the small crowd that had gathered to follow our journey and to the local press. Totem is an American style IPA which explodes with citrusy flavour and hop aromas, all perfectly balanced by a subtle malt character. This light, crisp, extra hoppy brew is full of character and hugely refreshing on a cold autumn morning in a canoe or anywhere any time of year.

So just a few weeks ago we did our “beer bucket” challenge. I wonder what else the brewery has in stall for me. Bring it on I say.