Colin the Caterpillar a Pastry Stout (Wee Beer Shop @WeeBeerShop) By @SpectreUK

So first I'll talk about Colin the Caterpillar, and the battle of Cuthbert. Cuthbert seems to be a lucky caterpillar, as Aldi created him in competition with the more expensive Marks and Spencer's version. There was a battle in the courts, a crazy ad campaign, and Cuthbert won through.

This beer could be a lucky or unlucky beer, as it may have been brewed with the remnants of Colins that couldn't make it out of the court room. This pastry stout is made with white and milk chocolate. Brewed by Brouwerij Kees in The Netherlands, at 12.4% in volume, this Colin the Caterpillar pastry stout should have an alcoholic kick like an angry bug who lost an ad campaign and a lengthy court battle. Produced with Best Pale Ale malt, as well as Haver, Crystal, Brown and Chocola, and with Sabro hops, this stout should be quite a sweet treat liquid pudding.

On opening this Colin the Caterpillar Pastry Stout there was an instant alcoholic, almost liquor aroma mixed with sweet creamy chocolate. On taste this jet black stout is one of the creamiest drinks I've ever tried, and then the booziness kicked in, which bowled me almost off my feet. I could sink quite a few of these stouts and sleep very well afterwards. Gorgeous sweet creamy chocolate malt to start with, almost chocolate cake like in succulence, but it's a boozy cake and with no mistake. Whoosh. That creamy chocolate booziness stayed smouldering on my palate for the rest of the mouthful and way into the aftertaste. Yummy pudding liquor stout. I want another. Hic.

Talking of lucky Cuthbert and lucky or unlucky animals. I am a Rabbit, the luckiest of the twelve animals of the Zodiac. This Year of the Rabbit starts on the 22nd of January 2023 and ends on the 9th of February 2024. This year should mean prosperity, longevity, and wisdom. Rabbits are supposed to be soft and tender, modest in attitude, merciful, elegant and beautiful, whilst trying to maintain pleasant relationships with those around them, avoiding irritation and conflict. People who know me may snort at that explanation and giggle, as much of the time I seem to be a particularly grouchy old rabbit that doesn't take any nonsense from anyone, but I have my good sides too, you just have to dig a little deeper at times.

Personally I'm hoping this will be a healing year. I have spent years working hard on my fitness, whilst losing weight, and healing my injuries to the best of my abilities and with a constant maintainable routine, at the same time I've concentrated on healing my mind from the various stresses and strains I've been through in the past. Just like everyone else, as we grow older, we gain more and more scars. Sometimes we don't have time to concentrate on healing those scars with our busy day to day, but it is so important for our wellbeing to do so.

This year, I am hoping to concentrate on healing my heart. Current relationships aside, my heart has taken such a terrible beating over the years. This Year of the Rabbit is the perfect year to try to sit back and not be so hard on myself all the time. Yes, I will work, and I will fit in my daily chores and continue my exercise routine, but now is the year to fully heal the rest of my wounds. I would recommend those of you that can, and realise that you need to do so, don't be so hard on yourselves, be good to yourselves, as we all deserve to shine.

Have a happy New Year, wherever you may be.