Dr. Paracelsus' Bombastic Indigo Elixir

"Every little hair on my neck knows more than you and all your scribes."

After the huge success of KopiKat it's time to turn our attentions to a new project, this one is an idea we've had swimming around since October, another unique off-the-wall offering from our grey matter.

Here's the story. Dr. Paracelsus born Philippus Aureolus Theophrastus Bombastus von Hohenheim, 11 November or 17 December 1493 – 24 September 1541 was a German-Swiss Renaissance physician, botanist, alchemist, astrologer, and general occultist.

A man credited with much in his short life, he had an extremely self confident manner often labelled arrogant & verbose, a few of his quotes included:-

"It's the dose that makes the poison"

"Every little hair on my neck knows more than you and all your scribes."

Many books mentioning Paracelsus cite his often arrogant speaking style, which the following passage illustrates:

I am Theophrastus, and greater than those to whom you liken me; 

I am Theophrastus, and in addition I am monarcha medicorum and I can prove to you what you cannot prove...

I need not don a coat of mail or a buckler against you, for you are not learned or experienced enough to refute even a word of mine...

As for you, you can defend your kingdom with belly-crawling and flattery. How long do you think this will last?...

Let me tell you this: every little hair on my neck knows more than you and all your scribes, and my shoe buckles are more learned than your Galen and Avicenna, and my beard has more experience than all your high colleges.

In some schools of thought it is said the the word 'Bombastic' originated from his middle name 'Bombastus'. A word that would carry the facets of his character.

So how does this the relate to what we're going to brew?

Dr. Paracelsus' Bombastic Indigo Elixir.

Yep, I'm hoping it will be a mouthful in more ways than one.

To stay true to Paracelsus' character the beer with be outrageous with a raging personality with influences of alchemy & botany.

The beer will be 8% & will involve the following ingredients:-

-Special B Malt
-Blackberries
-Liquorice Root
-Black Cardamoms
-Turkish Pepper
-Bramling Cross Single Hop

Think a rich deep reddish ale , deep dark forest fruits, dark malts, liquorice, sweetness & fruity hops.

And just to make things interesting some of the brew is destined for a 1997 Bowmore Whisky cask for ageing.

We'll be bringing Paracelsus to life next month...

*Brilliant artwork above done by our brewery assistant, Tom.*