Category Archives: Published Articles

Wild Blackberry Wine

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Andy Hamilton

Many older foraging books, and my childhood memories of the 1980′s, insist that blackberries are an autumnal fruit rarely seen before the end of August. These days if you wait until autumn to pick blackberries you will be disappointed. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Booze for Free recipes, Drinking/home brewing, Guardian, Published Articles | Tagged , , , | 21 Comments

Andy Hamilton’s fireweed, bramble tip and Himalayan balsam wine

Posted on July 18, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

I love working with other home winemakers to come up with new wines and so would like to hear from you!  This month I have teamed up with Mike Griffiths from Nottinghamshire who has been making wine since before I … Continue reading →

Posted in Booze for Free recipes, Drinking/home brewing, foraging, Guardian, Published Articles, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Andy Hamiton’s delicious alcoholic elderflower champagne

Posted on June 26, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

The fizz that characterises elderflower champagne is a result of bottling before the fermentation process has finished, normally this process is started by capturing wild yeast. This can cause problems: namely, lack of alcohol, exploding bottles and disappointing results. By … Continue reading →

Posted in foraging, Guardian, Published Articles | Tagged , , , , | 18 Comments

How to brew by Booze for Free’s Andy Hamilton

Posted on April 25, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

I’m convinced that human civilisation was founded on beer and started when we first learned how to brew a beer. A far-fetched claim, perhaps, but there’s evidence to back it up. Around 16,000 years ago, our ancestors first started to … Continue reading →

Posted in Countryfile, Drinking/home brewing, Published Articles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

The Urban forager by Andy Hamilton

Posted on April 9, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

It often surprises people when they realise that urban environments can supply a more diverse range of foods than rural areas can. This mass delusion of the bio diverse countryside manifests itself when you see hoards of people flocking to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ethcial Living Magazine, foraging, Published Articles | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Andy Hamilton’s delicous knotweed vodka

Posted on April 1, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

At this time of year Japanese knotweed Fallopia japonica is growing very quickly – 20cm a day. The top 20cm is the most tender and flavoursome so it’s best to catch it early, before it gets woody. It can still … Continue reading →

Posted in Drinking/home brewing, Guardian, Published Articles | 3 Comments

Birch Sap Wine and how to tap a birch

Posted on March 17, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

One of the first signs that spring has sprung is when small, neatly wrapped parcels of leaves start to appear on the trees. These buds indicate not only the start of spring but that the sap is rising, and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Drinking/home brewing, foraging, Guardian, Published Articles | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Bristol Cathedral Garden

Posted on March 2, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

Of all the articles I wrote for the Bristol Magazine this was my favourite. It was just a lovely way to spend a bit of time, meeting Ali Tremlet and then being shown around the Cathedral Garden. The Bristol Cathedral … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol Magazine, Published Articles | Leave a comment

Independent Bristol

Posted on February 3, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

This is the second article in my on going series of articles I’ve previously published. Again this is from The Bristol Magazine and was first published in February 2010. Independent Bristol Go to almost any town or city centre in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol Magazine, Published Articles | Tagged | Leave a comment

Eating the Dead

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Andy Hamilton

Eating the Dead – Foraging Edinburghs Graveyards With its abundance of green spaces Edinburgh’s wild food larder is pretty impressive –  just a short and welcome step away from the heaving main streets, street performers and countless flyer off-loaders during … Continue reading →

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