Now I realise that posting pictures of any sort of beer might be seen as slightly provocative in the present climate.
But I just have to share this.
When the Threshers empire belly flopped, I had three of their Wine Rack branches within a five minute drive. They closed, festered and got festooned with Festival Fringe posters. Then some local franchise acquired them and, mindful of the fact that us Jocks have a severe thirst at most times, refurbished and re-opened them.
Fine wee wine shops with a strong line in discounted Chilean wine, particularly the ‘Casillero Del Diablo’ range which is not half bad. So, I was in one of said shops, picking up a few more bottles when I chanced upon the Holy Grail.
Major Wheeeeee!
Then I read the label at the back. I have, apparently, bought a beer which goes best with ‘herbed pork tenderloin, breast of duck with wild mushrooms or smoked chicken risotto’. What country do they think that I live in?
I think I’ll try it with a deep-fried haggis and chips tomorrow night. I’ll let you know how I get on.
Boadicea's Chariot 
What a find, John.
I don’t have a picture, but in the present climate, I think this is not a bad thing, but I’m reminded of a bottle of wine I procured, quite inexpensive I think, to celebrate one of Bilby’s visits back to the UK.
Kanga Rouge!
OK, I thought it would make her feel at home.
and what is wrong with beer, or ale? We have become a country of stupid snobs regarding beers and ciders. I went to a party last week and no beer, when I asked about beer they said it’s there and pointed to crates of awful yellow chemical muck called lager.
On a hot day people offer you the same muck, when a glass of cool (not cold) scrumpy cider is a lot more refreshing and does not make you want to drink more, as lager does because it dehydrates you.
Why not cider with pork, better than most wines. or strong ale with beef.
Wine is good but normally the cheaper ones are better with food, the richer ones by themselves as supping drink.
As for champagne great if you want wind, but absolutely no taste.
I would recommend washing down a deep-fried mars bar with that particular vintage, John
For goodness sake, JM, Scotland is quite capable of producing pork, duck and chicken. And I’m sure that all those pretentious wee delis they have in Edinburgh now can supply any herbs you need. As for the wild mushrooms … A French taxi-driver, on learning that I’m a Scot, told me about the marvellous mushrooms (chanterelles, if I remember correctly) he and his father had found near Edinburgh castle. They picked them and took them back to their self-catering flat too cook. Get busy – or buy a different beer!
Up this way we have the following in stock on the premises, for tippling visitors:
Schiehallion Pilsner, Sheepshaggers’ Delight, and Cairngorm Black Gold, which is Guinness-like in its intensity, they tell me, all from local micro-breweries.
I’m sure I saw a few of these bottles on the pitch at Easter Road on Sunday. Both teams should be banned from the League. You never get trouble like this in the Western side of this land.
RR, good evening.
That’s a fine rant you have there, but the clue’s in the name ‘Embra’ which, for the avoidance of doubt, is what attracted me to buy the bottle. The rest of my post is mere and airy persiflage.
I doubt if I’ll enjoy drinking it. I am a devotee of beers and/or ale but most Scottish beers are not bitter enough for me. I revel in my journeys to benighted Southron territory where I can,at least, rely on a decent pint – ‘Landlord’ is still my personal favourite.
I do think that you’re right about Champagne and that Cava is far more enjoyable.
We’ll have to disagree about wine or debate the matter further. The better the wine, the more it complements the appropriate foods, in my opinion.
Sheona, good evening.
With the utmost respect, I think that you have been too long gone from Caledonia (stern and wild). Do you really believe that I mean any word of this at any level of seriousness? It’s what we call joshing, for any favour.
In the real world, my pan-fried pork with sage, Black Forest ham and mozzarella was acclaimed as a triumph at our dinner party on Saturday. Personally, I was slightly disappointed by my accompanying roasted vegetables – a touch too much rosemary, in all honesty.
Hi, cwj
This micro-brewery thing is becoming a major force and more power to its elbow.
Coming up to Big Sis at Grantown for Christmas this year and I look forward to finding and sampling your local varietals.
The naming of beers reminds me of the naming of wines
Goats do Roam Fairview, South Africa
http://www.fairview.co.za/gallery/#
Aye right and touche, JW.
Good result though. What I could not understand was why the flares that our scum lobbed on to the pitch were green.
And we were wrong to trash the Hibee seats. Still think they were worse out of order than we were.
Send them further down the league tomorrow night. We’ll do our best to give you a bit of cushion by gubbing the ‘Tic. Not holding my breath but you never know.
Good evening John,
The crowd trouble took the shine off your fine win and some of the headlines away from the scum at the midden on Saturday. I was waiting on another post from you this year about their poppy protest. As you know I don’t call them by their name, watch them on the telly or read about them. Totally disgusted by their antics.
Dingus got gubbed again tonight. Surely curtains for him now. Another disgusting individual.
Hi Pseu.
Not done the Cape wine trail yet. First objective when I retire and am free to go down there in their summer and our winter.
And, if Soutie’s looking in, second objective is to seek out Jonathan Kaplan and to shout very loudly at him. Just watched his display in Leicester v Oz and he’s getting even worse.
He has to go and good riddance. This will be before your time, grasshopper, but one of the worst nights in my life was watching him score a goal against us at Parkheid. As I remember it, he fouled our entire team, two of the substitutes and a ball boy on his way. The referee blinked nary a blink.
In the second half, wee John Robertson waltzed past their entire defence and banged the ball into the back of the net to equalise. The referee disallowed the goal on the grounds that JR had not been joining in with the singing of ‘The Fields of Athenry’. Credit to the League. The ref was so bad and so biased that they dropped him and he never officiated again. The clue was in his name. Can’t remember it but it was something along the lines of Patrick O’Flaherty. Must google to see if the true story is out there somewhere.
Ara, apologies.
I missed your comment right at the start.
‘Kanga Rouge’ is a fine name.
But, what did it taste like and why am I thinking about sheep dip?
Sounds more like make-up for a Sheila, in my opinion.
Have any of you Scotch folk come across the Black Isle Brewery?
http://www.blackislebrewery.com/ Some wonderful beers to be had from there.
You are thinking along the right lines, John. The best thing about this cheeky little number was the label!
Looks like one of those beers you drink from the bottle. No that I ever do.
On recent state visite to the USA I have been struck by the vast choice of local beers available on tap and in bottles. When in Washington DC a few weeks ago I noticed one called Yuengling and asked the bar tender if there was much demand for Chinese beer. He gave me a strange look and then told me it was an American brew from America’s oldest brewery. I have to say I did enjoy it and it became my beer of choice in the short time I was there. I have not tried to get it back here in the UK but I will get round to tracking it down.
As for the Jocks, I never knew they drank any beer other than Mcewens, the one shown must be for those Scots with more sophisticated tastes, just like the English, pass the Stella….burp.
At home I always drink beer from the bottle – especially German pilsner. In the summer I add a slice of lime. It’s a garden thing.
Sipu,
Black Isle Brewery supplies the CWJ bar stocks for visiting imbibers.
Their Knicker Dropper Glory is up there with the best!
My wife and then young daughters visited their operation a few years ago one sunny morning before their breakfasts. The brewery equipment was being washed out, but it didn’t stop them being offered free beers. My wife was driving and one daughter didn’t like beer. The other had three bottles; I don’t know who she gets it from.
John
I hope you make Grantown for Christmas. The A9 was blocked with snow earlier this week, as was some of Aberdeenshire. We go to an annual lunch in Edinburgh on January 2nd every year, but it is always entirely dependent on the A9 being open.
Ah, but I was jesting too, JM. Husband is delighted to hear of someone else who appreciates Timothy Taylor. He was introduced to it just a year ago by eldest son in a quaint little pub just off Piccadilly, and totally out of character with its surroundings.