Although
the alcoholic drink most associated with Scotland is Whisky, there is a
long tradition of brewing in our country. In days langsyne it was safer
to drink ale rather the water! Home brewing, as with distilling, started
off as a homely necessity, with commercialism and government legislation
following. We can now once again make beer and wine at home but whisky
is still off-limits!
Scotland
at one time was home to some of the biggest names in brewing but
nowadays small, real ale producers rule the scene. The introduction of
keg beer in the 60s almost saw the death of real ale – Scotland, in
particular was a desert as far as ‘living’ beer was concerned. Now the
wheel has turned full circle and real ale is on tap all over Scotland.
The expansion of small breweries has also been dramatic over the past
few years – stretching from the Valhalla Brewery, Unst, in Shetland down
to the Peelwall Brewery, Ayton, in the Borders and from Fowler’s Ales,
Prestongrange, in the east to the Cuillin Brewery, Sligachan, Isle of
Skye, in the west, you will find a flourishing brewery in maist
airts.The great advantage of real ales is that there really is something
to suit all palates.
Much of
this has come about because of the activity of the Campaign for Real Ale
(CAMRA) who are the organisers of the 4th Scottish
Traditional Beer Festival in the Assembly Rooms, George Street,
Edinburgh, next week. Running from Thursday 8 June to Saturday 10 June
2007, the Festival will feature approximately 120 beers from more than
30 Scottish brewers, on sale all under the one roof. This would have
been impossible only a few years ago. Now Ken Davis, CAMRA’s Scottish
Director can proudly claim that “The festival is a unique event on the
calendar which offers more choice of superb real ales under one roof
than anywhere else in Scotland. The prestigious Champion Beer of
Scotland competition will be judged on Thursday and no doubt Cairngorm
Brewery in Inverness-shire will be looking for a hat trick before the
World Cup after winning in 2004 and 2005.” The festival is open to the
public on Thursday from 4-11pm, Friday and Saturday from noon-11pm,
Admission including souvenir glass and programme is £4, Friday and
Saturday after 6pm £5 ( Camra members £3 and £4).
Cairngorm
Brewery is a splendid example of the rise of real ale brewers in
Scotland. Founded in Aviemore in 2001 they have proved to be a great
success – eighteen different beers have been brewed to date, of which
seven are available throughout the year. In 2004 their smashing Trade
Winds 4.3% ABV won the Champion Beer of Scotland. It was runner-up in
2005 to its stable-mate Black Gold 4.4% ABV bore the gree again for the
Aviemore brewer. Visit
www.cairngormbrewery.com to find out more about and how to visit the
‘champion’ brewery
This
week’s recipe is beer-based in honour of the Scottish Champions and
their Highland home of Aviemore – Highland Ginger Cake. It is a
delicious cake worthy of any champion.
Highland Ginger Cake
Ingredients: 8 oz (225 g) butter; 4 oz (100 g) caster sugar; ¼ lb
(225 g) black treacle; 2 eggs; ¼ pint (150 ml) sweet stout; 1 lb (450 g)
plain flour; 1 teaspoon ground ginger; 1 teaspoon mixed spices; 4 oz
(100 g) mixed fruit; 4 oz (100 g) mixed peel; 1 teaspoon baking soda
Method:
In a bowl cream the butter and sugar. Add the treacle and eggs and mix
in gradually the flour, ginger. spices, fruit and peel. Dissolve the
baking soda in the beer and stir it into the cake mixture. Place the
mixture in a well-greased baking tin and bake for 2 ½ hours in an oven
preheated to 160 °C, 325 °F, or Gas Mark 3.
