Beer @ The Barn - The drinks you need to know about...

It's only a few weeks until Beer at the Barn kicks off at Woodend Barn and I don't know about you, but I'm very much looking forward to raising a glass to another year of awesome festivals in Aberdeen.

An avid lover of a good drinks selection, Beer at the Barn, which is organised my MFGF Events - the guys behind Banchory and Inverurie  - always boasts a pretty generous drinks offering. From Scottish beers, to English ciders, to everything in between, they cater for all tastes, and have even created their very own bespoke tonic with Summerhouse Drinks especially for the festival.

The event takes place over two days and runs from Friday 10 to Saturday 11 of February 2017. A scaled down version of the outdoor summer event, the indoor winter festival boasts three sessions with fantastic live music taking place throughout the sessions.

A Beer at the Barn first, this year will see the addition of prosecco to the drinks list which is a welcome addition for those who aren't the biggest beer fans I can imagine.

I've been lucky enough to get a sneaky peak into the drinks offering these guys will be serving up, and boy are you guys in for a treat...

All the beers (and ciders):
Local:

• Fierce Beer - if their Cranachan Killer is available, DEFINITELY try it out. Their newly launched Tropical Twist sour is also pretty bangin' too, but I'd highly recommend trying out these guys - love their pack-a-punch full of flavour brews!
• Six Degrees North - these guys do some pretty awesome Belgian beers, and they're from Stonehaven, what's not to love!?
• Deeside Brewery - handcrafted beer brewed in Royal Deeside.
• 7 Brewing - coming locally from Durris, these guys brew up small batch, traditional craft ales.

Not-so-local:

• Alchemy Brewing - an Edinburgh brewery turning grain into gold. I've heard their sour cherry black IPA is worth shouting about.
• Black Isle Brewery - all their beers are organic meaning they must be good for you, right? They'll also have a gluten free one for everyone to try too.
• Cromarty Brewery - highly recommend Rogue Wave and Happy Chappy 
• Top Out - a small independent Edinburgh based brewery brewing unconventional beers - sounds perfect for BATB.
• Beavertown - these guys have some pretty neat artwork on their cans - here's hoping they're beers are just as funky!
• Thistly Cross Cider - OH EM GEE, gimme all their ciders right here, right now...especially their strawberry and elderflower flavours!
• Pulp - an English cider company, I'm looking forward to trying their cider out - it's rhubarb flavoured!

All the gins:
Local:

• The Teasmith - an awesome new gin. If you're a fan of something a little different I'd definitely recommend this Aberdeenshire beauty.
• House of Elrick - this gin tastes delicious with a premium tonic and some orange peel and some zest on the rim of the glass. Might just have to go treat myself to one now...

Not-so-local:

• Steampunk - their pirate gin is rascal strength - now that could be dangerous!
• Whittakers - never tasted before, but the pink peppercorn botanical sounds delicious. May have to pair with some fresh strawberries and some cracked black pepper.

Rum:

Local rum distillers Dark Matter will be taking centre stage on all things rum. Delicious with ginger beer and a sprig of mint.

Prosecco:
A selection of prosecco will be available to try out.

Festival tonic:

The festival will also see a brand new tonic which has been specially created for the Beer at The Barn event. Partnering with soft drinks mastermind, Claire from Summerhouse Drinks, the team have created a Earl grey tea flavoured tonic. The tonic water is designed to go with all types of gins and is definitely worth checking out.

Tickets are now on sale here from £17.50.

Session times are below:
Session 1: Friday evening - 5.30pm - midnight
Session 2: Saturday afternoon - midday to 5.30pm
Session 3: Saturday evening - 6.30pm to midnight

For more information on the festival or future events, please visit their website here. And do let me know what drinks you're most looking forward to/try out at the festival once it's over!

  For Now...

Just Julia

Prosecco crips: The verdict

When someone mentioned to me that prosecco and crisps were a thing, it was certain I was going to try them out. So when I recently spied these fizzy finest crisps in my local Tesco, there was no going back....

To say I was left a little confused, but also very much satisfied at the same time, is slightly bewildering to myself, never mind confusing for you guys. However, the experience (which quite frankly I can't believe i'm saying this...) is something you that you simply must try for yourself.

What do they taste like?
Well...exactly what they state on the label I guess. Very fizzy to begin with, much like the sensation you would get when drinking prosecco, which I wasn't really expecting from the crisps in all honesty. Leading on from the bubbles, was a much sweeter, vibrant flavour, which  I presumed could only be the elderberry due to its sharp, yet fragrant flavour on my palette. However, it wasn't too soon until the familiar taste of potato filled my mouth, although, I guess that's what you would expect to taste when sampling any type of potato crisp, right guys?

What do they look like?
You're going to think this is the most ridiculous question ever, and I bet you were already thinking "A crisp, duh!" but you'd be left a little unsatisfied if I didn't show you what they looked like wouldn't you? True, they do look like regular crisps, varied in size, colour and flavour of course. The really dark one's are the one's which boast the most flavour, and if you enjoy the fizz, there's plenty of that too. These were my favourties by far, and luckily in my packet I managed to bag quite a few #winning.

What did I like most about them?
They're something different to the usual bog-standard flavours available on the market, and there's something a little exotic about them in that respect. Although they may have been brought to shelves around the UK throughout the festive period, there's something very refreshing about them and I could easily see myself enjoying a packet (well, sharing a packet) with friends at a picnic on a beautiful Spring afternoon. The flavour was obviously a winner in my opinion, and as much as I appreciated the fizziness on my tongue, the sweetness of the elderberry vs potato flavour won it for me.

Would I recommend them?
If you're into the weird and wonderful, or love a crisp glass of fizz (no pun intended), then you should definitely give these circular (well, when they can be), golden delights a try. They would be a fantastic addition to Christmas nibbles or any New Year's Eve party. However, I would advise giving your guests a heads up about the tangy initial burst of flavour, as they may not be best pleased with an unexpected fizzy surprise!

Where can you buy them?
If you fancy putting your culinary palette to the test then any local Tesco supermarket should have them, although, I have a sneaky suspicion the larger stores are more likely to have them in stock! Happy munching.

  For Now...

Just Julia

10 ways to put Christmas cheer into your prosecco

Twas a few days before Christmas, when up on the blog,

Came a feature so fizzy you'd possibly explode;

So read if you dare, the secrets I share,

What else can fare with Prosecco and glassware!?

Prossecco is one of my favourite tipples, that is, alongside gin, cocktails, and Champagne obviously. The way the bubbles tickle my tongue always makes me giddy, and the only time better to have bubbles (than all the time) is the festive period! I love to celebrate everything and anything with my family and friends, be that birthdays, promotions, new jobs, engagements, anniversaries, you name it. So, with that in mind, and with the month of festive celebrations already underway, it would have been rude not to have pulled together a number of 'quirky' prosecco tipples for y'all to indulge in over the festive period. It is Christmas after all! 

CHRISTMAS MORNING

For those who like to kick-start the festivities bright and early

1. Terry's Not-So-Chocolate Blood Orange:

Squeeze and strain the juice of a ripe blood orange and pour 50ml into a tall flute glass. Top up with ice-cold prosecco and garnish with a slice, or twist, of the orange. The perfect way to start off Christmas morning, especially when accompanied by eggs Benedict and smoked salmon, delicious!

2. Oh-So-Classy Buck's Fizz:

Pour 1/3 of fresh orange juice into a Champagne flute and top up with 2/3 prosecco. Add 1/2 teaspoon of grenadine and garnish with a twist of orange peel.

JUST FOR FUN

For those who love a little bit of Christmas quirk, and are avid Instagrammers #proseccoparty

3. Rocking Around the Christmas Tree

Fill a champagne flute with prosecco, and add a flavoured rock candy stick into the prosecco. The flavour is completely up to you, however, to create a variation of different tastes add two different flavours together and experiment with your tastebuds before, or even after Christmas dinner.

AFTERNOON/DINNER

For those who enjoy a spicing up the festive period

4. Spicy Santa-Tini:

To a glass of prosecco add 1 shot of chilli infused vodka and 1 shot of chocolate liqueur. Dust cocoa powder round the rim of the glass. Ho, Ho, Ho.

5. Cranberry and Pear Prosecco Cocktail:

Pour one or two shots of pear vodka (Absolute Vodka has a fantastic one), and top up with prosecco, garnishing with fresh cranberries. Decorate the rim of the champagne flute with sugar and cinnamon. (Put one tablespoon of sugar and a teaspoon of ground cinnamon, mix, and then dip the glass rim into the mix).

AFTER DINNER GAMES:

For those feeling a little adventurous...

6. Rudolph's alcoholic water bucket:

Every hard-working reindeer needs to replenish after a long night at work.

Slice lemons and limes and squeeze into a punch bowl, add 200ml of Edinburgh Gin's Raspberry Liqueur, and 100ml of Vodka alongside one cup full of raspberries (preferably frozen) to the punch bowl and top up with a bottle of prosecco. Top up with prosecco, raspberry liqueur and vodka as and when.

7. The Grinch:

Grab a champagne flute, add one shot of Midori and a dash of lemon juice, top up with prosecco - oh so sweet and not so sour, just like The Grinch (in the end that is!)

8. Jack Frost:

A glass of your finest prosecco with a shot of Blue Curacao (decorate by putting coconut shavings on the rim of the glass)

LATE, LATE EVENING

For the traditional Christmas lover;
someone who will usually be seem sporting a variety of Christmas jumpers throughout the day...

9. Mrs Clause Bakewell Fizz:

Place a tablespoon of Kirsch into the bottom of a champagne flute and top up with one part Amaretto Disaronno and three parts prosecco. To garnish, add a Kirsch-soaked cherry into the glass, the more the merrier!

10. Gingerbread Bellini:

Before you get started, get those mini gingerbread men at the ready!

Put 1 tablespoon of ginger cordial, or gingerbread syrup and a dash of lemon juice into a cold champagne flute. Add splash of hazelnut liqueur in and top up with prosecco, voilà!

Tip: If you want to keep those wee gingerbread men standing tall, roll up a tiny piece of icing sugar and place on the rim of the glass, it works a treat!

For Now...

Just Julia