North Hop Edinburgh: 10 things you don't want to miss

Anyone who knows me will understand what this festival means to me personally. After being involved for over a year, producing all of the PR articles myself, its been one heck of a journey in seeing how the festival has organically grown. With over 30 exhibitors now participating in each festival, and a number of sell-outs under its belt, North Hop is the place to be.

Taking to the road this year, the indoor craft beer festival plans to hit-up Edinburgh (5 March), Aberdeen (29 April - 30 May, Glasgow (18 - 19 June), and an unknown location in the Highlands (date tbc).

As I look to the first of many festivals this year, I'm sharing my top ten exhibitor's you'll want to ensure you pay a visit to at #northhopedi.

1. Edinburgh Beer Factory

Launched at the latter end of last year, this brewery has impressed me since the day it opened. A definite 'one to watch' in the brewing industry. I'll be sure to try out the Palozzi lager they will have on cask. At 5.2% the Munich style lager boasts Edinburgh flair and is guaranteed to tantalise the tastebuds, especially if you enjoy a malty aroma! 

Photos sourced from Edinburgh Beer Factory 

2. Roots Soda Co
Think back to your childhood when lemonade was made with real lemon juice, or when your mum squeezed fresh orange juice first thing in the morning, that's the feeling Roots Soda Co wants you to give you when you drink any of their soft drinks. A whirlwind of childhood memories infused with high quality ingredients creating the pinnacle of soft drinks, which any designated driver or non-drinker should indulge in.

Photos sourced from Roots Soda Co.

3. Drygate Brewing Co 

Since participating in a private tour with my boyfriend last year at Drygate, this brewery has held a special place close to my heart after finding out all their dirty little secrets, and when I say dirty little secrets I mean new beers they are working on. (Don't worry your secrets are safe with me!). A fan of the Outaspace Apple Ale, Drygate's beers are definitely for those festivalgoers looking for something a little more experimental...

Expect to find Drygate Pils 4.0%, Ax Man Rye IPA 5.0%, Barrel-Aged 5.3% Outaspace Apple Ale with Winter Spices, Disco Forklift Truck 5.1%, and Forelsket Session IPA 4.0% all on keg at the festival.

Photos sourced from Drygate

4. Reekie's Smokehouse

A well-known lover of BBQ sauce, this is one festival exhibitor I am very much looking forward to indulging in. With two authentic American built BBQ smokers, homemade sauces, and the majority of their ingredients and produce being sourced locally what's not to love!? 

Come fill yer face and indulge in some seriously pulled pork.

Photos sourced from Reekie's Smokehouse

5. The Marshmallow Lady

Established in 2010, the award-winning company is one which I have been desperate to visit. With flavours including key lime pie with a biscuit base, prosecco and rose petals, maple bacon and raspberry, and gin and tonic with a slice of lime marshmallows, these wee works of art will be one of the first things I hunt down at North Hop.

Already well-established, these sweet treats will definitely be a hit.

6. 10 Dollar Shake

Festival residents since the very first North Hop festival back in 2014, the team at 10 Dollar Shake  will be providing high quality, creative tipples for all you lovely people to get your lips around. The Aberdeen-based mixologists have teamed up with family-owned distiller William Grant & Sons, and will be serving up a wide range of cocktails and signature serves in the cocktail lounge.

You can expect them to be serving spirits including, Hendricks Gin, Monkey Shoulder, Sailor Jerry, Balvenie Single Malt and Reyka Vodka.

Photos sourced from 10 Dollar Shake

7. Dunnet Bay Distillers

Masterminds of one of Scotland's finest gins, Rock Rose Gin, you will find these guys serving up plenty of Rock Rose in the cocktail lounge, mixing up delightful creations using their hand-crafted spirits, all the way from the very North of Scotland.

Catch Brand Ambassador, Jody Buchan, in the cocktail lounge, recommending the perfect serves for Rock Rose and on hand to answer all of your Rock Rose queries.

Photo sourced from Rock Rose Gin

8. El Cartel Casera Mexicana

Gracing the festival for the first time, El Cartel will be serving up some seasonal Mexican cuisine. These tremendous taco rascals will be teasing festivalgoers with their Mexican flavours whilst serving up some frozen margaritas to cool those tastebuds down. Catch them in the Beer Hall.

Photos sourced from El Cartel

9. Poporopo
If I urge you to do one thing and one thing only, then you must try every single flavour possible. This gourmet popcorn is handmade and comes in four core flavours, with a few extras just for fun. A must try is definitely the peanut butter one, oh, and the Sea salt one too. There's never been a snack so satisfying...

Photo sourced from Poporopo

10. Solid Liquids - The Rum Surgery and Juniper Pop-Up Gin Stop

The crafty team behind Solid Liquids will be serving up all sorts behind the bar over the festival period. These gin geniuses will be using 12 Scottish gins in their lovingly made cocktails, and will also be serving up some serious rum tipples. Expect to see Chairman’s Reserve Gold Rum, Spiced Rum, White Rum, and Forgotten Casks, all served neat, with a premium mixer or as a cocktail.

Why not put the guys to the test and let them choose the tipple for you!

Photos sourced from Solid Liquids

With over 30 different exhibitors it was really hard to pick a top ten, and I am very much looking forward to visiting every single one of them! For the full list of exhibitors and for tickets to the event follow the North Hop website link: http://northhop.co.uk/festivals/edinburgh

I would also advise checking out Tipple Box, a trendy company which allows you to create bespoke cocktails right in the comfort of your own home with some of the countries leading artisan brands. There will also be a photo cube with props to get your #northhopselfie on and guest artists working throughout the festival. Stewart Brewing has created a unique festival brew and Electric Spirit Co will be creating a festival gin so make sure you get your hands on that too!

  For Now...

Just Julia

Go Ape review: Monkeying around

Monkeying around is what I do best, so when I was invited to swing around in the trees last week at Go Ape Crathes Castle, there was no chance I was saying no...

I've got a confession, I'm scared of heights. There is nothing more daunting than that awful feeling in your stomach when you look down from a great height - it makes me queasy just thinking about it. Climbing ladders or being off the ground at high levels is not my cup of tea, so thankfully I had previously visited Go Ape just over a year ago with my boyfriend and knew exactly what to expect.

Go Ape is the UK's number one forest adventure, which put participants through a test of challenging, but extremely fun activities, showcasing the countryside in a completely new light. With rope bridges, Tarzan swings, zip wires and a number of other tree-top obstacles, this is one activity all ages and fitness capabilities can enjoy. With a variation of hard and easy pathways to follow in the trees, and an instructor always on hand to give you guidance and support when needed, everyone can feel at ease climbing around in the trees.

Taking about two to three hours the Tree Top Adventure is not something you want to rush through. The longer it takes the more fun it is! As always, a safety induction is very important and its vital you listen up at this point, you'll be reminded that this is a high risk activity and with primarily yourself being the only person responsible for your safety, I advise you listen up.

Arriving ten minutes before our slot we were introduced to a number of the staff, including the cutest member, Fergus, a beautiful border collie. Prepped in our safety induction by the talented and enthusiastic, Matt, we set off to course one, the trial run.

I was well aware what I was getting myself into so obviously killed it on the trial run (this is basically when they advise if you're going to keep yourself safe or not - nine times out of 10 everyone passes this stage) but it was good to be reminded about the different rules and regulations you need to abide by when out on the course.

Once everyone had completed stage one, a mini version of what's to come, we were let loose in the forest to monkey around in the treetops. Met by a long, slightly wobbly wooden rope ladder at the start of every stage in the course, stage two pretty much forces you to jump straight into the swing of things, which is probably for the best. With a Tarzan Jump, a number of rope bridges, and a zip line all in the space of one stage, it's every man for himself up in the trees.

Of the 29 Go Ape adventures set in some of Britain's most popular forests, three are based in Scotland. Crathes Castle, Aberdeenshire, Glentress Forest, Peebles and Aberfoyle, Stirlingshire - this is where you come face-to-face with two of Britain's longest zip wires, both stretching over 400m long, flying you 150 feet above the ground and over a 90 foot waterfall - sound daunting!? Every Go Ape Adventure across the region is a little different to the last, so it means you can go to every course and still find it completely individual which is great.

My favourite part of the course has to be the zip wires. Last time we participated in Go Ape I managed to land forward every single time. However, the same cannot be said for this time round...

Onto stage three which consists of a lot of tree top obstacles, panel crossings, rope bridges which is great for your core, and a great deal of balancing work - this section really works those abs. Of course zooming down the zip wire I was ever so graceful, to only end up landing right on my backside. Classy.

At stage four I came face-to-face with my arch nemesis of the course, the skateboard zip wire. After a prior incident last time, which resulted in me 'falling off' the skate board seconds after stepping on the last time I was at Go Ape, I was determined not to fall off this time. However, after battling a tough rope wall, as well as some insanely difficult rope hoops and other ridiculous obstacles, to say I was broken before the skateboard zip wire was an understatement. 

Not the greatest of skateboarders it was no surprise that I fell off within a few seconds again - pathetic I know...

With the final stage now in my grasp I was ready to face the biggest Tarzan jump, and the longest zip wire of the course, which is 125m long. Physical challenges always look easier when someone else is doing it, and it's not until you're faced with a pretty big jump into a cargo net that you start to feel a little uneasy - even if you're not scared of heights it's ok to feel a little apprehensive at this point! Determined not to make a fool of myself I lunged forward (after checking I was attached securely to the safety catch numerous times) and hit the net full force. Victory was mine and I even managed to let out a Tarzan call, well sort of...

As the course was coming to an end, I was delighted to finish on a high and go out with a bang on the longest zip line of the course, travelling over one of the roads of the Crathes Castle estate. The estate itself is stunning, and the castle views are breathtakingly beautiful. A scenic home for Go Ape indeed with a fantastic forest to walk around after.

Anyway, back to the zip line, and what a heck of a ride it was. If you fancy experiencing it with me, then you need to check out my video of Go Ape at the bottom of the post!

Alas, the fun morning was brought to an end and after a few hours of action-packed fun exercise, it was time to hang up my safety harness and go roam around the castle. If you're looking for something a little different, Go Ape is definitely the place for you...a stone's throw away from Aberdeen, you'd be crazy not to give it a go.

If you'd like more information on Go Ape Crathes Castle then Click here. Thanks again to Lesley from The Big Partnership (BIG) for inviting me along to put my upper arm strength to the test. The gloves were definitely needed and a great suggestion!

  For now...

Just Julia