Brewery tours are go at Inveralmond Howff!

Tours have been running hot at the brewery here and top of the bill on the tasting charts is the lovely Duncan's IPA with its charming aroma from Czech Saaz and East Kent Goldings hops following up with a full malty palate and ending up with a lingering dry bitter finish. Yum yum.

On Friday we had a fine group from the Central Bar in St. Andrews gracing our wee howff - their pub was having a refurbishment so they came through to see how we make beer here and go through a tutored tasting. Here they are enjoying the atmosphere -

On Saturday we were host to a great group from the State Bar in Glasgow. Next time you are in this neck of the woods, do drop in and see Jason and his mum. They run a great old-fashioned pub which is a joy to be in. On Holland Street just near the Kings behind all the Sauchiehall Street madness.

Finally our triptych of tours ended on Tuesday with visit from the Milnathort Round Table with their super motto - Adopt, Adapt and Improve. We've taken this to our hearts and are looking forward to welcoming more to the howff (our adopted nickname for the brewery tap) to show off our scrumptious brews.

Slàinte, Ken

Christmas time approaches and the shop is open!

Only two days to Christmas, but the shop is open and we're getting better at using the card machine with all the good folk popping in for minikegs of Santa's Swallie for the Festive Season.

We're open for off-sales tomorrow 10-4pm and even on Christmas Eve itself (Saturday 24th) with yours truly between 12 - 3pm. On Saturday I'll be doing tastings in the shop, perhaps with my puppet alter ego (thanks Johny & Sìma from Liberec in Bohemia who carved and clothed me). As you can see I am quite partial to a fine glass of Ossian...

Look forward to seeing you.

Have a good Christmas and be good to your beer!

Slàinte, Nollaig Chridheil is Bliadhna Mhath Ùr!

Ken

International Organoleptic Evaluation in Inveralmond Brewery Tasting Suite

Had a few brewing friends staying over from Czech Republic at the end of October and to celebrate Czech National Day on 28 October we had a wee tasting, or organoleptic evaluation as we brewers like to call it, in the brewery bar and tasting suite. Above left is Ales Dvorak, technical brewer at Budvar Budweiser, pulling a pint of Ossian for Oudak, former Chief Test Pilot for Czech Air Force. It was also my birthday, so we tasted everything from Santa's Swallie to Pundie...

We did manage to get out and about to other places of refreshment - here is the gang in the Ericht Alehouse, a fine estaminet in the heart of Blairgowrie. Landlord Kenny Fraser gave us a grand tour of his cellar with quite a technical discussion following on the topic of the Scottish style of vertical extraction from an upright cask, as opposed to the English fashion from a tap in a cask on its belly. Beside the inglenook we were entertained by the most excellent Laurence Blair Oliphant (in kilt) who had showed us around his fine sixteenth century home with its wonderful Jacobite relics. In the middle is our good friend Honza Suran, from Pivovarsky Dum in Prague, trying our Sunburst Pilsner, fermented with his yeast!

Later on back at HQ, after the sampling and evaluations had continued for a wee while, MD Fergus took a video of the 'Massed Pipes and Drums of the Inveralmond Brewery' playing at the party - ok, yes it was more than a mere tasting, it was a hoolie and a half! Here's the video .

Just to show that organoleptic evaluation is truly international and full of cultural exchange, here's a few shots from the Budvar Budweiser brewery:

Slàinte and Na Zdràvi! Ken

Brewery Bar Open!

Great News - the bar at the brewery was officially opened last week. The happy crew pictured are toasting the first evening of tasting, sampling and supping. Pundie was the beer of choice, as it's our special brew for October and November. A fine malty dark amber ale of 1049 OG and 5 % abv. Pleasing to the eye, sensational on the palate, it went down exceedingly well in the bar.

Slàinte, Ken