Watch out for ladies throwing shoes and apple peel!

May I wish all Scottish people a very happy St Andrew's Day.

St. Andrew's Day is connected with Advent, which begins on the nearest Sunday to 30 November.

St. Andrew's Day marks the opening of Christmas Markets.

Many Midwinter customs and folk superstitions are also connected to St. Andrew's day. Around midnight on Nov. 29, the day before St Andrew's Day, it was traditional for girls to pray to St. Andrew for a husband. They would make a wish and look for a sign that they had been heard.

A girl wishing to marry could:

Throw a shoe at a door. If the toe of the shoe pointed in the direction of the exit, then she would marry and leave her parents' house within a year.
Or she could peel a whole apple without breaking the peel and throw the peel over the shoulder. If the peel formed a letter of the alphabet, then this suggested the name of her future groom.

Now Bacardi Breezers tend to form part of the ritual somewhere along the way.

New chums

I was speaking to my new chums at Coe Vintners today. They have a superb range of spirits which are creating quite a stir in the more cosmopolitan parts of our great nation. Now I wouldn't call myself cosmopolitan as such, but I know I like the good things in life and from what my chum John said they have some of the best. Aged Caribbean rum, small batch distilled gin, quality liqueurs.... could be interesting for a beer man like what I am.

Bad day

Bad day today. Lots of people either not doing what they said they would do or doing what they said they would do badly. That and the price of hops has gone up by over 250%! Malted barley prices are going through the roof too!

No more to say really. Roll on tomorrow.

Last despatch day before Christmas is.... Wednesday 19 December

The Christmas rush is starting. It is just a trickle at the moment, but it is like listening for the hooves of a distant herd of wildebeest stampeding... you know it is coming, but you are not sure when.

It is great fun, though. The anticipation. What isn't so good is having to let people down because they have missed the last despatch date before Christmas. So please make a note: the last despatch date before Christmas is WEDNESDAY 19 DECEMBER. Orders must be in by 10am on that day.

Waste of time!

A report was published today. It stated that the average British man spends one day (24 hours) a year queueing at the bar. Two hours a month! Given the number of times Mrs Cellarman lets me out, every time I try and buy a pint I reckon I could be waiting about six hours!

Don't you just love statistics. Who gets paid to enrichen our lives with such nuggets of information?

Christmas logistics.... Jesus It's There!

Given the fact we rely on a courier rather than elves to deliver our beer at Christmas, my mind is wandering towards latest despatch days over the festive period (Wednesday 19 December, by the way). Anyhow, my mind wandered so far it ended up in Cork at the Beamish & Crawford Brewery.

I once took a group of Swedish people to Beamish, and very impressed they were with the brewery, its beer and its heritage. They were particularly impressed by the Transport Manager (or whatever his title was) who informed the guests that 'At Beamish & Crawford we practice JIT deliveries'. Impressive. Then the chap went on '.... but here it stands for Jesus, It's There rather than Just In Time!'. Less impressive (and untrue) but much funnier.

Uisge beatha!

No, I have not taken leave of my senses. My chum Alex called today and we were chatting through the similarities of purveying fine craft beer and fine malt whisky. Alex is ex-Glenmorangie (amongst other things) and is now the proprietor of Spencerfield Spirit. Their spectacular malt is called Sheep Dip and their blend (an 8yo I think) is called Pig's Nose. You never know, we might try and co-operate a wee bit in the future. A fine union could emerge.... the finest craft beer in the country chased by a dram or two of some superb whisky. Maybe Alex and I could experiment with which beer marries well with which whisky. Any volunteers to help?

Scary porter!

I am pleased to let you know that Black Boar Porter will soon be available. But be warned... the label is scary! Thankfully, the liquid is wonderful. Brewed by Simon Lacey at Country Life, the porter is complex yet easy drinking and is a great introduction to porter. Simon reckons it is similar to the famous porters of California and Oregon. Try for yourself... just watch you are not bitten!!

Carlsberg accused of climbing in the toilet window!

John Dunsmore, the new Chief Executive of Scottish & Newcastle, has certainly been dreaming up some interesting things to say to the press during his 20 days in charge. He said of Carlsberg "instead of coming through the front door and bidding for BBH, they have crawled through the toilet window" and of the offer put in by Carlsberg/Heineken "my mother is putting a bid together at that level". Colourful language. Then the killer line... more S&N staff are to be 'consulted' as part of the 'outsourcing' of 3m hectolitres of brewing to Coors. Now who isn't using the front door?

Is there not enough flavour in the real world?

"Herb and fruit infused beers are set to become a major growth category for brewers facing dwindling sales of ale". So said the article in beveragedaily.com today. Funnily enough the headline came from a report by a 'manufacturer of a new range of natural flavours'.

Beer has always looked to the natural world for inspiration for flavour. Whilst the overwhelming majority of beers use only malt, water, yeast and hops, there are many example of superb fruit lambic beers, beers with heather, beers with seaweed, beers with ginger, etc., etc,. The use of these 'adjuncts' is fine; the use of chemically manufactured 'flavours' is less conducive to the natural and real product we all seek.

Another independent brewer gobbled up

News today that SAB MIller of South Africa has bought, or at least will buy, the Dutch brewer Grolsch. This is another step in the global consolidation in brewing. SAB Miller are also rumoured to be interested in Scottish & Newcastle, although the Grolsch buy may quieten those rumours. And anyway, surely Carlsberg will do anything to get a hold of S&N's Russian interests (BBH) because, without that share, Carlsberg's growth options look very limited. S&N still look, therefore, more likely to be broken up than to be bought as a whole lot!

Fitba' crazy, fitba' mad

I thought the football results yesterday were amazing. Scotland plucky, England lucky... maybe. Hard lines Scotland and bon chance England. Plaudits also to Northern Ireland who are really coming to the top of the milk.

I write this as someone who does not know about football. But it is not an attempt to be populist. Beer and football are inexorably linked, and have been since the game was invented. What is it they say? Eat football, sleep football, drink beer! Look at all the beers who have (and still do) sponsor major clubs... Carlsberg, Coors, Chang, McEwan's Lager, Holsten Pils, Newcastle Brown Ale... they have all had a go. Does it work? Who knows. What is a bit more concerning is young boys and girls wandering round streets and parks with alcohol brands emblazoned across their replica shirts. Something just doesn't sit right with that.

Beer at the gym

I have been asked to do some sampling (and selling) at a Christmas Market at the David Lloyd Centre in Edinburgh on 7/8 December. Should be fun. As many of you will doubtless know, David Lloyd Centres are gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, et al... basically good wholesome places. I will hopefully prove that good wholesome places are full of good wholesome people who still enjoy a little bit of what they fancy.... top quality craft beer!

Do not go gentle into that good night (Dylan Thomas)

To begin at the beginning (Under Milkwood), we have a new beer on the site. It is from Stephen Smith and his chums at Ffos Y Ffin Brewery in Carmarthen. It is a superb best bitter called Dylan's Choice. Now, Dylan Thomas, who lived close to the brewery, was known to like a drop or two, and this wonderfully hopped beer would have been surely would have been a favourite of his had it been around then. This is your chance to get poetic!

We Three Kings (or three wee kings)!

I've decided to introduce a Three Kings range for Christmas. This will involve the output of three wise men: one from Perth, one from Oxfordshire and one from Carmarthen. It was going to be called a Triple Crown, but I'll probable save that for before the start of The Six (soon to be Seven?) Nations! I didn't say copywriting was my forte. Anyway, three great beers from England, Scotland and Wales... one even has gold in the name (pity the other two didn't have something to do with frankincense and myrrh!).

A year of beer!

What do you get the beer lover who has everything? A year of beer! We have had our first few customers for the 'year of beer offer': 12 different mini-casks of top quality craft beer dispatched on the first Monday of every month for 12 months for £274.99 (including all packing and delivery). Some exceptions apply, but this is a cracking offer.

Linlithgow RFC

I've had some great news. Linlithgow RFC want to go ahead and do a special beer for their club! I have been invited along to do some sampling on 1 December, and the beers will be 'launched' then. Getting craft beer to new customers in this way is very rewarding as not only is it 'spreading the word', it also helps club funds. Everyone wins!

Christmas presence

Our Christmas beer has started brewing. Cinnamon, nutmeg and a few other 'surprises' are added during the boil so the brewery smells like Christmas. On a cold, bright day it really gets the juices flowing! The mini-casks make a great Christmas presents but a number of people have been buying now instead of waiting to get the freshest beer possible nearer the time. We shall be despatching beer until as close to Christmas and New Year as possible.

Remember

I know that I shall meet my fate
Somewhere among the clouds above:
Those that I fight I do not hate,
Those that I guard I do not love:
My country is Kiltartan Cross,
My countrymen Kiltartan's poor,
No likely end could bring them loss
Or leave them happier than before.
Nor law, nor duty bade me fight,
Nor public men, nor cheering crowds,
A lonely impulse of delight
Drove to this tumult in the clouds;
I balanced all, brought all to mind,
The years to come seemed waste of breath,
A waste of breath the years behind
In balance with this life, this death

Machine testing

You know that beer machine I mentioned on 26 October? Well, I am trying one out today with some porter. It certainly fits together easily (notwithstanding the common male trait of not reading the instructions.... Mrs Cellarman found a bit I had overlooked!) I have a couple of misgivings, but proof of the pudding and all that. I shall let you know how I get on.

Strange but dull day

It has been a strange day today. It involved mercy dashes with beer to one of our customers who is away for the weekend, and confirmation that Linlithgow Rugby Club want to do a 'private label' beer for Christmas. Apart from that there isn't much to mention. Did a bit of paperwork. I suppose with a blog you have some days which are better or more interesting than others. Glasgow was awarded the Commonwealth Games, which is good. The east coast of England had some flooding, which is bad. But it is Friday. Have a wonderful weekend!

Cellar bar for Cellarman

I am doing a tasting tonight at Ryan's Cellar Bar. The group will number around 60, which is big for a tasting but should be fun. I generally go through the history of beer, how beer is made, the styles of beer and, of course, the tasting itself. Usually throws up a few nuggets. For example, did you know 'minding your P's and Q's' comes from a beer related situation? The origins of 'small beer' are interesting and the punishment for serving bad beer in Babylon would put Environmental Health to shame!!

Black Boar spotted in Devon

Simon Lacey at Country Life has come up with another cracker: Black Boar Porter. A beautifully smooth, roasted porter with a wonderful sheen and superb lingering aftertaste. The flavours develop but don't overpower the senses like some well known porters from Ireland. The lack of nitrogen in the dispense also means the flavours don't have to work hard to evolve. I think I shall list it in the cellar as a guest beer for the winter. Better go and tell Simon.

What's in a name?

John Taylor, the head brewer at Bull Lane Brewing Company in Sunderland called this morning. He is just finalising his winter beer: a dark, strong ale. I haven't tasted it, but the recipe sounds good and John does some amazing brewing at his Teeside brewery. Then only problem is, he cannot think of a name. Can anyone help? I shall pass on all serious entries to John. Just think of the liquid (dark, strong, 5.0% ABV) and the location (Teeside, Sunderland, etc.) and the name of the brewery (Bull Lane) and see what you can come up with!

Beer for a year?

I was kicking this idea around: could I send my customers a cask of beer a month for a year? Each cask would have to reflect the time of year, and also showcase a different element of the brewers' skills.

I thought I could. Then I thought 'why not ask my friends' by means of the beer blog? I reckon a year of beer will cost in the region of £250 and would entail one cask a month delivered to your door direct from the brewery. Why not vote in the panel opposite?

Let me know what you think!

Don't cry for me!

Mrs Cellarman and I were at the a fireworks party on Saturday. The host, a Perth man, took great delight in serving Quilmes beer from Argentina. The beer had certainly come a long way, and had survived a journey of 1000's of miles (7047 to be exact), but it didn't really taste of anything you could detect. It fell very neatly into the 'New World Lager' category along with Bud, Foster's, MGD, etc. There are now well over 500 craft brewers in the UK: why should we get excited about a homogeneous lager from Argentina? The truth is I never loved it.

Home House tasting

A small but illustrious band of beer enthusiasts gathered last night for a beer tasting at Home House Edinburgh. Home House is a wonderful members' club in the heart of the city, and Colin (the members' champion) is keen to get a beer club up and running. The first event stimulated a lot of debate around four diiferent beers from some of the finest brewers in the country. Keystone's Gold Spice intrigued the guests, and Lia Fail from Inveralmond wowed them. Hopefully there will be more to come over the next few months and more of the UK's finest can be tasted.

New arrivals!

I am chuffed to be able to tell you that we have two new chums here at cellarman towers: White Horse Brewery in Oxfordshire and Ffos Y Ffin ('foss e feen') Brewery in Carmarthen are really welcome and their beers (White Horse Bitter and Cothi Gold respectively) are wonderful. Andy at White Horse and Steve at Ffos Y Ffin have been very patient with me and my technical ability (or lack of), so many thanks to them.

I hope you enjoy their beers as much as I do.

It's a long way from Tipperary

I spoke to Ken Munro yesterday. Ken is the Head Brewer at Milestone Brewery in Nottinghamshire. We were chatting through the potential for featuring some of Ken's beers on the website. Their brewhouse was moved lock, stock and barrel from County Tipperary and they are now brewing what sound like some fine beers in Cromwell, Nottinghamshire.

The beers we may feature are interesting. One is a blonde, citrusy, Belgian-style ale, the other is a raspberry fruit beer again inspired by the Belgians (although obviously not a lambic). Some samples are on their way so I shall keep you posted.