We started with some brunch at the Tennents Training Academy, a great place for serious and fun courses ( Mrs Foodie has been on the pizza making one and can fling her dough around with careless abandon now).
A cocktail of champers and stout to start – why not! Sweet Tennent’s Export with fizz, lightened up what can be a heavier drink.
Followed by Drygate Outtaspace Apple Ale pancakes, strawberries and the most amazing bacon ever.
Hash brown, black pudding, poutine and honey/HP sauce and Fraoch gravy.
perfect poutine! Deliciously moist and one we think we will be copying for Christmas nibbles. Served with Fraoch, a good strong beer to challenge the black pudding.
With this event we were encourage by Melissa to think about beer and food, not just a drink of what we fancy. Think of it like why you choose certain wines to go with certain foods. We were helped along with the four C’s.
Cut – think of a beer that would cut through the food – such as a Saison style beer to cut through the fat in a dish.
Contrast – pair contrasting flavours. Such as a salty cheese like Lanark Blue with a sweet beer such as stout.
Compliment – compliment the flavours in a dish, Honey Thief served with a sweet dish such as pancakes and syrup.
Create – don’t be scared, create your own beer and food pairings. Experiment with a sour beer alongside a curry.
Tennents Training Academy looked after us well in their amazing looking kitchen and we hope to be back soon for a class.
After this it was time for a snoop about Craft Beer Rising. It’s their first venture North and what better a venue than Drygate. We must admit we do love Drygate, it’s retro look, huge selection of beers and friendly staff. On top if this the space for events means it has a good vibe, almost hybrid pub/club/gallery/restaurant feel.
Upstairs house the music area for partying later whist outside in a marquee housed the beer.
A quick look around first to see what on offer, admire the pallet bars and get onto the serious business.
We will be featuring beers and breweries in more depth. Here are some images from the day.
Blue Moon Beer with Orange – very refreshing.
Cider from Vermont – liked the Amber, not sickly sweet like the current trend.
Very nice sour beer from Williams Bros,
Pit stop for some amazing tasting Scotch Eggs from Aye Love Real Food.
We liked this IPA as it wasn’t overpoweringly hoppy, such a change!
Tried out their new Pils, very crisp.
Liked the Rebel Red and their Stout.
Lightly smoked porter collaboration with Eateaket Tea people
Top Out beer from Edinburgh. Another good porter here.
Special thumbs up for Bear Hug and their IPA/Wheat beer hybrid – unusual tasting but good. One to watch we think.
We left Mr Fox on the dance floor to strut his stuff.
Foxy
More info on the event inc breweries attending here, buy tickets here.