That Beer Cap Couple

Unfortunately, every so often we find ourselves in a situation that no craft beer lover ever wants to be in: The Designated Driver. Is there anything worse than being out surrounded by the temptation of Double IPAs and Imperial Stouts faced with only the ever unappealing selection of non-alcoholic beverages? Thankfully, gone are the days of awkwardly nursing a pint of orange juice and lemonade or choking your way through a less than palatable Becks Blue. Meet the new wave of non-alcoholic beers taking the market by storm. Brewing innovations have paved the way for low-alcohol, big flavour beverages with ever more breweries bringing their welcomed contribution to the party. With a variety of breweries all putting their own spin on the non-alcoholic craze, the offerings come as unique and varied as their “normal” beers. Non-alcoholic beer has recently been dubbed one of the largest gaps in the drinks markets. China, who currently lead in the non-alcoholic beer innovation market...

Last weekend, Matt and I took a trip down to explore the historical sights of Edinburgh. Not only is it home to a growing number of craft breweries and heaps of unique bars; Edinburgh also houses the only university to offer a formal degree in brewing and distilling: Heriot Watt. You'll probably be surprised to discover how many of your favorite breweries have been pioneered by the expert alumni of this course. One of these breweries currently taking the Edinburgh craft beer scene by storm is Stewart Brewing. Started by husband and wife team Steve and Jo Stewart in 2004, the brewery is situated on an industrial estate just a short bus ride from the heart of the city. Here, Stewart Brewing opens their doors every Thursday and Friday night between 7-9 pm to show off their ever expanding custom built brewery, their exclusive craft beer kitchen and to share their truly delicious craft beers. Tours are £15pp. A price which includes snacks, a branded glass, loads of beers and the inv...

What are hops? Allgash Brewing , CC Along with water, grain and yeast, hops are one of the four ingredients of all beers. However, only three of these are essential. Without hops, beer would be unbearably sweet and disappointingly flavourless. Thankfully, after thousands of years of experimentation with flavour adding plants and herbs, one stand out addition earned itself the rightful place as the fourth ingredient of beer: hops. The extensive variety of different hops give our favourite beers their distinctive flavours and aromas. Hop History For modern commercial brewing, hops have always been one of the core ingredients of beer. But this hasn't always been the case. Prior to hops being used as a flavouring and preservative agent in beer, gruit (a herb mixture), was used to the same effect. Apart from the fact that hops seem better suited for purpose than gruit. As with many changes in the history of alcohol it was taxes that forced a change. Or more accurately, the id...