Bannermans Bar is Edinburgh’s premier music venue, located in the heart of the city. Hosting bands and solo artists six nights a week, we are dedicated to bringing you the very best in up-and-coming local talent, rising national stars and famous acts from around the world. Every genre of music is welcome, and we pride ourselves on providing everything a band needs for a performance with a full backline, 5K P.A. and lighting rig, and some of the best sound engineers in town. No other venue in town does as much for the local scene as we do, a fact borne out by the sheer number of bands and promoters that keep coming back. Our friendly and knowledgeable staff are always happy to help out with any of your requirements or needs, so if you’re simply grabbing a quiet pint in the afternoon, having a big night out, playing or putting on your first gig, or even just curious, come and check us out – you won’t be disappointed!
The Great Edinburgh Beer Experiment
This year the 30 Days of IPA project (which we’re sure you’ve noticed we’re a part of) is doing something a little different – a scientific experiment to test one of the oldest beer legends out there, that the months-long voyage from Britain to India actually improved the flavour of India Pale Ale.
The original recipe, around a hundred and fifty years old, had a slightly stronger ABV than most IPAs have these days, and with a lot of hops added at the final stages of brewing, two measures that were designed to preserve the beer for longer than was normal for brews of the time.
It wasn’t really to the taste of the time though, which was for sweet, malty ales – some went so far as to call it undrinkable – but by the time the beer had reached India it had mellowed and been transformed into a drink that could fetch high prices and would be served alongside the finest wines.
So to test this three different brewers have produced three different IPAs, two in traditional wooden casks and a third in a modern plastic lined aluminium cask. They have all been brewed to something close to the original recipe, so they should be able to survive our little plan…
One cask of each beer is currently being stored in a modern, climate controlled beer cellar. Three identical casks, meanwhile, are being stored in the hold of a small ship while it sails the Firth of Forth and the surrounding coastal waters for two months, constantly rocking the beer around and replicating some of the conditions it would have experienced in the 19th century.
But the final test is, as they say, in the tasting, which is where you, our (hopefully) ale loving reader come into the equation. We’ll be cracking all six casks open on 25th of April in The Counting House, the very apt 18th Century ballroom and function suite above The Peartree. We’ll then hold a blind tasting of all six beers to see if we can find any major change in the flavour and aroma.
This is a unique chance to sample some very unique beers which haven’t been brewed and conditioned in this manner for nearly two hundred years, and also an opportunity to be involved in a genuinely new piece of public science! Tickets cost £12.50 (£10 for students and CAMRA members), and are available at the bar while stocks last – for your money you get six half pints and a little place in the annals of human knowledge!
St Patrick’s Day 2013
Wild Turkey American Honey is the new drink this month, and it’s a new twist on an old favourite. Wild Turkey 101 has been a staple of the Edinburgh bar scene for years, and any self-respecting bourbon collection will have a bottle of this complex overproof whiskey. It’s a fine example of the genre, but if you don’t like bourbon it may not be to your taste.
So, as malt whisky branched out into liqueurs like Drambuie and Baileys, Wild Turkey have tweaked their classic recipe into something slightly sweeter – but only slightly. This isn’t a sickly sweet liqueur, it’s simply a background of honey, vanilla and citrus which mellows the bourbon even further. Over ice it’s crisp and refreshing, mixed into a tall drink it becomes a perfect balance for citrus juices, cola or cranberry.
And this being the Scottish winter, well, you’ve got to try it in a hot chocolate, a shot in your coffee or as the basis for an alternative Hot Toddy.
Malibu Red
As you’ve probably noticed from the rather striking banners this month, Malibu Red is our current drink of the month. Everybody knows Malibu (and if you don’t, where have you been?), a smooth and sweet rum with a wonderful coconut flavour and aroma. Well now it’s being joined by Malibu Red, which still has the coconut hit, but is enhanced with a fiery, smoky tequila. It’s a fantastic drink, mellow and complex with great complementary flavours – try a simply shot over ice and you won’t be disappointed, but where this drink really shines is with mixers or as a full-on cocktail.
A Facebook survey has shown that pineapple is a particular favourite (hence the enduring if retro appeal of the Pina Colada), but cranberry, cola and lemonade are also proving popular…as are a huge number of different mixers, this seems to be one of the most versatile drinks out there at the moment!
To explore the official recommendations, take a look at the Malibu Red website, or if you want to get creative just pop into the bar and start mixing it up!
Malibu Red on Facebook
Malibu Red on Twitter
