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Beer Monkey
11-17-2005, 11:56 AM
got an email from Founders Brewer about upcoming events the one on the 3rd of December looks interesting.

EMAIL BELOW:
Greetings, Lads and Lassies!

I've just put the Ramsay's Draft 80 Schilling Scottish Ale on tap today. It's an easy drrrrinking (say it with a brogue) ale, light bodied and malty.

Get out your pens and mark your calendar in big red letters for:

Wednesday, Nov 30th -- First Pour of Burke's Bock. Lovely dark weizenbock beer to get your strength up for winter.

Saturday, Dec 3rd -- In honor of the Scottish Walk, we'll be tapping two special beers. First is a cask-aged firkin of Ramsay's Draft 80 Schilling Ale. It has been mellowing for 11 months. Second, we saved a keg of Margaret's Scotch Ale from the batch that won Great American Beer Festival in 2004, and we're ready to drink it. We'll also have on tap fresh batches of the two styles. Drink one of each, compare, contrast, and discuss amongst yourselves.

Beer Styles Lesson:
Scottish ales are typically malty, with little to no hop flavor. Hops don't flourish in Scotland as they do in England. Scottish brewers saw it as a point of pride to scorn English products, so they made malt the focus of their beers. Breweries list their products in ascending order of gravity and strength as Light, Heavy, Export and Strong. In the past, beer in Scotland was taxed based on strength, so the beers became known by their tax ratings: 60 schilling, 70 schilling, 80 schilling, 90 schilling. Alcohol content by volume might rise through 3, 4, 4.5 and 7-10. The term "Scotch ale" is something used specifically to identify a very strong, and often extremely dark, malt-accented beer. Scotch ale is sometimes called "Wee Heavy", in the Scottish style for understatement.

Here's mud in your eye,
Barbara

chazwicke
11-17-2005, 01:55 PM
Thanks for the notice. I hope things have improved at Founders since I last visited.

homebrewaddict
11-19-2005, 02:07 PM
I agree, the last time I was there, the service was horrible, the food was passable, and the beer was definitly not up to par either. It was a lot better when it used to be the Virginia Beverage Company...

But, the draft Scottish Ale sounds nice, I might just have to stop by for a pint (or two). :D

Beer Monkey
12-02-2005, 10:29 AM
anyone planning on checking this out? I think the Mrs and me will be heading down for the parade, knowing us, we're gonna miss the parade, or at least most of it, if anyone wants to meet up during the day, message me and I'll give you my Cell #

from Old town's website:
at 10:30 a.m. Saturday throughout Old Town , with more than 100 Scottish clans dressed in tartans and playing bagpipes, living history units, dog clubs and antique cars. Free!

Also:
Alexandria's harbor lights up when more than 50 brightly lit sailing and powered leisure boats cruise along the Potomac River at the City's historic waterfront. Festivities begin at 3 on the docks with Santa, children's author Leslie Young and Sottie dog Plaid, the U.S. Marines, WASH FM and the Starbucks Cheer Patrol; boat parade is 5:30-6:30 p.m. Alexandria Marina at the foot of Cameron St., behind the Torpedo Factory Free! 703/838-5005

from the Brewer Barbara Gerovac

This is your last chance to taste the batch Margaret's Scotch Ale that won Great American Beer Festival in 2004! When the keg runs out, that's all she wrote!

We've also got the cask-aged firkin of Ramsay's Draft 80 Schilling Ale ready to pour. It's had almost a year to mellow.

chazwicke
12-02-2005, 01:42 PM
Man! I made arrangements to visit Blue Grey brewing in Fredericksburg tomorrow. If those plans change, or maybe afterward, We'll head to Old Town.

MeridianFC
12-02-2005, 01:51 PM
I might have to pull out the kilt and head on doon.

Theakston
12-02-2005, 05:33 PM
Originally posted by MeridianFC
I might have to pull out the kilt and head on doon.

you have seen the forecast I trust? cold and windy - AKA Brass Monkeys.

Beer Monkey
12-02-2005, 06:03 PM
My Cell phone # is 703 625-4689

not sure where in old town I'll be, probably either founders or at restaurant eve

http://www.restauranteve.com/2005.html probably the best restaurant in old town, and the sommelier does some incredible things with mixed drinks, not sure but I think right now the special is the tomato water bloody mary. great whenever. Their beer list is pretty good considering how small it is.

or at founders.

hope to run into a few of your tomorrow.

chazwicke
12-02-2005, 07:38 PM
I'm trying to arrange it so I can be up in Alex in the afternoon. I'm still going to Blue and Grey Brewing down in Fredericksburg in the morning. But that wont take too long. I'll take your cell number with me.