What’s the craic with Beer 52’s Irish craft ales?

Peter Ranscombe joins drinks website Beer 52 for a virtual road trip around the island of Ireland’s breweries. FEW countries are associated as closely with a single drink as Ireland and stout. Guinness flows through Dublin’s veins, and few beers can claim to match its global brand recognition. Yet Ireland also has a thriving craft…

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Coffee roaster’s green credentials

A GLASGOW coffee roaster hopes to be named as a supplier to the United Nations’ climate change conference after joining the B Corp ethical accreditation scheme. Dear Green has its sights set on winning a contract for the COP26 conference, which takes place in Glasgow in November. “If this doesn’t put Dear Green on the…

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12 Wines of Christmas: Spain

Day eight of his “12 Wines of Christmas” series sees Peter Ranscombe exploring Spanish food and wine pairings. THINK Spain, think sunshine. Long lazy days spent soaking up rays on the beach, simmering summer evenings spent devouring plates of tapas, and cringe worthy late nights spent crooning to questionable karioke in “Irish” pubs. Yet master…

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Highlands and islands gift boxes launch

A GIFT box service dedicated to showcasing products from the Highlands and islands has been launched. A Whale of a Time brings together products from independent businesses spread across Inverness, Lochaber, Moray, Wester Ross, and Wick, as well as islands including Harris, Islay, Lewis, Orkney, and Skye. Its range of eight gift boxes stretches from…

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Review: The Loveable Rogue

The Hebridean may have gone, but Keith McIntyre is in love with its replacement – The Loveable Rogue in Glasgow. WHEN it was announced at the end of August that The Loveable Rogue (TLR) was replacing The Hebridean in Glasgow’s West End, the accompanying press blurb stated that new owners Joe Lazzerini and Amalia Colaluca would…

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Festival to boost Glasgow coffee shops

GLASGOW Coffee Festival is taking to the streets to promote local businesses. The festival, which has been running for six years, was due to take place in May, but was postponed due to the lockdown. Plans to run the festival indoors next month have now also had to be changed to fit in with Scottish…

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Trossachs e-bike trail map hits the road

A NEW map showing six e-bike trails through the Trossachs has been launched. The routes take in sights like Loch Lomond, Loch Katrine, Duchray Castle, Stonachlachar Pier and Strathyre Forest. The map has been assembled by Loch Lomond & Trossachs Countryside Trust and Forth Valley & Lomond Leader. Routes range from the 12.5km Rob Roy…

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Haud yer Wheesht: listen tae low-alcohol lockdown libations

Wanting to cut down on your alcohol intake during the lockdown and beyond? Peter Ranscombe has some suggestions. I DON’T know if it’s just my imagination or if it’s a guilty conscience, but my blue glass recycling box sounds like it’s been clinking just that wee bit more during lockdown. If the number of memes…

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