][1]The 5pm blog is usually more concerned with restaurants than bars but since our diet seems to be mainly liquid at this time of year, we thought it time to update our booze news.
World beers
First up is Glasgow’s Hippo Beers which opened a couple of weeks ago on Queen Margaret Drive. Frustrated by the lack of interesting beers in Glasgow, friends Derek Hoy and Alec Knox figured that they would open their own beer shop selling brews from around the world.
There could only be one title for such an enterprise; they chose to name their new venture after St Augustine of Hippo Regius – the patron saint of brewers.
Over 300 brews
Selling over 300 different beers at any one time, the Hippo carries plenty of choices from Scotland’s booming craft beer section; lots of English bottlings and plenty of exotic brews from Scandinavia and America. Last weekend, they took delivery of a new batch of Scandie brews which included Evil Twin Ashtray Heart (Stout), Mikkeller K:rlek (American Pale Ale), and Tool Black Ball Porter.
In-shop tastings and talks are being scheduled.
Bat beer
Heading to the other side of the M8, some time ago, the blog blethered about the Hanging Bat, a new beer-focused bar on Lothian Road. We paid a visit on Saturday and it’s pretty darn fab.
Pulled pork rolls, great gourmet hot dogs, helpful staff and, of course, dozens of interesting cask and keg ales all added up to an attractive formula.
Still not sure about the name or logo though.
Craft beer revolution
The last year has seen a boom in both independent Scottish brewing and in hip new bars selling interesting ales. From Glasgow’s Inn Deep to Edinburgh bars such as The Southern and Red Squirrel from the Fuller Thomson stable, these newcomers have revamped the concept of the real ale bar.
It all points towards an intriguing 2013. How long before one of the big brewing companies buys up some one like Brewdog or tries to produce their own version of a craft beer bar?