A Very Happy New Year to everyone! Yes, I know it's well after Jan. 1st but better late than never.
I received an email last week through the website from a CAMRA man in, I believe, Lancashire, England, about getting in touch with one David Orr of the An Teallach brewery way up in the Highlands of Scotland. He had tried without luck to get in touch with the brewery in order to line up a cask or two of their ale for a trip he and his CAMRA mates were taking north of the border for a hill walking excursion just north and west of Inverness. They had had An Teallach ale (as have I at my beloved Three Judges in Glasgow) on an earlier occasion and were very eager to procure some for their visit. Anyway, the Scottish real ale brewing industry being what it is, I got in touch with my most helpful contacts and, sure enough, I managed to get a mobile number for one Davey and pass it on to the CAMRA crew. I hope it all works out for them.
My many, many thanks first to Angus MacRuary, founder/owner of the Isle of Skye Brewery for getting me the phone number. But I would also be remiss not to mention the very kind help of my old friend Douglas Ross of Traditional Scottish Ales (founder of Bridge of Allan Brewery and impetus behind the Scotland's Real Ale Trail), Tuggy Delap of Fyne Ales, and my great friends John McGarva and John Muir of Tryst Brewery for passing on information as well. Cheers all and I wish you all the best for 2009!
It really is a small world. Proof that we real ale enthusiasts can stick together and help one another regardless of proximity!
Oh, and just a wee mention for my other friends across the water. My sincere condolences go out to my friend Ali Wilson, infamous semi-professional drummer and frequent Tom Morton Show commenter, who lost a good deal of equipment in a fire in Edinburgh. And, it must be said, sympathies for the sad end (temporarily, perhaps?) of Tom Morton's Radiocroft on Shetland, let down but the failures of technology. All we listeners bid a hopefully temporary farewell to the beloved croft but are all eternally grateful that you and the show go on, Tom, despite your traveling inconvenience once again. All the best for 2009 to you both and your families!
(Did I mention how good the Old Speckled Hen is tasting tonight?). :)
Yours Aye!
Neil
Brewing and blogging in Austin, Texas wishing I were somewhere in Scotland.
