What would you drink for Halloween?

The clocks have gone back; the nights are drawing in so that must mean that it’s Halloween again!

Most of us aware of the historical significance and different stories about the origin of Halloween … but here are a few facts associated with Halloween that you might not know!

The Welsh and Celtics believed that the spirits of the dead came to visit humans on October 31^st. They would wear masks that day so they could trick the dead by looking like one of then … and that is why people still dress as ghosts on Halloween!

If you see a spider on Halloween … it is thought that it could actually be a deceased love one watching over you … spooky?!

Hanging wet bed sheets in front of the fire on Halloween was a popular practice amongst young girls in ancient Scotland. They believed that in doing so they would be able to see their future husband’s face!

Here is something really creepy … according to Halloween folklore, if people wear their clothes inside out and then walk backwards on Halloween they might just come across a real witch at midnight … not something that I shall be trying!

Orange is a symbol of strength and endurance and black symbolises death and darkness – the two colours are believed to symbolise the demarcations between life and death! … This is why they have always been associated with Halloween.

An Irish legend has it that Jack O Lanterns are named after ‘miserly Jack’ who tricked the devil and was forbidden entrance into both heaven and hell … as such he eventually condemned to wander the Earth!

Since then his ghost appears on Halloween with is lantern attempting to lead people away from their paths.

Oh yes, back to the headline … it has to be A SPIRIT for Halloween! But which one???!

Only two countries don’t have Coca Cola…

Coca-Cola is one of the most popular soft drinks in the world.

In fact over one billion cans of Coca-Cola re consumer every day.

But, did you know that only two countries in the world don’t have Coca-Cola and they are Cuba and North Korea.

Coca-Cola was first invented by a pharmacist called John Pemberton … as a medicine to cure headaches.

It is called “Coca-Cola” because of the original ingredients used in the medicine. Cola leaves and Kola seeds. Wine was also added in place of sugar similar to the coke we drink today.

It is fair to say that the drink has grown from selling nine drinks a day in a single country in 1886 to distributing 1.8 billion beverages in more than 200 nations.

Equally true is that it has produced some memorable and outstanding Television adverts over the years, no doubt we can soon look forward to seeing their annual burst of adverts along the theme of “holidays are coming”….

The company says that the 1971 vintage of “I’d like to buy the world a coke” remains as one of its most popular.

As you might expect with such a world famous brand there are heaps of facts about Coca-Cola, here’s just a few which caught my eye:

• If you accidentally got gum in your hair, rinse it in Coca-Cola and the gum will come out very easily
• Coca-Cola means “to make mouth happy” in Chinese
• If all the Coca-Cola bottles in the world were laid end-to-end the would reach the moon and back more than 1,677 times
• The name of the flavour base included in the secret formula for Coca-Cola is referred to as 7X
• Only a few people know the secret formula for the beverage. Concentrate for ‘Coca-Cola’ is made in a number of centralised production facilities, and is exported to all countries in the world that bottle ‘Coca-Cola’
• Artist Haddon Sundblom’s portraits for Christmas holiday advertisements, which began in the 1930’s, helped mould the image of a red-suited Santa Claus   
• ‘Diet Coke’ was launched nationally in Australia in 1983 … by the end of that year; it was already the second highest selling carbonated soft drink in Australia after ‘Coca-Cola!

 It's fair to say that the product has done well!

Beer, beer … glorious beer!

Draught beer generally refers to beer that is hand pumped from a barrel (a keg or cask) and served in glasses, usually in a pub or bar. 

The precise definition of a draught beer is open to wide interpretation, with purists arguing that a draft beer must be served direct from a keg at source, direct for consumption. In this case, both draught beer that is then bottled and canned beer that is pressurised using a widget do not qualify as draught beer. 

Draught beer is generally unpasteurised (which means that it has not been sterilised) and for that reason must be consumed in a certain amount of time before it goes off. If a pint has gone off, you would be sure to know as beer is made, after all from plant matter, and rotting plant matter tastes bad! 

There are occasional allegations that a pub is ‘watering down’ its beer in order to make extra profit. As unscrupulous as some landlords are (yes, they do have to make a living!), draught beer is very unlikely to be watered down. Piercing a barrel pressurised with carbon dioxide (as many of them are), in order to insert water into it would be costly and very dangerous.

For many people, draught beer is the standard to adhere to.

It is unclear exactly why this is, as draught beers vary greatly in style and quality: notably, the term draft does not denote that traditional brewing methods have been employed during production.

Most likely, people are keen on the overall experience of drinking beer with a good head from a standard beer glass, in a pub. Draught beer is the beer that most people will have grown to enjoy over time.

However, draught beer will often fall short of the standard promoted by groups such as CAMRA (The Campaign for Real Ale) who dismiss any beer that has had carbon dioxide added at the point of sale. For this reason, whilst many cask ales are real ales, and whilst the terms ‘draught beer’ and ‘cask ale’ are synonymous to an extent, there are a number of draft beers that are not real ale. A cask ale must not have any pressure added to it:

• Put simply as the term ‘draught’ simply means ‘to draw’ beer, a cask ale is a draught ale (as beer is ‘drawn for a barrel for service),
• Whilst a draught ale (because it may have carbon dioxide added) is not always a ‘cask ale’.

See… clear, as mud!

This is further complicated if we consider that cask ale is not always real ale

Fortunately the average punter, even with discerning tastes, may well just want to enjoy a beer regardless of whether it was draught ale, real ale or canned beer.

Of course, here at the Shepherd & Flock we always have an excellent choice of beers ... and they all taste good!   

Do You Know the Scotch Whisky Categories?

The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 formally define five categories of Scotch Whisky.

The relevant category description must appear clearly and prominently on every bottle of Scotch Whisky sold.

Single Malt Scotch Whisky

A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery ...

•    from water and malted barley without the addition of any other cereals, and
•    by batch distillation in pot stills.  

From 23 November 2012, Single Malt Scotch Whisky must be bottled in Scotland.

Single Grain Scotch Whisky

A Scotch Whisky distilled at a single distillery...

• from water and malted barley with or without whole grains of other malted or unmalted cereals, 
• and which does not comply with the definition of Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

 Blended Scotch Whisky

A blend of one or more Single Malt Scotch Whiskies with one or more Single Grain Scotch Whiskies.

 

Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

A blend of Single Malt Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery.

 

Blended Grain Scotch Whisky

A blend of Single Grain Scotch Whiskies, which have been distilled at more than one distillery. 

 

Better Protection

The Scotch Whisky Regulations 2009 provide added legal protection for the traditional regional names associated with Scotch Whisky production, i.e. 'Highland', 'Lowland', 'Speyside', 'Campbeltown', and 'Islay'. These names can only appear on whiskies wholly distilled in those regions.

A distillery name must not be used as a brand name on any Scotch Whisky which has not been wholly distilled in the named distillery. Labeling must not by any other means mislead consumers as to where the Scotch Whisky has been distilled.

So .. what's your favourite scotch?  

It’s only 12 weeks to Christmas Day!

Our Christmas Menu has now been finalised and as you will see from the attached link,

Click HERE we have a mouthwatering choice available for you and your guests!

A festive meal out with family or a group of friends can be FAB U LOUS!  

And that Office Party will be AB SO LUTELY brilliant here at the Shepherd & Flock!

So, if you’re planning that special event in the run up to Christmas … Don’t delay, Book Today!

In fact, bearing many satisfied regulars book ahead from one year to the next, right now is certainly about the best time to avoid disappointment.

Our menu hopefully caters for all tastes and includes traditional roast turkey with all the trimmings, homemade venison pie, filet of sea bass, sirloin steak as well as the vegetarian option of an amazing risotto!

• You’ll be spoilt for choice in a pub brimming with vibrant atmosphere.
• You can sample one of our excellent real ales
• You can also select one of our fine wines to accompany your meal

Oh yes … you’ll also receive a very warm welcome from out attentive staff!

There is a booking form attached or you can e-mail us shepherdandflock@googlemail.com or phone us on 01252 716053