Gerry's Kitchen

Craft Beer Review - Caesar Augustus, Williams Bros. Brewing Co.

2013-05-20T05:36:00.001-07:00

Over the last few weeks, Gerry's Kitchen has been sampling different craft beers from across this fine land. Williams Bros Brewing Co are widely regarded as one of Scotland's largest independent brewers of craft beers and are perhaps best known for the ancient and legendary Scottish Heather Ale back on the shelves. In addition to this flagline beer, the guys at Williams have a fine stable of supposing beers that I have been working my way through.
This week I picked up a bottle of Caesar Augustus, my attention gained by the 'Lager/IPA Hybrid' tagline that was emblazoned across the label. Over the last few months I have enjoyed a number of quality India Pale Ales so I was keen to see how this hybrid worked out.
Williams Bros. initially use a cold fermentation process using classic lager yeast and malt which is then stored for four weeks before adding the hops creating the hybrid.

The beer is very pale in colour, straw gold is probably the best description and pours with a light creamy head which disappears quickly. The glass has plenty of floral notes on the nose but but a slight honey aroma pushing though, resulting in an eagerness to put the glass to my lips.
The Caesar Augustus is very refreshing, like a lager should be. Sharp, crisp, and zesty flavours are recognised straight away but soon subside to be replaced by a nice bitterness from the hops, leaving the mouth with a dry finish.
The guys at Williams Bros Brewing Co claim that this lager/IPA hybrid is a revolution in refreshment and flavour, promoting the crisp notes of the finest lager with the discrete bitter finish of a well balanced IPA.
I think they might be right! I enjoyed this beer immensely, in fact I'm becoming a big fan of the blonde beers from Williams Bros Brewing company having tried Harvest Sun, Scottish Joker IPA, Birds & Bees, Scottish Session, and the wonderfully named 7 Giraffes.
The roman emperor Augustus served a four decade long age of peace and prosperity, I'm wondering if the Caesar was serving up this eponymously named beer on tap as a means to keeping the natives far from restless?
Keep up to date with Williams Bros Brewing Co on Facebook & Twitter.

Posted with Blogsy,,,

Recipe - Spiced Butter Bean Soup

2013-05-12T13:02:00.001-07:00

So it's almost the middle of May and we are still waiting on spring turning up. Let's not kid ourselves, the weather has been awful this year. In fact the weather has been so poor recently that when this soup recipe caught my eye when I was flicking through my Olive Magazine, I knew that I had to try making it for lunch this weekend.

Ingredients (serves 2)

1 onion, finely chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
1" piece of ginger, grated
1 carrot, grated
1 tsp ground cumin
1/2 tsp ground coriander
1/2 tsp smoked paprika
375ml chicken stock
400g tin butter beans

Method

Heat a little olive oil then cook the onion, garlic and ginger for a few minutes until softened. Add the carrot and spices for a further two minutes.
Add the chicken stock and simmer for 5 minutes. At this point, add the butter beens and cook for 10 more minutes. Ladle half of the soup into a blender or food processor and blitz until smooth before pouring back into the pan and gently reheat before serving.

To serve, split between two bowls and swirl a little soured cream over the top before scattering with some fresh chopped coriander. Delicious!

Soup making isn't something that i'm usually that good at so I am please to say that this was a tasty, quick and easy recipe that i was able to prepare using ingredients that are always in the fridge and cupboard that I will definitely be making again, regardless of the weather. Next time I might leave the soup chunky, or maybe try using cannellini or berlotti beans instead of the butter beans.

This recipe has become my current favourite soup recipe but I would be interested in hearing what soup recipes get your taste buds buzzing?

Gerry's Kitchen

Craft Beer Review - Caesar Augustus, Williams Bros. Brewing Co.

Recipe - Spiced Butter Bean Soup

Craft Beer Review - Oxford Gold, Brakspear Beers

Recipe - Easy Chicken & Bacon Pie

Craft Beer Review - Crail Special, St. Andrews Brewing Co.

Recipe - Baked Rhubarb & Ginger Cheesecake

Review - Bar Soba, Mitchell Lane, Glasgow

5 Questions - Mr C's Hand-Crafted Award-Winning Pies

Recipe - Crème Egg Chocolate Brownies

5 Questions & Review - Cova Mediterranean Creperie & Deli, Centre West, East Kilbride

Review - Mama San @ Saint Jude's, Bath St, Glasgow

Chocolate Easter Eggs

5 Questions - La Cantina, Teguise, Lanzarote

5 Questions - AleselA Real Ales & Craft Beers

Review - One Ten Bar & Grill, 110 Bath Street, Glasgow

Review - The Mall in Mearns, Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow

Highland Cattle - Food or Photo?

5 Questions - Clyde Valley Tomatoes

Review - Browns Bar & Brasserie, George Street, Edinburgh

Recipe - Sticky Chilli Beef Stir Fry

5 Questions - Carmichael Estate Farm Meats

Review - Delizeque, Hyndland Street, Glasgow

Recipe - Macaroni Cheese with Leeks & Bacon

Recipe - Sesame and Ginger Pork Stir-Fry

Recipe - Chicken Korma