Awards and citations:


1997: Le Prix du Champagne Lanson Noble Cuvée Award for investigations into Champagne for the Millennium investment scams

2001: Le Prix Champagne Lanson Ivory Award for investdrinks.org

2011: Vindic d'Or MMXI – 'Meilleur blog anti-1855'

2011: Robert M. Parker, Jnr: ‘This blogger...’:

2012: Born Digital Wine Awards: No Pay No Jay – best investigative wine story

2012: International Wine Challenge – Personality of the Year Award




Sunday 5 January 2014

Nessie's Monster Mash – Hogmanay or Halloween?

Nessie's Monster Mash
A Malty Chestnut Beer 


The bottle of Nessie's Monster Mash beer was definitely an impulse buy in Murchie's, the well stocked grocers in Kingussie. I thought it might be appropriate to see in 2014 with a glass of Nessie but in the event a dram of Aberlour won. 

Nessie's Monster Mash is made by the Cairngorm Brewery, which is based in Aviemore. The beer is described as 'a predominantly malty, lightly hopped beer giving a satisfying fullness of flavour with a warm finish. A glass or two is a must before seeking an audience with the monster! Alc 4.1% by volume.   

On further reflection I'm increasingly inclined to think that it would be more appropriate for Halloween, although this particular bottle's best by date is 28th August 2014, so will have to try this bottle and then acquire a new one for Halloween 2014. It will be essential to attempt to match it to The Best of Halloween CD – a bargain priced (£4.99 on Amazon UK) double album with 50 tracks. The Best of Halloween includes such memorable cuts as Monster Mash by Bobby 'Boris' Pickett & The Crypt Kickers, The Purple People Eater from Sheb Wooley, I put a spell on you (Screamin' Jay Hawkins, Popeye (The Gravedigger) and Music to be Murdered By (The Alfred Hitchcock Orchestra).

All looks irresistible! Whether loved ones will agree is quite another matter! Anyway I will taste the beer before we return south and report back.

     

3 comments:

Tim said...

Jim,
Happy New Year...
and may the grapes grow better this year.
Although Nessies isn't on the yeast, it will keep 'till Halloween 2014!!
I find Cairngorm beers are good...
usually very tasty!!
But I can see why the Aberlour won!!
Here it was a Talisker!!

Have you tried the "local" Bières de Noël...
from Pigeonelle and L'Aurore?
Real Touraine brews and Bio too!

Well worth it...

Our "de La Bonne Bouffe" blog has more details..
and reviews of some...
others to come!
You'll find the link in the sidebar of Jean's blog or Days on the Claise [Simon and Susan]...
if you want to read more.

Jim's Loire said...

Hi Tim. Many thanks for this. Yes have tried the Pigeonelle beers over a number of years as the brewery is in the next village to us but not their Christmas beers. Will put a link up to your blog on Jim's Loire.

Tim said...

Thanks!
As yet, Pauline and I haven't managed to get hold of this years "Pigeon Noël"....
how I love French punning...
but we've got 2011 & 2012's brews in the cellier.
The Pigeonelle Xmas brew is richer than l'Aurore's... the latter is "smokeier"!