New brew for Guinness anniversary

Guinness is to brew a special stout next year to mark its 250th anniversary, it is understood.

It is thought the commemorative beverage may be launched in March to coincide with St Patrick's Day.

The 250th anniversary marks the date which founder Arthur Guinness signed the lease on St James's Gate brewery in Dublin.

Oh yes!, we've heard this before - whatever happened to the red Guinness?

Autumn festivals

Today we can celebrate the Moon Festival (Mid-Autumn Festival) in Hong Kong

This traditional Chinese celebration is marked by shrines of gifts to honour the moon goddess, with lantern displays and deliciously sweet moon cakes on sale.



Galway International Oyster Festival
September 27 to 30

The Irish port of Galway's annual oyster festival is a collective binge on the oysters that grow wild on the sea beds of Galway Bay. Highlights include the World Oyster Opening Championships and an Oyster Pearl Contest.



But ...For wilder times, head straight to the Oktoberfest in Munich, which is synonymous with beer, all things Germanic and constant partying.

G is for "Glasses"

Today was such a good day that we decided to take ourselves off to Bangor, Co. Down just for a wee change. It felt so good just sitting soaking up the sun with a glass of the black stuff.

Recently I posted a listed of my favourite restaurants but I think I am going to have to amend that. I think no. 10 - Giraffe will have to come out to be replaced by Coyles, Bangor. We had a meal in the restaurant a few weeks ago which was really something and today we had what was laughingly termed 'bar food'. I say laughingly because our meals were nothing like bar food you get served elsewhere.

I had warm rare beef salad with blue cheese, lentils and truffle, while dr. em had roast pork belly and honey glazing with creamed leeks, beans and savoy cabbage - she replaced the mustard mash with champ. For dessert - cheese platter for dr. em and chocolate mousse with cherries and almonds for me. I hope I am making your mouth water. So I think Coyles will have to step into the no. 7 slot.

Crown and Shamrock

... and to continue my pub crawl - here is probably the best pub in the world. No TV, no juke-box, no games machines, nothing that makes any sort of loud noise. Just a quiet place to enjoy a good pint of the black stuff. Expect to wait at least five minutes for it to be pulled and let me tell you that it is well worth the wait. You will not find a better pint anywhere else, so smooth and creamy, MMMM!

I just couldn't resist posting this again:

Van Gogh walked into the bar and Gauguin said: "Vincent! Want a beer?"
And Van Gogh said: "No thanks. I've got one 'ere."

McHugh's Bar, Belfast

McHugh's Bar has the unique distinction of being the oldest building in Belfast, dating back to its establishment in 1711.

It's a great spot for a pint of Guinness and also a great spot to watch the various concerts and festivals being staged in Custom House Square, being located right beside and overlooking the Square.
This unusual chess set sits in the bar area and, as you can see, one set of figures is represented by various loyalist politicians - the pawns being the, then named, Royal Ulster Constabulary. I am not sure if Mr. Trimble has been deliberately turned away from Mr. Paisley, since the two no longer see eye to eye.
The other set of figures comprises Nationalist politicians (Gerry Adams etc.) and the pawns are paramilitary figures of the IRA. Unfortunately there was too much of a reflection from the glass for me to take a decent photograph of that set.

Guinness Red

Guinness has revealed plans to launch a new red version of its famous drink. The drink will be made from lightly roasted barley and will go on trial at pubs in the UK over the next few months. Guinness Red is the first major new launch since Extra Cold was introduced in pubs in 1999. The strength of the new drink will be comparable with the standard beer, around 4.1 per cent.

mmmmm! - really don't know about this.