TOPIC:

Any idea what to drink first or in what order???

well i'm only on drink 1, the 80. i'd leave the rochfort for a bit, maybe start with the flensburger and go darker and stronger from there? I tend to start light and go dark (both in abv and color) but thats just me.

the fraoch is quite strong flavor too. the danger here is if you go strong flavor it'll taint your next beer or 2. I'd get the circlemaster over with early - don't leave it till the end or you'll be (relatively) disappointed i think.

oh and get them off the cooker QUICK! <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

&amp;quot;kenmc&amp;quot;:18l2me9l wrote: well i'm only on drink 1, the 80. i'd leave the rochfort for a bit, maybe start with the flensburger and go darker and stronger from there? I tend to start light and go dark (both in abv and color) but thats just me.

the fraoch is quite strong flavor too. the danger here is if you go strong flavor it'll taint your next beer or 2. I'd get the circlemaster over with early - don't leave it till the end or you'll be (relatively) disappointed i think.

oh and get them off the cooker QUICK! <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->[/quote:18l2me9l]

lol! Thanks!

I have started with the 1845, I would usually be like yourself and start light and move to dark, I may avoid the strong Belgians until tomorrow (or in the wee hours of tonight!)

Thanks for the suggestions..

&amp;quot;HapyAcid&amp;quot;:2v9abvfe wrote: Also, does anyone know what the "80/-" stands for? Is it similar to the degree's with the Americans?[/quote:2v9abvfe]
As dereko has said, 80/- = 80 shillings (or an old money equvalent of £4) and is usually considered to be the excise duty that was charged on a cask. [url:2v9abvfe]http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_beer#Shilling_categories[/url:2v9abvfe]

However, I've heard Charlie McMaster (a Scottish beer historian) disagree with this explanation. His argument was that in the late 19th century 80/- was a huge amount of money - more than the cost of a cask of beer. He suggested that the "shilling" system was actually a notation of beer strength that had no relation to money.

I automatically thought it meant shillings myself... but I am no expert on that type of stuff!

&amp;quot;kenmc&amp;quot;:1f5cqi23 wrote: I really like Fraoch actually, not had it for a good while..... [/quote:1f5cqi23]
I agree, it is a lovely beer. I've been fortunate to have discovered it on hand pump and in superb form a few times in Edinburgh. <!-- s:o --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_surprised.gif" alt="" title="Surprised" /><!-- s:o --> One of these occasions my necessity to repeatedly sample the stunning quality of the beer resulted in me almost being drunk <!-- s:!: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_exclaim.gif" alt="" title="Exclamation" /><!-- s:!: --> <!-- s:lol: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_lol.gif" alt="" title="Laughing" /><!-- s:lol: -->