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Report

The Manor visit was organised between Steve and Martin. Ironically, Steve could not attend as the Manor coincided with a family holiday. It’s funny how the opportunity to visit a brewery generated so much interest and the eight available places were snapped up very quickly. Five Knights and two guests (one no show) met at the Royal Dick bar, situated within the former Royal Dick Vet building at Summerhall Place. The Royal (Dick) vet building has found a new lease of life as a creative hub for the arts with studio and workshop spaces. Plus some small business enterprise units, one of which is occupied by Barney’s Beer. The tour began with a sample of Barney’s ‘Good Ordinary Pale Ale’ (3.8% abv) served in the comfortable and quirky Royal Dick bar before proceeding to the brew house. The eponymous Barney’s Beer was founded by Alan Barnett about two and a half years ago and claims to be Edinburgh’s only micro brewery. Interestingly, this brewery occupies the site of an older large scale brewery founded in 1794 and closed circa 1909. Barney spoke enthusiastically about his product which is produced in relatively small batches of draught and bottled beers using six large stainless steel vessels and assorted paraphernalia required in the alchemy of beer making. A sample of Beet Red Beer (3.9% abv) was offered in the brew house and the visit concluded with yet another sample, this time Volcano Beer (5% abv) which is the strongest brew made by Barney’s. It seems that The Dick Vet bar had not anticipated a visit from the Cape Society and supplies of draught ‘Good Ordinary Pale Ale’ were quickly exhausted. However, Sir Neil came up with a resourceful, though a tad expensive solution and instructed the barman to create seven pints using small bottles of beer. Those wanting to try Barney’s Beer can find it served on draught and in bottles from several pubs, including Reverie, The Peartree, Summerhall Royal Dick,The Village, Doctors, The Cambridge plus off licence merchants Cork & Cask and Great Grog. (For more info see http://www.barneysbeer.com/barneyshome.php) The now quite merry group, minus one guest who departed to get a bus home to Peebles, made its way to the Green Mantle where they were greeted by William. Traditions befitting the old Cape Club were re-captured with Knights and guest quaffing ale and feasting on pub grub whilst engaging in lively discussion with such topics as ‘what was the best 80’s band’ (yes, I release that the 18th century Knights would not have had that discussion!) and also a somewhat heated debate regarding Scottish independence (which they probably would have discussed). Following a well trodden Cape tradition, the Knights staggered onwards to the Royal Oak where the evening merely descended into drunken chaos. Despite being fast asleep, Neil managed to prop up the bar, still clutching his pint!

(This report was kindly penned by Colin while regular recorder, Steve was away on holiday.)