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2 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

I used to quite enjoy a pint of Special, both Tartan and Tennent's.

It was always bottom of the pecking order with the old boys at new year. Once the export and pale ale had gone there was always tartan left. 

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il Duce McTarkin
5 minutes ago, Tazio said:

It was always bottom of the pecking order with the old boys at new year. Once the export and pale ale had gone there was always tartan left. 

 

Pale Ale was the green can, right?

 

I was well underage so never got into that. I loved, and still do love, a can or pint of Export, though.

It was available in glass bottles a couple of years ago and was fantastic. A lot better than the canned stuff.

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Tennents Special 70" was my go to tin, I much preferred it to Export or Tartan.

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The Real Maroonblood
11 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

I used to quite enjoy a pint of Special, both Tartan and Tennent's.

To be honest Tartan Special was mostly the only thing I drunk and the occasional Skol.

Mispent youth.😁

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6 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Pale Ale was the green can, right?

 

I was well underage so never got into that. I loved, and still do love, a can or pint of Export, though.

It was available in glass bottles a couple of years ago and was fantastic. A lot better than the canned stuff.

Yep. Younger’s Pale Ale. When I was a kid I could never work out why it was the darkest coloured beer but called Pale Ale. Whitson’s in Leith was the only place I remember having it on draft. It was a nice drop out the tap but not as good as Export when they were from a can. 

Edited by Tazio
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il Duce McTarkin
3 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

Tennents Special 70" was my go to tin, I much preferred it to Export or Tartan.

 

I bought a 12 can box from Tesco a couple of weeks ago for nostalgia purposes and polished it off in a few hours. Much lower in alcohol than my regular gutrot so went down an absolute treat. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

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Lone Striker
2 hours ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

Looking back Tartan Special was shite.

👍 Aye.  Sampling a pint of Sam Smith's in Yorkshire 40+ years ago was a real eye-opener for me as to just how sh1te our Scottish beers were in comparison.   

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4 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

I bought a 12 can box from Tesco a couple of weeks ago for nostalgia purposes and polished it off in a few hours. Much lower in alcohol than my regular gutrot so went down an absolute treat. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

The Village Inn in Rosewell was a Tennents shop when I started drinking, my Da' was an 80" man, I preferred the 70", a bit more fizz, John the landlord, used to run Diggers for a while, knew how to keep his beer, I was soon onto on draught but still preferred the 70" in a tin. I've not seen it down here but I can get Export in a few places.

Edited by Dawnrazor
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2 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

👍 Aye.  Sampling a pint of Sam Smith's in Yorkshire 40+ years ago was a real eye-opener for me as to just how sh1te our Scottish beers were in comparison.   

It sticks in my craw to say it, but there are some beautiful English beers, I'm spoilt for brewery's around me.

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il Duce McTarkin
2 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

It sticks in my craw to say it, but there are some beautiful English beers, I'm spoilt for brewery's around me.

 

Beer in general has come a long way in the last 10 / 20 years. Some cracking breweries everywhere.

I was in St John's, Newfoundland joining a vessel last week and there are a multitude of local breweries punting out fantastic stuff. 

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Just now, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Beer in general has come a long way in the last 10 / 20 years. Some cracking breweries everywhere.

I was in St John's, Newfoundland joining a vessel last week and there are a multitude of local breweries punting out fantastic stuff. 

Our local posh store stocks a lot of American beers, they seem to be on rotation so plenty of choice, I've had some great IPA's.

I do but some Broughton Brewery beers, I suggest a mixed box a couple of times a year, but my go to now is Vocation, and out local Brewery in Kirkby Lonsdale.

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14 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

It sticks in my craw to say it, but there are some beautiful English beers, I'm spoilt for brewery's around me.

I used to like visiting the in-laws in the midlands to try out the local beers. 

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The Real Maroonblood
19 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

👍 Aye.  Sampling a pint of Sam Smith's in Yorkshire 40+ years ago was a real eye-opener for me as to just how sh1te our Scottish beers were in comparison.   

Absolutely. 

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Lone Striker
11 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

It sticks in my craw to say it, but there are some beautiful English beers, I'm spoilt for brewery's around me.

Indeed.  You can't beat a long-established country pub/hotel in the north of England or Scotland - the atmosphere, history & beers (and usually the meals too) are just so memorable & relaxing.  Sadly there seems to be fewer of them surviving these days - no idea if its down to dwindling custom, or just fewer  folk wanting to rmake a career of running places like that.

7 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Beer in general has come a long way in the last 10 / 20 years. Some cracking breweries everywhere.

I was in St John's, Newfoundland joining a vessel last week and there are a multitude of local breweries punting out fantastic stuff. 

You're right about that.  Its good for the soul knowing you're supporting a  wee local brewery.

 

 

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il Duce McTarkin
12 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

Our local posh store stocks a lot of American beers, they seem to be on rotation so plenty of choice, I've had some great IPA's.

I do but some Broughton Brewery beers, I suggest a mixed box a couple of times a year, but my go to now is Vocation, and out local Brewery in Kirkby Lonsdale.

 

Like some of the Vocation stuff.

In keeping with Edinburgh history, my father-in-law used to taste beer for a living at Drybrough's brewery in Craigmillar once upon a time.

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6 minutes ago, Tazio said:

I used to like visiting the in-laws in the midlands to try out the local beers. 

Folk I'm out with usually take the piss because, if I'm in a pub with a good few different beers on draught, I'll drink half pints, just so I can sample more.

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2 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Like some of the Vocation stuff.

In keeping with Edinburgh history, my father-in-law used to taste beer for a living at Drybrough's brewery in Craigmillar once upon a time.

Dream job!

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2 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

:cornette:

:muggy:

🤣 That's the reaction!

But, in my defence, I've tried and remembered so many more beers than I would've if I'd had pints.

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il Duce McTarkin
1 minute ago, Dawnrazor said:

 

But, in my defence, I've tried and remembered so many more beers than I would've if I'd had pints.

 

:cornette:

 

That's not a defence. You just need to try them a second time. Third even.

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Just now, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

:cornette:

 

That's not a defence. You just need to try them a second time. Third even.

It's a system that works Guv!

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il Duce McTarkin
2 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

It's a system that works Guv!

 

Fair enough. Do you get your drinks here?

 

image.png.ab47214acd7b86b481f446bfffbc4316.png

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Lone Striker
3 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Like some of the Vocation stuff.

In keeping with Edinburgh history, my father-in-law used to taste beer for a living at Drybrough's brewery in Craigmillar once upon a time.

Thats interesting.  My grandad was a cellarman at a brewery in Craigmillar. As part of his "pension", he got a monthly allocation of beer - he'd receive a  monthly voucher in the post for 2 dozen cans of McEwans.  He didn't like the stuff, so gave the vouchers to my Dad - he'd go to the brewery in Russell Road and pick up 2 dozen McEwans Export cans with it.  I vaguely remember going over with him in the car and  having to stand outside.  

 

 

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Just now, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Fair enough. Do you get your drinks here?

 

image.png.ab47214acd7b86b481f446bfffbc4316.png

🤣

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The Real Maroonblood
13 minutes ago, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Like some of the Vocation stuff.

In keeping with Edinburgh history, my father-in-law used to taste beer for a living at Drybrough's brewery in Craigmillar once upon a time.

Drybrough's Keg.

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The Real Maroonblood
12 minutes ago, Dawnrazor said:

Folk I'm out with usually take the piss because, if I'm in a pub with a good few different beers on draught, I'll drink half pints, just so I can sample more.

It's certainly a wise move doing that.

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Lone Striker
7 minutes ago, Morgan said:

Which pub was that, JWL?

 

 

The caption for that photos is -

 

Eric Morecambe and (left) Ernie Wise enjoy a pint of Tennent's lager with Erica, one of the 'can models' when they visit the Heriot brewery at Roseburn, Edinburgh, December 1978.]]>

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7 minutes ago, Lone Striker said:

The caption for that photos is -

 

Eric Morecambe and (left) Ernie Wise enjoy a pint of Tennent's lager with Erica, one of the 'can models' when they visit the Heriot brewery at Roseburn, Edinburgh, December 1978.]]>

I’d imagine they had a ‘foreman’s bar’ in the brewery. I remember my old man taking me for a pint in the one in Scottish Newcastle at Fountainbridge when he worked there. 

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Stuart Lyon
9 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

Thats interesting.  My grandad was a cellarman at a brewery in Craigmillar. As part of his "pension", he got a monthly allocation of beer - he'd receive a  monthly voucher in the post for 2 dozen cans of McEwans.  He didn't like the stuff, so gave the vouchers to my Dad - he'd go to the brewery in Russell Road and pick up 2 dozen McEwans Export cans with it.  I vaguely remember going over with him in the car and  having to stand outside.  

 

 

Can't recall McEwans having a brewery in Craigmillar! The brewery in Russell Road was Tennents brewery!

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10 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

The caption for that photos is -

 

Eric Morecambe and (left) Ernie Wise enjoy a pint of Tennent's lager with Erica, one of the 'can models' when they visit the Heriot brewery at Roseburn, Edinburgh, December 1978.]]>

Thanks.

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10 hours ago, Tazio said:

I’d imagine they had a ‘foreman’s bar’ in the brewery. I remember my old man taking me for a pint in the one in Scottish Newcastle at Fountainbridge when he worked there. 

I remember that too.

 

Was it called the Tartan Club?

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The Real Maroonblood
9 minutes ago, Morgan said:

I remember that too.

 

Was it called the Tartan Club?

Yes.

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8 minutes ago, Morgan said:

I remember that too.

 

Was it called the Tartan Club?

No. The Tartan Club was the workers social club for all the workers. The foreman’s bar was just a small private bar for higher up staff. 

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The Real Maroonblood
1 minute ago, Tazio said:

No. The Tartan Club was the workers social club for all the workers. The foreman’s bar was just a small private bar for higher up staff. 

👍

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10 minutes ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

Yes.

 

9 minutes ago, Tazio said:

No. 

:lol:

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Lone Striker
4 hours ago, Stuart Lyon said:

Can't recall McEwans having a brewery in Craigmillar! The brewery in Russell Road was Tennents brewery!

 It may well have been Fountainbridge  to pick up the McEwans  (my memory isn't the greatest after 50-odd years !!).   From family info, Grandad worked at Maclachlan's  Castle Brewery in Craigmillar after demob from WW1.  He may have gone on to work at other breweries too after getting married. He lived in Dundee Place

 

 

An interesting  wee note about Craigmillar -

 

Craigmillar (not then part of Edinburgh) supported no fewer than 8 breweries. It lay on the line of an underground channel of water-bearing strata which ringed the city, known colloquially as "the Charmed Circle" because  it produced an abundant supply of pure water suitable for brewing.

 

 

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Stuart Lyon
4 hours ago, Lone Striker said:

 It may well have been Fountainbridge  to pick up the McEwans  (my memory isn't the greatest after 50-odd years !!).   From family info, Grandad worked at Maclachlan's  Castle Brewery in Craigmillar after demob from WW1.  He may have gone on to work at other breweries too after getting married. He lived in Dundee Place

 

 

An interesting  wee note about Craigmillar -

 

Craigmillar (not then part of Edinburgh) supported no fewer than 8 breweries. It lay on the line of an underground channel of water-bearing strata which ringed the city, known colloquially as "the Charmed Circle" because  it produced an abundant supply of pure water suitable for brewing.

 

 

http://breweryhistory.com/wiki/index.php?title=Maclachlans_Ltd

This bit of history was new to me so thanks for mentioning Maclachlan's Castle Brewery.

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maroondevo52
On 03/07/2024 at 22:39, il Duce McTarkin said:

 

Like some of the Vocation stuff.

In keeping with Edinburgh history, my father-in-law used to taste beer for a living at Drybrough's brewery in Craigmillar once upon a time.

I painted the inside of a chimney in that brewery when I was an apprentice painter.

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J.T.F.Robertson
6 hours ago, Chief Miekelson said:

Back in the 70s I had a mate who worked at S&N and he had a monthly freebie of a couple of cases. Apparently the idea was that if they gave the staff something for free it might stop them thieving. It didn't, obviously. 


As did I.

He had a monthly allocation which we walloped on our third and last holiday to Newquay.

Previous to that, in ‘67, he wangled a ride down to London for our first Wembley trip.

Dropped us off on a foggy morning on Waterloo Bridge, coincidentally when the Kinks “Waterloo Sunset” was a biggie.

Reminiscing again. :sleeping:

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Edinburgh retro: 25 great pictures of the Capital's roads, cars and traffic in the 1950s and 1960s

 

I was actually in The Baillie on Monday afternoon. Wee bit different outside now.

Edited by JWL
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The Real Maroonblood
8 minutes ago, JWL said:

 

Edinburgh retro: 25 great pictures of the Capital's roads, cars and traffic in the 1950s and 1960s

 

I was actually in The Baillie on Monday afternoon. Wee bit different outside now.

It’s quite a decent pub.

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2 minutes ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

It’s quite a decent pub.

 

It's a great wee bar. Would never class myself as a regular but always pop in for a couple if I'm down Stockbridge way.

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The Real Maroonblood
2 minutes ago, JWL said:

 

It's a great wee bar. Would never class myself as a regular but always pop in for a couple if I'm down Stockbridge way.

Same here.

Funny enough I’m liable to be paying a visit tomorrow.🍺

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18 minutes ago, The Real Maroonblood said:

Same here.

Funny enough I’m liable to be paying a visit tomorrow.🍺

 

Well I may be in myself as I'm getting bored shitless sitting in the house after my knee op. 

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The Real Maroonblood
17 minutes ago, JWL said:

 

Well I may be in myself as I'm getting bored shitless sitting in the house after my knee op. 

Enjoy your refreshment and get well soon.

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