Free Republic

20 years ago, my wife gave away my carboy and put dog food in my ABS plastic bucket that I did my first ferments in. I have constantly reminded her of that violation. This Christmas, she bought two brew kits for me. So of course, I had to try it out right away. I did a kit for a Honey Brown Ale - Similar to Newcastle. Yesterday, I cracked open a bottle with friends.

AN ARCHAEOLOGIST recently recreated a neolithic brew based on ingredients excavated in Perthshire. The resulting ale tasted unpleasant, but clearly those who drank it originally were not put off. Ever since, the production and consumption of alcohol has been central to Scotland?s culture. It wasn?t just home-produced brew for which Scots developed a taste. Scotland did brisk international trade exporting a wide range of goods in exchange for claret, imported from France to Leith as early as the 12th century. Subsequently, wines from Spain were landed in Dumbarton, bound for Glasgow. In the other direction, export ales were developed from...