Scottish Food News – July 2016

We begin with wars, and specifically a screening of documentary Beer Wars at Glasgow’s CCA. A “no holds barred exploration of the U.S. beer industry,” Beer Wars looks at the ongoing pitched battles between big-time mass-production breweries and smaller craft enterprises. It’s a delicious David vs Goliath clash, and really, isn’t that the best kind? 2 Jul, 6.30pm, 350 Sauchiehall St, free, tickets via ccaglasgow.org.uk

In further beer-related news, the Glasgow West End Beer Festival returns to Hillhead at the start of July, with beers from the likes of Stewart, Fallen, WEST and Jaw Brew on offer. The weather will probably be terrible, he said, having just dodged a late June rainstorm, but at least the beer will be good. Lovely beer, solving all sorts of problems this month. 1 & 2 Jul, various times, Cafe Source Too, 32 Hughenden Rd, £6   

Next up, a couple more events making their return to our food round-up. First up, the chance to sit in the pitch black, with the return of Whisky in the Dark to Edinburgh on 8 July. The concept explains itself – you drink whisky, in the dark. You’ll try out five whiskies without any pesky visuals to distract you and your tastebuds, with live music to add to the experience while also helping you to echolocate everyone else in the room. You’ll be like an incredibly cultured bat, and we don’t get to say that every month. 8 Jul, 5pm and 8.30pm, Mash House, 37 Guthrie St, £22.50, tickets via whiskybusiness.scot

Also returning to Edinburgh this month is the Scottish Real Ale Festival at the Corn Exchange. Expect around 170 beers from brewers across Scotland, as well as dozens of ciders drawn from the length and breadth of the UK, all together under one roof for you to manfully attempt to work your way through. 7-9 Jul, 12-10.30pm, 10 New Market Rd, £6, sraf.camra.org.uk

In Glasgow, a new coffee competition dubbed the Scottish Barista Battle launches this month at For Fika’s Sake in Partick. Modelled on the Swedish concept of the ‘Barista League’, the battle aims to take all the challenge and networking potential of a standard coffee competition and separate it from the expensive and stressful bits. There will be sensory challenges, there will be mystery challenges, and everything will smell of tasty, tasty coffee which is always a bonus. Let battle commence, we say. 26 Jul, 7.30pm, 7 Keith Street, register via Eventbrite 

Finally for July, it’s almost time to get ready for the Edinburgh Fringe! Woo! Wait, don’t walk away just yet. The Edinburgh Food Festival returns after last year’s pre-Fringe slot, filling George Square Gardens with a host of foodie stalls, stands and events in the week ahead of Artsmageddon. Among this year’s highlights are a visit from Glasgow pop-up restaurant Section 33 on 30 July, and a free talk and demonstration from Shirley Spear and Scott Davies of the much-loved Three Chimneys restaurant on the Isle of Skye the following day – head to edfoodfest.com for more details on this year’s programme.

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Find more events and new venues at theskinny.co.uk/food