Scottish Food Events and Festivals: August 2019
This month's food round-up features beer festivals in Glasgow and Dundee, a healthy dose of veganism, and an evening of agave-based fun
First up this month, a chance to evade the flyerers and mimes of the Fringe with the help of gin. The Gin Fayre brings together some of the country’s best gins under the extremely fancy roof of the Mansfield Traquair, to coincide with International Scottish Gin Day. Not a ‘Day’ that we’re totally familiar with, but if it means the chance to hide in a big old church with a G&T, we’ll play along. 3 Aug, various times, Mansfield Traquair, 15 Mansfield Pl, Edinburgh, £22, tickets via edfringe.com
Up in Dundee, things get a bit hoppier with the Tayside Craft Beer Festival. Duke’s Corner play host to pop-up bars celebrating some of the best breweries across Dundee, Angus, Fife and beyond. You’ll find tasty brews from the likes of Law Brewing and the always-fantastic 71 Brewing, as well as spirits from the much-loved Arbikie distillery and a whole lot more. 4 Aug, from midday, 13 Brown St, Dundee, dukescorner.co.uk
The following weekend, the beer festival merry-go-round lands on Glasgow. First up is the debut of Milngavie Beer Festival, which promises over 25 craft beers by breweries from across Scotland. Early signs are extremely promising, with Jaw Brew (big flavours, equally big eye on sustainability), Brewdog’s Overworks offshoot (sour and funky) and Overtone (amazing beers, extremely cool design) all involved. Throw in the dual promises of hip-hop and pizza, and we’re on board. 10 Aug, from 3pm, Finsbay Loft, 44 Main St, Milngavie, £10, tickets via Eventbrite
Then it’s back into town for the Mono Beer Festival, an animal-free collaboration between the vegan bar/diner/venue and Williams Bros. That means vegan barbecues, cool music and entertainment curated by the Mono crew, and a tap list of exciting beers from Williams and beyond. Oh, and if that hasn’t convinced you, there’s also karaoke. 11 Aug, from 12.30pm, Mono, 12 Kings Court, Glasgow, £5 plus booking fee, tickets via monobeerfest.brownpapertickets.com
And if beer’s not your thing, may we interest you in some tequila? The Good Spirits Co’s regular tastings continue this month, and they’re taking in the extremely prickly, agave-powered world of Tequila and Mezcal. You’ll get a welcome cocktail then work your way through six tequilas and mezcals. A delightful evening, or an evening that ends with you trying to work out how many bottles you can carry home or justify buying in one go? That’s up to you. 10 Aug, 7pm, Good Spirits Co, 23 Bath St, Glasgow, £25, tickets from Good Spirits Co or 0141 258 8427.
Staying in Glasgow, GVG Fest (that’s Go Vegan Govan) returns for its second outing this month. It’s a free event featuring a variety of vegan traders and producers, with the goal of giving info and support to people who want to move towards a plant-based diet. 24 Aug, from 11am, The Pearce Institute, 860 Govan Road, Glasgow, free entry, facebook.com/govegangovan
Finally, it’s the return of the equally altruistic Beer Makes Glasgow. A charity beer festival with all proceeds going directly to Drumchapel Food Bank, it’s a great chance to do some good while also working your way around some of Scotland’s best breweries. More than 40 beers from over a dozen breweries; that’s a whole lot of charity to get through. 30 & 31 Aug, various times, Drygate, 85 Drygate, Glasgow, £5, tickets via citizenticket.co.uk