Peebelsshire News covers the launch of Referendum Ale at Traquair House, with mentions of Beyond Borders and Mark Muller Stuart KC.

Beer drinkers are being given a helping hand as they consider their independence vote – with the introduction of a new brew

Referendum Ale is being marketed as ‘a strong ale for an independent thinker’ – to help stimulate debate before Scotland’s historic vote on September 18.

First Minister Alex Salmond launched the new product from the Traquair House Brewery, Innerleithen. The limited edition bottling, commissioned by Beyond Borders, will be served at the fifth freethinking International Festival of Literature and Thought, at Traquair House on Saturday and Sunday, August 23 and 24.

Beyond Borders director Mark Muller Stuart said the bottled Referendum Ale could help “to celebrate your triumph, or drown your sorrows.”

Mr Salmond also launched the festival programme and art exhibition of Peter Sacks’ The Debatable Land, which runs at Traquair until October 5.

Mr Muller Stuart said: “Every summer we turn Traquair House by the River Tweed in the Scottish Borders, into a gathering place for world cultures to meet, talk and exchange ideas on the most pressing issues of our time.

“In this historic year for Scotland both internationally and nationally, our programme of debates, books, art and films explores themes of secrecy, Ukraine, Syria, Iran, Azerbaijan, Iraq, the Commonwealth, and, of course, the Scots’ biggest decision in 300 years.”

Before then, Traquair Brewery’s draught Referendum Ale will be on tap at its Beyond Beer Festival tomorrow (Saturday, August 2) and Sunday (August 3), when festival-goers can ‘vote with beer’ by choosing from either of two pumps, labelled: ‘An Independent Ale for an Independent Drinker’ or ‘A Strong Ale for a Strong Union’. A straw poll will be held at the end of the weekend, to measure voters’ lurch to ‘Yes’ or ‘No’.

Traquair’s first Beyond Beer Festival explores new frontiers in brewing, with tasting talks matching ales to music and a six-course banquet in the 18th Century dining room, featuring Lindisfarne Oysters, Peelham Farm charcuterie, Ettrick Valley smoked salmon, a Border cheeseboard and dark chocolate stout cake.

Meet the brewers, and taste the brews, of 25 Scottish craft beers on pump, including the Borders-own Scottish Borders Brewery, Tempest, Broughton Ales, Traquair, and new addition Freewheelin’, beside those from further afield, such as Knops, Stewart and Arran. There will also be local food producers The Juicy Meat Company, Peelham Farm, Breadshare, Overlangshaw Ice Cream, The Sunflower, and The Secret Herb Garden. Jazz and blues plays all day from the Dias Quartet, the Nova Scotia Band, Hot Tin Roof, the Duck Pond Beer Band and the Border Boogie Band.

Festival organiser Catherine Maxwell Stuart, the 21st Lady of Traquair, said: “We have been seeing a huge increase in the popularity of craft beers and this will be a great opportunity to try some different styles and discover how well beers and food match in a beautiful setting and home of Scotland’s oldest micro brewery.”

Saturday starts at 12 noon with ‘The F Word: How Fermentation Rules The World’, a look at humans’ love affair with beer, with writer Jane Peynton, Principal of the School of Booze, author of Beer o’ Clock, and Britain’s Beer Sommelier of the Year.

Beer-taster Roger Protz, author of the best-selling 300 Beers To Try Before You Die, then explores the future of beer.

On Sunday the UK’s best beer blogger Pete Brown matches beers with music, before brewer Sophie De Ronde, who spearheaded the first International Women’s Brew Day in March this year, joins Jane Peynton to introduce more women to ale.

Read the full article here:

http://www.peeblesshirenews.com/news/innerleithen/articles/2014/08/03/505680-first-minister-launches-referendum-ale/