Clachaig Mocha Stout - "It does what it says on the tin"

Recent visitors to the bar may have noticed a new beer on the handpumps  - a Clachaig Mocha Stout, the result of a collaboration brew with Fiona & Euan at the Loch Lomond Brewery.

Originally it was intended to be the latest home brew project, but finding the time always proved difficult. So when those folks at Loch Lomond suggested they give a hand, it was too good an opportunity to miss. Besides, any day away from the office is a good day. Why a mocha stout? Simply because that's what was tickling the taste buds when deciding what beer to brew next. Three of our favourite vices, beer, coffee & chocolate, in one glass. What's not to like?

So, it was an early morning start for the drive down to Alexandria at the bottom end of Loch Lomond, arriving to find Euan had already got the kettle on. No early morning cuppa followed though, he was simply making sure we'd plenty of hot water for the first stage of the brewing process.

First things first, we started by raiding the grain store for the various malts needed for this brew. A job made much easier thanks to the fork lift truck.

Unfortunately, neither Apple or Google have come up with a scratch 'n'sniff app, so you'll just have to take our word for it... the aroma from the mash was superb. Hints of roasted coffee and chocolate aromas were already coming through from the mash, though these from the various malts, rather than actual coffee or chocolate additions which would come later.

"What goes in, must come out". No fancy high tech plant here. Beer is still brewed the good old fashioned way. Hand crafted you could say.
"So. How do we get the spent grains out then?"
Next thing I know, I'm reminded of that scene in The Good, The Bad & the Ugly, with Clint Eastwood lobbing a shovel at Eli Wallach...
"You see, in this World there's two kinds of people my friend,.. you dig!"

Aroma hops are added at "flame out", and the hot wort is cooled, filtered and transferred to the fermentation vessel where the yeast is left to do its work. Here too, come the last additions, as roasted coffee grounds and cocoa nibs are added towards the end of fermentation.

Once fermentation is complete, it's off the the conditioning tank to allow the flavours to mature, before being racked into casks for the journey to Glencoe. A few more days final conditioning in our cellar, and it's time to taste the result.

Our verdict? We got what we were looking for, and it "does what it says on the tin". Rich coffee and chocolate flavours much in evidence, without overpowering the beer. But, of course, if you really want to know how it turned out, then there's only one way to find out. Pop in for a pint.  
Slàinte!

Refurb at Riverbank

Hot on the heels of giving Oak Tree Lodge a complete overhaul, we're now well on with giving Holly Tree and Cherry Tree Cottages at Riverbank Holiday Cottages the same treatment.

Both cottages are due for a bit of a decorate, but we struggle to do things in small measures, and so it's turned into a little more than that. The aim is to bring the cottages bang up to date with a fresh new look which, combined with the exclusive riverside location on the fringes of Glencoe village, will make them the perfect holiday retreat.

Holly Tree Lounge - cupboard removed to make things much more spacious

Cherry Tree - Harled walls covered over and a complete top to bottom overhaul

New floor coverings, new bedding and curtains, completely new bathrooms, and some new furniture are common themes. In addition, we're making the lounge in Holly Tree Cottage much bigger by removing a cupboard in the corridor and modifying the entry door into the kitchen / dining area. The result will be a much more spacious living dining space. The patio door is also being replaced, allowing for ease of access to the lovely riverbank area.

Cherry Tree - New wet walling for the showers

We're also getting to grips with the gardens and improving the access to the river side. It's an absoloutely stunning spot, hidden from the rest of the world. A great place to sit by the river with a beer from the fridge and watch the ducks float by.

Cherry Tree - Ready for the sink

Holly Tree Bathroom - but no bath!

Holly Tree bathroom - completely stripped

Holly Tree bathroom - even the floor is replaced

Holly Tree lounge - the remains of the cupboard about to go

Holly Tree Lounge - a hint of the sense of space with the new configuration

How many toilets?

Cherry Tree Lounge - mind the carpet!

All being well we'll be finished in about a fortnight and ready to roll for the rest of the season. Watch this space or sign up to our eNews and/or follow Clachaig on Facebook.

Better still, visit our Clachaig Holidays web site and book your self catering holiday in Glencoe for summer 2017.

32 years of Winter Mountain Safety Lectures

Well, that's it all done and over with for another year. The 32nd year of Clachaig's Winter Mountain Safety Lectures drew to a close last night with locally based IFMGA Mountain Guide Mike Pescod looking at the Human Factors in Decision Making.

Attentive faces in the Boots Bar

Without doubt, the winter of 2017 has been a challenging season (so far, at least!) for everyone involved with the Scottish winter mountain scene, whether that's skiers, climbers or pubs who serve beer and food to skiers and climbers. However, despite rather fickle winter conditions, the numbers attending the safety lectures have again been very encouraging. Hopefully, when (if!) winter does finally arrive, the topics covered and the lessons learned will still be remembered, and enjoyable days on the hills will be had by all.

Mike in full swing

Once again, there's a huge thanks due to everyone involved. To our team of lecturers, some of whom faced the crowds at Clachaig for the first time, and some who can almost be regarded as old hands on the circuit. These guys live and work in the the mountains, and between them have an incredible depth and breadth of experience and knowledge to share with us. Thank you all.


And thanks once again to Mammut UK, for their continued sponsorship of the series. We passionately believe that to reach the widest audience possible, the lectures should be free to everyone. That continues to be possible with the support of Mammut. So, to you, we also offer our sincere thanks.

Lots of lovely goodies from Nevisport

Fort William (and beyond!) retailers Nevisport come along to each of our presentations. They back up the support given by Mammut with their intimate product knowledge and their enthusiasm for all those bits of shiny new kit that you know you just need to have. Nevisport, you've been troupers through February, and it's been great to have you on hand again.

The Big Winter Raffle continues through until the close of FebruaryFest at the weekend. We've already reached 4 figures raised, and look forward to seeing the final sum when it's all added up. The safety remit broadened slightly this year, with the funds going to help establish heart-start defibrillators in the south Lochaber villages. To everyone who bought a ticket or donated one of the fabulous prizes, another huge thank you.

How winter at Clachaig should look

Read more about the 32 years of our lectures on our web site. Got some ideas or some feedback for us? We'd love to hear it.

There's still time for some of this before spring arrives

We thoroughly intend being back for year number 33. Planning starts in September and we'll be back in the Boots Bar on Tuesday evenings in February 2018. Till then, stay safe out there!

A new look at Clachaig Chalets and Lodges

It's time for the big reveal as our refurbishment of Oak Tree Lodge draws to a close. The popular family lodge has had a top to bottom makeover, and is now ready for letting again for the 2017 season.

Located in the grounds of Clachaig Inn, Oak Tree Lodge has always been an extremely popular choice with our guests. With some privacy from the inn, it is still just a short walk away, offering the best of both worlds; a stunning location in the heart of the glen, and yet just yards away from a pint and the real fire of the Boots Bar.

Master bedroom with en suite facilities at Oak Tree Lodge

The lodge sleeps up to 5 guests in 3 bedrooms; one double with en suite shower and toilet facilities, one twin bedded room, and a single bedroom.

Owned and managed by the Daynes family for more than 3 decades, details of Oak Tree Lodge can be found at Clachaig Holidays. Real time availability and booking can be made through the web site.

Lounge / Dining in Oak Tree Lodge

Finishing touches include some antler lighting, and some hints of plaid in the cushions and curtains, offering a subtle reminder of the setting in perhaps Scotland's most scenic Highland glen.

Sit back, relax and enjoy the view of Aonach Dubh and the magnificent glen

 The refurbishment included redecorating throughout, giving a calm contemporary feel to the living accommodation. The main bathroom was completely replaced with new bath, shower, wc and sink complete with vanity unit, plus new lighting, ventilation and heated ladder towel rail. Even the floor and window blind have been renewed! The en suite shower room in the master bedroom has seen a similar makeover.  

New everything in the bathroom at Oak Tree Lodge

A complete makeover for the en suite shower room

  

 In addition, we've also been making a few changes to Rowan Tree Lodge. New limed oak flooring complements the rustic look in the lounge while new hanging and boot storage arrangements at the entrance will come in handy when returning from a bracing walk in the fresh mountain air.

Master Bedroom - Rowan Tree Lodge

 Some updated lighting and art in the bedrooms and a few finishing touches in the bathroom and en suite also contribute to a cosy, fresh feel.

Lounge / Dining - Rowan Tree Lodge

But it's not all over yet. We've still got a few ideas for improving things further, and will also be embarking on a similarly extensive review of things down at Riverbank Holiday Cottages in Glencoe village very shortly.

It's like painting the Forth Road Bridge

It's all change at Oak Tree Lodge this week. The carpets are out, the bath is out, even the toilets are out. And before you think that must leave plenty of room inside, think again. Last we looked it was hard to get in through the door for all the plumbers, joiners, electricians, decorators and carpet fitters who were all hard at work. Yes, it's time for a refurbishment at Oak Tree Lodge.

Everything out - ready for a fortnight of chaos

Keeping on top of things at Clachaig is a bit like painting the Fort Road Bridge. Just when you think you're finished, and everything is looking spick and span, it's time to start all over again.

 

Oak Tree Lodge has served us well. It looked slightly smaller and less well loved back in 1984 when we arrived at Clachaig. By 1988 it was in line for a bit of extending and alteration, although that could probably be better described as a near complete rebuild and a start again.

Preparing for a rebuild circa 1988

It then became a family home for a number of years, and quite possibly a family home with one of the most spectacular views in the country. As we became more established at Clachaig and the enormity of developing the business a little more became slightly less daunting, we were able to move out of the tiny flat in the hotel and take up residence in more salubrious surroundings.

Oak Tree Lodge Lounge (as was)

From 1998 things had changed again and Clachaig Holidays as a self catering business in it's own right came to the fore for the first time.  Oak Tree Lodge came into being as a lovely 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom, 4 star self catering holiday lodge. The rest, as they say, is history. 

The West Face of Aonach Dubh

The lodge is undergoing a complete makeover, and will be available for letting again as of next week. We'll be back with some photographs in due course. In the meantime, we'll be moving on with some new flooring and some less invasive works at Rowan Tree Lodge before moving on to another major overhaul at Riverbank Holiday Cottages in Glencoe village. Remember, it's like painting the Forth Road Bridge...!

For booking enquiries, please see Clachaig Holidays, with real time availability and ease of online booking for all our 4 star self catering chalets and cottages in Glencoe and Ballachulish.

Ballachulish Santa Swim

Ever wondered what Santa does when he's finished a long shift delivering pressies to everyone? Well, he takes a nice refreshing swim in the loch, of course! 

Mr & Mrs Claus

On Christmas morning, Santa invites anyone mad enough to join him and Mrs Claus for a swim in Loch Leven. And the odd thing is that there was a fair crowd to join them this year. Even Santa didn't see that one coming.

 

18 hardy souls took to the water on Christmas morning

In all 18 hardy souls, plus 2 daft collies, met at the lochside by the Isles of Glencoe for a bit of a dip / swim. Storm Barbara was just abour ready to move on. Storm Conor was just about to put in an appearance. Out on the loch there were some impressive squalls, and enough white tops on the waves to wonder whether bring the surfboards down wouldn't actually have been a bad idea. Still, if you're going to jump in a loch and get wet anyway, ...

Smiles all round - it must have been fun

Swimming styles varied.  Dave arrived in a dry suit, which was quite a good idea, or at least would have been had he remembered his gloves. His was more of a bob than a swim. For some it was just a quick dip and out. For most at least, there was a lap of the buoy. And the Loch Leven Ladies, a group of regular swimmers on their home turf, there was a full lap of the bay. Alas, no one braved the waters without a suit of some sort this year.

The Loch Leven Ladies setting the pace.

But none of that matters. What does matter was that 18 people had a great time while taking taking part in a random act of madness on Chirstmas morning. They're all heroes. And you can bet that their Christmas dinner tasted absolutely fantastic!

Hmmm.....

Lots of spectators (at the windows) at the Isles of Glencoe Hotel

A drop of 3 degrees over the last couple of days - lots of fresh run off in the loch

Santa seems to have ditched the sleigh in favour of a Ford Transit.

Same place, same time next Christmas Day!

Glencoe Community Defibrillator

During Octoberfest and Febfest we usually try and raise some money for the Glencoe Mountain Rescue Team. However this October we decided to raise money for another local and worth while clause. The Glencoe Community Defibrillator. There will actually be two defibrillators installed. One outside the Glencoe Ambulance Station and the other outside the Ballachulish Medical Centre.

We managed to raise £200 over Octoberfest by donating all money raised from our Pool Competitions and Pub Quizes. There was also money raised by our customers who kindly put a donation in the collection box on the bar which the ladies picked up today. They tell me they have so far raised £3000 of the £4000 needed.

Head over to our website to see what else we do for our local community.

Scottish Independent Brewers gather at Clachaig

If a gathering of lions is referred to as a pride, and a group of baboons is a flange, what then do you think is the collective noun when a collective of Scottish Independent Brewers all find themselves in the same bar?

It would have been handy to know on Thursday (14th April), as that is exactly what happened at Clachaig Inn as a dozen of Scotland’s brewers came together for an informal gathering in Glencoe.  Organised by Clachaig, the idea was to bring together businesses who face very similar issues, but who rarely get to meet and chat.

There was plenty of time to share ideas and talk about the more serious aspects of the business. Unsurprisingly, there was even more time for more frivalous issues, as you might expect from a networking evening with the central theme (and refreshment) being beer.

The main feature of the evening was a blind taste test, with each of the brewers invited to provide one of their brews. Marks were awarded for each beer, with points awarded for appearance, aroma and taste. With the scores totted up, the award for the best beer of the evening was given to The Hector, a smooth sweet stout from An Teallach Ale Co. A special prize (not that special!) was awarded to Carlo from Black Wolf Brewery who was the only one to correctly identify his own beer!

Clachaig director, Guy Daynes, also ensured that there was a special wild card played in the blind tasting, by including his own elderberry stout. It didn’t come last is about all we can say about it!

Everyone was also invited to bring along a few presentation pack samples of their products for a raffle. A fair pile was gathered and with it being a steady night in the bars in midweek April, the chances of winning a prize were high! £210 was raised for Glencoe Mountain Rescue.

The Clachaig kitchen excelled once again with a smorgasbord of tasters from the menu, whilst the Loch Leven session musicians added to the atmosphere with their repertoire of toe tapping tunes.

All told the Clachaig Brewers' Gathering was a resounding success. Naturally, everyone was quite glad to have solved all the problems of the industry solved in one short evening (amazing what tasting a dozen beers can do for you). However, the real success of the evening was simply in bringing everyone together so that for one evening in the year at least there was an opportunity to simply meet up and chat.

An excellent evening and by all accounts one that we’ll have to repeat again.

We look forward to an interesting summer of ales, stouts, lagers and ciders…




Businesses represented included:

Cairngorm Brewery

The Isle of Skye Brewing Co

The Orkney Brewery

Loch Lomond Brewery

Loch Ness Brewery

River Leven Ales

The Cromarty Brewing Co

Black Wolf Brewery

Thistly Cross Cider

Harvistoun Brewery

Williams Brothers Brewing Co

An Teallach Ale Co (Last minute apologies sent)

Also present were

Gordon and Macphail – Whisky Merchants

Letterfinlay Foods

Total Beverage Solutions – Coffee Merchants

Heroes...not just for one day!

Bank holidays always test our service provision to the limit as wave after wave of thirsty & hungry customers descend on us. No sooner has the queue in the boots bar been cleared when another has formed in the lounge snaking its way passed reception and out the front door. 

Residents, passing visitors, seasoned veterans mixed with a generous helping of newbie’s eager to sample our unique atmosphere stand in line, mainly in good humour – well, they are on holiday after all.

The weather helped this year, fantastic hill days with dawn to dusk sunshine, dry as well & not a midgie in sight.

The frontline staff take it in their stride, drinks are dispensed with great alacrity & food orders for all the starving including groups of anywhere between 10 & 30 are dispatched faster than lightning. In the searing heat of the kitchen only the strong survive, these guys are like the SAS - only they don’t take prisoners. Orders are orders and you get what you asked for, timely, hot and don’t dare drop it on the way out.

There is no let up during food service and little relief when the last meals leave the kitchen. In here the chefs have to scrub down and plan the early start required to prepare everything from scratch all over again. Meanwhile through in the boots bar the music is about to start & the big clean up is in progress. Very soon dozens of trays laden with glasses, crockery & debris are added to the already groaning piles behind the scenes……spare a thought for the brave soul who has drawn the short straw, buried somewhere between the sink & the dishwasher.

Back at the frontline the multitude hammer the bar round after round. Ales are changed faster than ever and whisky flies off the shelf, meanwhile the band have the audience stomping their feet & clapping their hands as the clock ticks away on another epic night. Shelves are restocked, floors are swept & toilets are cleaned….who fancies that job? Whilst the chosen trustees are busy with the abacus others serve ‘one for the road’ to a few hardy residents.

In the morning the housekeeping team grit their teeth, they know why the dining room is not quite in the same state that it was left and quickly tidy up before serving up hearty breakfasts with a smile to all our residents, some carry rucksacks with packed lunches whilst others carry hangovers. At reception the dawn patrol bid farewell to our guests who report ‘a great night’, ‘a whale of a time’ and ‘we’ll be back’

To all our guests & customers: We thank you for your company and hope that somewhere amongst the chaos of the bank holiday weekend we managed to look after you.

To our staff: There are times when you test my patience with your shenanigans and you may feel that you are underpaid, undervalued and overworked however; The contribution, resilience & good humour that you all demonstrate under pressure & under strength time & time again is hugely appreciated. 

Thank you!

Gordon

November sunshine

Dry days have been few and far between recently, so when the sun finally comes out to play it's worth taking half an hour to head out and remind yourself of just how good it is living in this spectacular part of the world.

Looking down Glen Coe

Misty Rannoch Moor

Looking towards the Study, Glencoe

The Wee Buachaille

Beinn a Chrulaiste

Autumn mist on the Lairig Gartain.

A saltire flies at half mast outside Sir Jimmy's Glencoe home.