A zesty night in Porto

Ahoi #BeerSaturday crew – it’s been a while since I featured a post here. I’ll keep the following both short and sweet.

As the dusk settles on yet another week, I can't help but reflect on the whirlwind of change that 2024 has ushered in… Saying goodbye to the familiar and embracing the unknown has been both exhilarating and daunting. Whilst navigating a sea of challenging moments, I’ve discovered a profound appreciation for one constant: friends.

Homemade satsuma marmalade. A gift from a work colleague. Advised to take a spoonful with my morning coffee.

Each level of companionship brings its own set of benefits and challenges. From surface-level contacts to close-knit family ties, the relationships you have contribute to the vast richness (and complexity) of, well, life... After all, they say you are the ten closest people to you. (So it pays to pick them wisely!)

I’m fortunate – I’ve met some pretty remarkable individuals in my time who’ve kept me grounded. And a handful of them joined me on Sunday to celebrate over frothy brews at one of the cheeriest riverside settings, The Portobello Tap.

The Portobello Tap > source

Last week, quite surreptitiously, my colleague Lizzie mentioned that her partner was a fiddler in band - a band that performed at the local watering hole on weekends. Intrigued by the promise of live music (and spurred by the ache of not having my piano near at hand) I proposed a night out to witness Pete's performance first-hand! The team agreed and a date was set, haha!

Lizzie and her cocker-spaniel Fred greeted me warmly at her front door on the chosen eve. Ever the gracious hostess, the first thing she did was hand me a book of cocktail concoctions and told me to pick one. This book was the culmination of her immersion into the captivating world of mixology. Filled with recipes collected over countless hours spent listening her way through all 206 episodes of the Poisoners Cabinet podcast. T'was bloody awesome.

I chose "The Red Lion" (does this count, @hoosie?) and oh, the resulting golden fusion was absolutely delicious. I’ll include the ingredients below in case anyone here wants to give it a go.

The Red Lion
1 ½ shots of gin (37.5ml)
1 shot grand marrier (20ml)
1 shot orange juice (20ml)
1/3 shot lemon juice (8 ml)
1 tsp grenadine
1 tsp sugar syrup
1 dash orange bitter

Preparing "The Red Lion" cocktail

A testament to her meticulous attention to detail, Lizzie even let ice sit in the glass for five minutes while she prepared the drinks in order to chill the vessel. She also rolled the rim in sugar. (How indulgent!) As we savoured the libations, the distant beat of traditional Scottish folk music drifted in through the open windows, beckoning us to join in the revelry at the pub down the lane.

For those seeking a taste of Scotland's brewing prowess, the Portobello Pub has a back bar that boasts ten ever-changing rotational craft beer lines. The board (photographed below) showcased this week's offerings. They came from independent breweries across the nation, including collaborative brews with Cross Borders and other allies. I only wanted one beer, so the pressure was on to pick the right pint...!

Quite softly-spoken - despite the effort I put in to being LOUD - I couldn't get my order across and in the end had to sign my demands to the barman, cross my heart and hope for the best. I ordered #1: "Leith Juice", an orange session IPA (in keeping with the colour theme).

Option 1: Leith Juice > source

Drinks in hand, we met up with the others at a table in the corner. I felt so alive in the cosy embrace of that century-old pub, the air reverberating with the soul-stirring melody of traditional folk music and good cheer, surrounded by new pals. On the back of straining fiddles and the chirping of flutes, both history and emotion made the air palpable… I couldn’t help but feel transported back to a time when tales were spun over ale whilst hearth fires burned bright. Where, like today, friends would gather around tables to laugh, listen, and cheer the musicians on.

Of late, I find myself reminded that kindling close friendships, establishing kindred spirits, can illuminate the depth of trust, honesty, and mutual respect we all have the potential to share as human beings. Whilst newer bonds, (such as those now forming with my colleagues here in Edinburgh) are cultivated through common interests and the fundamental need for companionship, support, and understanding. This closeness is integral.

And then there are the acquaintances I’ve met here on the Hive Blockchain. The seemingly casual yet meaningful social interactions with individuals near and far online. It’s pulled the world in around me like a blanket. I feel I can snuggle up within it, fully content in broaching fresh terrain without any fear of judgement or condemnation.

It's fun - this is fun!

I enjoy interacting with people like you in communities like this (YAY for #beer!).

I’ve met some wonderfully warm, engaging, and inspiring people here on Hive. Take the following image as me sharing a virtual beer with you.

BeerSaturday pint

Anyway, suffice it to say, I wouldn’t rate the beer I had very highly - on any chart - beer or otherwise, haha. Hoppy, zesty... the mark of so much potential... But this sunny IPA was just not to my liking. I found the taste lacking, a little too dilute. But where the beer went amis, music and company filled the void. In the background echoes of ancient ballads spinning tales of love, loss, and rebellion... and in front of me passion, laughter, and newfound friendships.

Thus ends this #BeerSaturday post, in midst of the flickering light and heady scent of peat smoke.

Disclaimer
Blogger: @actaylor
Photographs: unless otherwise noted, all images were taken by me with an iPhone 8.