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Press and Journal
04-06-2025
- Business
- Press and Journal
I try the BrewDog brewery tour in Ellon - is it worth £20?
I visited BrewDog DogTap this weekend – for what was probably the fiftieth time – but my first time inside the actual brewery. People either love or hate BrewDog, but there is no denying the bar and restaurant in Ellon is always busy. I've visited with my family for special occasions, catch-ups and spent God knows how much on beer and wings. But I have never done the brewery tour. Intrigued by the affordable £20 price tag for the 1.5 hour tour, I booked my dad and I in for the tour. A pre-Father's Day treat, if you will. As part of me expected, I'm the only woman on the tour. There's me, my dad and a group of men possibly there on a stag do. Our enthusiastic tour guide, Lisa, meets us at the upstairs bar at BrewDog DogTap in Ellon. We immediately get a taste of BrewDog beer while we get kitted out in goggles and high-vis. It's just gone 12, but it's five o'clock somewhere, right? Sadly as the designated driver, I'm limited to AF. But my first taste of the day, Lost AF, is always a hit with me. We head out of DogTap Ellon towards BrewDog HQ next. On our way Lisa – self-proclaimed historian and bartender – talks through some of BrewDog's history. She makes several references to BrewDog's beginnings in the Broch, stating the bar relocated to Ellon because 'Fraserburgh decided they didn't want us.' And that iconic colourful artwork on the side of the DogTap building? Lisa explains that it was done by an artist who was caught graffiti-ing on the old Fraserburgh bar. How punk. We arrive in BrewDog HQ, heading up a spiral staircase into the main offices of the Ellon team. This is a real peek behind the curtain. I didn't meet James Watt, but I did get a glimpse into his psyche. Though Lisa does admit that 'we [BrewDog] are no longer punk', souvenirs of the beer's rebellious and outrageous beginnings fill the place. There are photos of the 2012 protest when the team drove a BrewDog tank down Camden High Street. Other memorabilia draws into focus the success of what began as a small Aberdeenshire brewery run by two mates and their OG Brew Dog Bracken. Lining the walls are prints of each of the BrewDog bars across the world. These fill every inch of wall in a belt. It is impossible not to be impressed by the scale of something which started off in a 'tiny, derelict shed', and has since spread around the world. BrewDog opened 15 bars in 2015 alone. Key names of other locations opened over the years stick out to me: Paris, Budapest, Reykjavik, São Paulo, Stockholm. All the way fae the Broch. Suitably impressed – despite our fellow tour attendees talking over Lisa – we head into another room for our second tasting, and to learn more about the beer. I'm proud to say I name three of the four main elements in beer, teacher's pet that I am. My dad sneaks in there by naming the most obvious: water. There's also hops, malt and yeast. Now it's time for another beer sample. This time, it's Punk AF for me. My dad and the other drinkers enjoy a taste of the Hazy Jane Guava IPA. He isn't a sweet tooth, but is actually a big fan of this. The fruitiness isn't overpowering or sickly. The brewery tour continues with our progress into the brewery itself. Now it's time for us to don our goggles, and me to tie up my hair. Inside the brewery, we get a look at the mash tuns – yes, these play a part in whisky distillation and beer brewing. I've visited several breweries before for interviews, but it's interesting to see this on a tour perspective too. The bitesize explanations and handy infographics would make this comprehensible even for a total beer novice. It's also pretty cool to see the canning process on the go too. Watching cans flee along the line, then head out the door packaged on pallets. After this, we return our high-vis in exchange for a token we can redeem for a final beer at BrewDog DogTap. All in all, the BrewDog Brewery Tour was great. The chatty group was slightly distracting at points, but it provided a great insight into the north-east beer giants. It was fun to see the behind-the-scenes of the beer I've been enjoying for years, and learn about the history of the business while standing where employees do every day. My dad who has been drinking beer longer than I've been alive, said: 'It was enjoyable and informative, and great to see the brewing process from start to finish. 'What an achievement creating a huge global operation from humble beginnings with two men and a dog. 'It's nice to see an Aberdeenshire business thrive like that.' For me, it is well worth the £20 price tag.
Press and Journal
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Highland League midfielder Callan Gray's second charity game for late cousin will aid Crimond and Aberdeen mental health causes
Callan Gray wants to ensure his late cousin Preston Casey-Turnbull is never forgotten as the new Fraserburgh midfielder prepares for the second charity match in his memory. Last year Gray and his family organised a game to honour Preston – who died aged 14 in May 2023 – and raised more than £8,000 for charity. On Saturday another match is being staged at Buchanhaven Hearts' Raemoss Park with kick-off at 3pm. Admission is free, but there will be donation buckets for anyone who wishes to contribute. There are also a selection of raffle prizes including a signed Aberdeen shirt, hospitality for four at a Fraserburgh home game and a Rangers stadium tour hamper. As well as the game, Gray's cousin Mikie Leel is going to be taking part in a skydive in St Andrews on July 28 to raise funds. The proceeds from the match and the skydive are to be donated to Crimond-based mental health charity Shirley's Space and ACIS Youth, a mental health charity in Aberdeen. Fraserburgh midfielder Gray said: 'Last year was really good and we raised a lot of money. 'We're not expecting to get close to last year's amount, but I think the reason for doing it this year is to keep Preston's name alive. 'Anything we can raise for the charities is great, but a big part of doing it is to make sure Preston's never forgotten. 'Mental health is being spoken about more, but I still think a lot of people feel uneasy or uncomfortable speaking about. 'So even if we can help in that regard with raising awareness and trying to make it easier for people then that would be great. 'It's good to be able to do this and raise some money and potentially help folk who might be in the same situation as Preston. 'When you've been through it with someone you're close to and you see how it effects a whole family, if you can raise money which might help other people and help other families not to have to go through that then it's a good thing.' A number of Breedon Highland League players are taking part in Saturday's game, including Gray's former Turriff United team-mates Dylan Stuart, Andrew Watt, Lee Herbert, Murray Cormack, David Dey, Connor Grant and Max Foster. His new boss at Fraserburgh, Mark Cowie, and assistant manager James Duthie are also participating. Gray added: 'I appreciate everyone being willing to play. Whether they play football or not, I appreciate everyone being willing to take part. 'It's a charity game and we've got a good mix of players and the game will be played in the right spirit like it was last year – ultimately it's a bit of fun. 'I also need to say thank you to everyone who has sponsored players taking part, everyone who has donated raffle prizes and Buchanhaven Hearts for allowing us to use Raemoss Park.'
Press and Journal
07-05-2025
- Sport
- Press and Journal
Highland League digest: Fraserburgh management sign extensions while Clachnacuddin tie up key man
Manager Mark Cowie says he is hungry to deliver more success for Fraserburgh after he and assistant manager James Duthie signed contract extensions. The duo, who are the longest-serving management team in the Breedon Highland League, have put pen to paper on deals until the summer of 2029. Since their appointment in April 2015 Cowie and Duthie have led the Broch to the Breedon Highland League title, four Evening Express Aberdeenshire Cups and four Morrison Motors (Turriff) Aberdeenshire Shields. Cowie hopes there are more good days ahead, and said: 'We're on the cusp of a transition or a rebuild of our squad in the years to come and it would maybe have been easy for James and I to walk away. 'But we've still got the fire in our belly to oversee that and to continue doing the job and trying to make the club as successful as we can. 'We're delighted we'll be at Fraserburgh for years to come.' Preparing for the future Looking ahead, Cowie is preparing for a time when some of Fraserburgh's stalwarts decide to hang up their boots. But he is confident the Bellslea outfit can continue to challenge for silverware as new faces come into the fold. He added: 'We need to make sure we're pushing on the next generation of players and we've already started doing that. 'We've got guys like Willie West, Bryan Hay, Jamie Beagrie, Paul Young and Scott Barbour who I love to bits and who have been a massive part of the success the club has had. 'There will come a day when they're no longer playing, but they're as hungry as ever. Mark Cowie has won nine trophies as Fraserburgh manager. 'When you're getting towards the end of your time, it makes you more determined to be successful – and they're putting in more than ever before to try to be successful. 'I don't think they're at the end yet. They've still got a few more good years ahead of them. 'We want the club to continue being successful, so to do that we need to set the standards and the players need follow them. 'It's our job to make sure that new players that come to the club and youngsters that come through achieve what they're capable of. 'The club has been really good to me. I was a nobody 10 years ago who threw my hat into the ring for the job. 'The club gave me the job and a lot of trust has been placed in me during the last 10 years and there's more trust being placed in me with this contract extension. 'I want to give back to the club, I'll be doing my best for the club and hopefully it can be a good period for us.' Banks o' Dee trio sign on Meanwhile, Banks o' Dee have announced Lachie MacLeod, Mark Gilmour and Magnus Watson have signed contract extensions. The trio have enjoyed plenty of success in both the Junior and Highland League ranks during their time at Spain Park. As part of their new deals striker MacLeod and midfielder Gilmour are set to receive testimonials as they close in on a decade of service in the first-team. Midfielder Watson has broken through in recent years and returned to action towards the end of the season after a long spell on the sidelines. Key business for Clachnacuddin Conor Gethins reckons securing James Anderson on a new contract is a massively important piece of business for Clachnacuddin. The striker, who netted 23 goals in the 2024-25 season, only had a year left on his deal, but has penned an extension to stay with the Lilywhites beyond the summer of 2026. After finishing sixth in the Breedon Highland League, manager Gethins reckons it's crucial the likes of Anderson remain at Grant Street if Clach are to progress again next term. Gethins said: 'I think it's a massively important piece of business to keep a goalscorer like James. James Anderson has committed his future to Clach. 'There's been quite a significant bit of interest in James over the last year. 'He finished the season really strongly and when I spoke to him about the season, being honest he didn't really kick into gear until November. 'We challenged him to get fitter and give us more. He really kicked on and finished the season really well. 'I think it's important that Clach aren't going to be a feeder club for other teams. 'Yes Connor Bunce moved on this season, but we got a former Highland League player of the year in Andrew Macrae joining us as part of the deal. 'We want to push on as high as we can as a club so it's important we retain players like James.' Natural goalscorer knack Anderson has notched more than 50 goals for Clach, but Gethins believes the best is yet to come from the 23-year-old and has challenged him to continue delivering for the Inverness outfit in the years ahead. He added: 'I think we're stronger now than we were a year ago and I don't see why James can't score 20 goals plus every season. 'James is a natural goalscorer and that's something you can't really coach. 'Yes you can coach movement and positioning, but you can't coach that knack of being a natural goalscorer and James has that knack. 'I want James to have the mentality of expecting to score in every game he plays and hopefully I can help him with that.'
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Proud day' as Curtis signs contract extension
Rangers boss Philippe Clement has praised the "hard work and dedication" of Findlay Curtis after the 18-year-old signed a contract extension following his first-team midfielder made his debut in the 5-0 Scottish Cup win over Fraserburgh this month and also came off the bench in last week's 2-1 Europa League defeat at Manchester was due to be out of contract in the summer and Rangers have not disclosed the length of the new deal."It's a proud day for myself, my family and friends, and it's a good feeling to commit my future to the club," said the teenager."The manager has been so helpful with me and he has given me the confidence to keep on pushing. He said to me that my chance would come and to be patient."Clement added: "As a boyhood Rangers fan, he is well aware of what it takes to represent this club and I look forward to his continued development over the coming years."
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
'Why Rangers can't afford to sell Dessers'
On Sunday, I posed the question in commentary at Tannadice: "Can Rangers afford to sell Cyriel Dessers?" after a remarkable period for the much-maligned goal to clinch the 3-1 victory, like the one he scored at Old Trafford a few days earlier, was magnificent, making it six in four games after his Scottish Cup hat-trick against Fraserburgh and his strike off the bench against the answer to my question is quite straightforward in my mind. Of course they can't. Yes, he'll continue to miss chances that defy belief, but even though the emergence of Hamza Igamane had relegated Dessers to the bench in recent times, the pair dovetailed well against Dundee United and there is no reason not to continue with that pairing over the weeks and months to win over United was massive for Rangers and it should do them a power of good psychologically. I think it was Craig Levein alongside me in commentary who described them as a "Jekyll and Hyde team" and it was a pretty apt the first 35 minutes of that game they were second best, didn't look up for the physical battle and seemed to be heading for another away game without a victory or maybe even a Diomande's equaliser came out of the blue but was the catalyst for a much-improved performance and by the end they could have run away with the typifies Rangers' season. Very rarely have they turned in a good 90-minute display, but when they are playing with confidence, they look they play as they did in the closing hour at Tannadice against Union Saint-Gilloise on Thursday, I fully expect them to beat the with that, looking at the permutations, it's far from impossible that they can squeeze into the top eight and qualify automatically for the last 16, which would be a phenomenal achievement for a team and manager who have come in for enormous criticism this season.
