Bar Varia Herald
A taste of Bavaria comes to Scotland
Michael McManus
Editor in Chief
A warm welcome to Bar
Varia, Scotland’s coolest
apres ski bar and Bavarian
restaurant.
The stunning surrounds
were the work of award
winning designers Janice
and Angus Alston and
Gordon Henderson from
Creative Architects, but the
inspiration came from you,
our customers.
The ski link to the bar
was in response to a number
of ideas and suggestions
from SCUK members and
the Glasgow Ski Club. This
innovative design allows
you to ski/board straight
to the bar from the slope
- your slope time stops
when you enter the bar. It
also preserves the space
underneath, which we use
for junior ski lessons.
We are very proud of Bar
Varia™.
The
stove
is
the
original CIC Hut stove
from Ben Nevis. Many a
mountaineering epic was
recounted in the glow of
the stove, high up in the
coire of Scotland’s highest
mountain.
The Ice Axes are original
1930s hickory shafted axes
from Glencoe.
The DJ booth is a Nevis
Range Gondola and the skis
are 1950s originals from the
Rossignol factory.
The
floor
contains
a number of climbing
protection items retired
from Jamie Smith’s leading
rack – which have been
replaced!
The giant window over
the Clyde, gives stunning
views along the river and
links the site to its ship
building heritage.
The fresh food in
Bar Varia™ is lovingly
prepared, on site. We use
outstanding natural, fresh,
ingredients to give you a full
Bavarian taste experience.
The beer range is
unrivalled in Glasgow.
We have over 30 authentic
German Beers. Some we
buy direct from the West
Brewery
on
Glasgow
Green brewed by Felix the
Bavarian Brewer. Others we
import from Munich.
The floor team wear
authentic Bavarian Dirndls
during our regular bierfest
nights, supported by the full
oompah-band experience!
Our desserts are prepared
by our specialist chefs, and
should not be missed.
You need to try Chris’
Bar Varia™ cocktails - the
Apple Strudel Martini is to
die for!
We want you to have a
wonderful experience at
Bar Varia™. If you have
enjoyed your time, please
share on Trip Advisor. If
you have not had a fantastic
experience, please tell us
before you leave. We really
want every customer to be
delighted.
Thank you for choosing
Bar Varia™ - Prost!
Snow Fest Pizza - All Pizzas 2 for 1 / Monday - Thursday
Margarita
The Highlander
Veggie Blaster
The world’s favourite pizza! 100% Mozzarella
cheese, Bar Varia home made tomato sauce,
fresh torn basil and oregano on homemade
crispy pizza base
100% Mozzarella cheese, Bar Varia homemade
tomato sauce, fresh torn basil and oregano on
home made crispy pizza base with generous
slices of haggis and Stornoway Black Pudding
100% Mozzarella cheese, Bar Varia homemade
tomato sauce, fresh torn basil and oregano on
home made crispy pizza base with red onion
and mixed sweet peppers
£9.95
£12.95
£12.95
Spicy Sausage Meat Fest
Bloody Spaniard
100% Mozzarella cheese, Bar Varia homemade
tomato sauce, fresh torn basil and oregano on
home made crispy pizza base with generous
toppings of chopped spicy sausage and pepperoni
100% Mozzarella cheese, Bar Varia homemade
tomato sauce, fresh torn basil and oregano on
home made crispy pizza base with generous
toppings of rich Chorizo, red onion & red pepper
Add your choice
of toppings
£12.95
£11.95
This week's sport
Ski Slope Passes. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Park Lessons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Ice Climbing Lessons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Uber Snow Tube of Justice. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Freestyle Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Snow Boarding Coaching. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Family Sledging . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
£1.25
3
4
5
6
7
Summer Camps. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
After School Clubs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Discover Snow Sports Tasters. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Live Bands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Shaka on the Slope. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Herald Opinions
Currywurst, Chips & Beer, how can you go wrong?
Bier Snacks & Sides
SchneeFuhrer
Staff Writer
The
invention
of
Currywurst is attributed to
Herta Heuwer in Berlin in
1949, after she obtained
ketchup,
Worcestershire
sauce and curry powder
from British soldiers. She
mixed these ingredients
with other spices and
poured it over grilled pork
sausage. Heuwer started
selling the cheap but filling
snack at a street stand in
the Charlottenburg district
of Berlin where it became
popular with construction
workers rebuilding the
devastated
city.
She
patented her sauce, called
Chillup, in 1951. At its
height the stand was selling
10,000 servings per week.
Fur die Kinder
Kids 3 Course
Meal Deal
Soup or
Vegetable Batons
Soup of the Day
Freshly prepared in the kitchen today, served with fresh bread and butter
£3.25
Currywurst
Not Ze Vurst, ze Best! A board of steamed Bratwurst, fried, cut then smothered in
spicy ketchup with a bucket of Paprika fries
£5.95
Extras
Chicken Wings
Any Main from the
Kids' Menus
£3.95
Bar Varia Legendary Sausage Supper
Twin skis of Bavarian Sausage, in Bier Batter and a bucket of Paprika fries
£5.95
Beer Battered
Onion Rings
Junior Sundae
only £4.95
£3.45
Chilli out Dog!
Smoked Bavarian Sausage topped off with Fiery Chilli Con Carne, fresh onions
and melted cheese with a bucket of Skinny fries. Not for Jessies!
Potato Wedges
£5.95
£2.95
Panini Rail Jam
Pot of Chunky Paprika
Salted Fries
Bacon & Brie / Grilled Chorizo & Cheddar/ Smoked Ham & Cheddar /Tuna & Red Onion
with a bucket of Skinny fries
£5.95
£2.95
Pot of Fries
£2.45
Fish Fingers,
Fries and Beans
Sunday
High: 1°
Low: -8°
Monday
High: 0°
Low: -4°
Tuesday
High: 0°
Low: -5°
Wednesday
High: 0°
Low: -2°
Thursday
High: 0°
Low: -2°
Friday
High: 0°
Low: -4°
Saturday
High: 0°
Low: -3°
Sunday
High: 0°
Low: -2°
Monday
High: 0°
Low: -4°
Tuesday
High: 0°
Low: -2°
The main slope holds
nearly 2,000 tonnes of
real snow, which is blown
through a bank of snow
cannons on the gantry in the
roof.
The snow on the slope
is nearly 1.5m deep. Under
the snow is an array of
glycol pipes which provide
the coolant.
The air temperature is
controlled by blast coolers
on the roof and the plant
equipment is about the size
of a family house!
The snow is groomed
every night between slope
closure and 2am to provide
perfect conditions for the
next day.
The slope is groomed
using a Kassbohrer Piste 100
machine, from Garmisch
in Bavaria. In addition to
the slope grooming, there
is a dedicated Park Team
responsible for developing
and maintaining the jumps,
kickers and rails. We use real
snow, so sometimes these
will be netted off to allow
features to consolidate.
After major race events
the slope can get icy as
snow is pushed aside by
the skiers going through the
race gates - but it’s all ready
again the next day…
There are 84 Poma Ski
Tows at Snow Factor and
124 lights on the main
slope - more than Hampden
stadium!
The Snow Factor Ski
Slope is the biggest real
snow indoor slope in the
UK. There are 93 Snow
Domes across the world.
by meat dishes and roasts,
and pastry desserts.
• Bavarian cuisine was
advanced and refined in
order to render it fit for the
Royal Courts. This quickly
found its way into civilian
households. The Altbayern
(Old
Bavaria)
was
influenced by neighbouring
Tirol and Swiss cuisine.
• The most influential
Bavarian
Kings
were
Ludwig I, who turned the
capital, Munich, into a hub
of arts and culture, and
Ludwig II, the "Fairy-Tale
King", who came to be
known around the world for
the magnificent castles built
under his name.
• The Berghof was
Adolf
Hitler’s
home
in the Obersalzberg of
the Bavarian Alps near
Berchtesgaden. Hitler spent
more time at the Berghof
than anywhere else during
World War II.
Built in 1935 on the
Kehlstein Mountains at
a height of 1,834m and
completed in the summer
of 1938, it was presented to
Hitler for his 50th birthday.
The Berghof was Hitler's
vacation residence for many
years. In late April 1945
the house was damaged by
British aerial bombs and
set on fire by retreating SS
troops in early May.
• From Olympic venues
to wonderful Cross-Country
Skiing - The German Alps,
known as the Bavarian
Alps, are home to hundreds
of ski resorts. The slopes
benefit from reliable snow
cover with some year round
glacial skiing and freestyle
parks.
• The Wittelsbachs ruled
Bavaria for 738 years and
the last descendent of the
Scottish Royal house of
Stuart is the Crown Prince
of Bavaria.
• Munich is further
north than any major US
city (excluding Anchorage
Alaska).
• Gummy bears were
invented by a German.
• While it is called
Oktoberfest, it actually
starts in September! The
origin of Oktoberfest was
the wedding celebration of
Prince Ludwig of Bavaria.
• 65% of the Autobahn
has no speed limit.
•
When
president
JFK visited Berlin, he
infamously said “Ich bin ein
Berliner” which translates,
as “I am a Jelly Donut!”
• The official uniform
for the Hitler Youth was
designed by Hugo Boss…
• The world’s tallest
cathedral is in Ulm,
Bavaria.
• The Christmas Tree
(Tannenbaum)
tradition
started in Germany.
• According to the
Guinness Book of Records,
there are over 1,000 sausage
recipes in Germany.
• Albert Einstein, the
most recognized scientist in
the world was a Bavarian,
born in Ulm (although he
did marry his cousin…).
Fischstäbchen, Frites und Bohnen
Cheesy Macaroni with
Fresh Salad & Fries
Makkaroni, Käse salat und frites
Cheese & Tomato Pizza
Tomate und Kase Pizza
Garlic Pizza Bread
£2.95
• You can climb the
highest
mountain
in
Germany, at 2,962m (the
final gully has multiple
pictures of those who have
died on the ascent!), on the
Zugspitze, near the town
of Garmisch-Partenkirchen
in Bavaria, and ski or
snowboard back down.
• The Kassbohrer piste
machine used at Snow
Factor is from Garmisch.
• In the book ‘Chess or
the King’s Game’ (1616)
by Augustus, Duke of
Luneburg, it describes
how Okarius the Prince
of Bavaria had a son of
great promise residing at
the Court of King Pippin.
One day Pippin's son was
playing chess with the
young Prince of Bavaria,
and became so enraged at
repeatedly losing that he
hit the Prince on the temple
with one of his rooks and
killed him on the spot!
• Bavarian cuisine is
simple, hearty, rustic and
delicious. It is characterised
Junior Cheeseburger,
Fresh Salad and Fries
Jünger Hamburger mit Käse,salat, frites
And Ice, Ice Baby!
•
The
Professional
Mountain
Guide
Organisation dates back
to the early 1800s and
was pioneered by British
travellers seeking local
expertise.
An
elite
class
of
professional guides soon
established
itself,
and
techniques for snow, ice,
and rock climbing were
developed to the point
where highly hazardous
ascents were possible for the
experienced. This so-called
golden age of mountain
climbing came to an end
with the conquest of the
Matterhorn, the last of the
great Alpine mountains, by
Edward Whymper (1865).
On the descent from the
Matterhorn, Lord Douglas
Haddow, Chamonix Guide
Michael Croz and the
Reverend Charles Hudson
fell to their deaths off the
Hörnliridge.
The incident sparked
outrage in Great Britain,
and resulted in climbing
and mountaineering being
temporarily banned. The
ban was lifted after Queen
Victoria had long talks
with the Lord Chamberlin.
Zermatt enjoyed international
press coverage which was the
beginning of its development
as a tourist resort.
• Famous Glencoe resident
Hamish MacInnes (b 1931),
is one of Scotland’s most
influential
mountaineers
and a leading developer of
mountaineering equipment.
His invention of the all
metal, drooped pick ice
axe
(the
Pterodactyl)
revolutionized ice climbing
and mountaineering.
• Glencoe, Lochaber is
recognised internationally
as the heartland of British
winter mountaineering.
• “A good hockey player
plays where the puck is. A
great hockey player plays
where the puck is going to
be.” Wayne Gretzky
• A puck hit by the best
shooters can travel at more
than 100 mph.
• A goalie's chest protector
is made of Kevlar, the same
material used in bulletproof
vests for police.
• An average professional
hockey player loses 7 pounds
in one game!
• The modern game of ice
hockey is accepted to have
originated in Canada, but it
only has 6 teams in the NHL.
•
Wayne
Gretzky,
nicknamed ‘The Great
One’, is almost unanimously
accepted as the greatest
hockey player to ever
play the game, scoring an
incredible 894 goals in NHL.
• The only woman to ever
play professional hockey was
Manon Rheume. She played
for the Tampa Bay Lightning
in exhibition games; one
against the St. Louis Blues
during the 1992 pre-season,
and another against the
Boston Bruins in the 1993
pre-season.
• “You miss 100% of the
shots you don’t take” Wayne
Gretzky.
• The Braehead Clan is
based in the 5,200 capacity
Braehead
Arena
and
supported by the Purple
Army!
Mit Freunden Platte
Perfect For Friends to Share
Sample some of the best prime meats from the Bavarian & Tyrol Alps Available from 12 noon Daily. Min 2 People.
Tyrol Taster Platter
The Table Breaker!
3 types of German Sausage
Weiner Schnitzel
Sauerkraut (its good for you!)
Bucket of Chunky Paprika fries
Heaped Home Made Coleslaw
Vegetable Batons
2 Generous Portions of Dip
3 types of German Sausage
Weiner Schnitzel
Bavarian 24 Hour Marinated Chicken
Prime Scottish Rib eye Steak
Sauerkraut (its good for you!)
Bucket of Chunky Paprika fries
Heaped Home Made Coleslaw
Vegetable Batons
2 Generous Portions of Dip
£6.95 per person
£11.95 per person
• Freestyle skiing was
born in the 1930s when
skiers from Europe began
adding flips, twists and
other acrobatic moves
into their skiing training.
Freestyle
skiing
now
includes moguls, ramp
aerials and slope-style
routines involving obstacles
like rails, table tops and half
pipes.
Moguls - This freestyle
ski event is all about speed,
quick turns and big air.
The object of moguls is for
skiers to ski down a steep
slope covered in moguls
(huge bumps) as quickly
and effortlessly as possible
Skiers must perform two
different aerial manoeuvres
on the way down the hill off
specially built launch pads.
Skiers are given points
for both their time going
down the course and their
technique.
Aerials are arguably the
most exciting of the freestyle
ski events to watch. Skiers
will fly off jumps or kickers
at speeds of 35 miles (60
km) per hour, fly up to 50
feet in the air and perform
somersaults, back flips and
twists, before landing on a
steep landing hill.
Slopestyle - Athletes
ski through a course that
includes a variety of
obstacles including rails,
kickers, gaps and table tops.
Half Pipe - Skiers
perform a series of tricks
and jumps in an icy U
shaped pipe. Skiers are
judged on the height and
difficulty of their tricks and
landing.
• There are around 200
corpses on Mount Everest.
• In the 18th century, the
highest known mountain
was Chimborazo in Ecuador
(20,702ft). In fact, it wasn’t
even the highest mountain in
the Andes, but because of the
bulge in the Earth’s shape at
the Equator, Chimborazo is
Rigatoni Pasta
Spätzle Käse
Rigatoni pasta in Bar Varia’s special
cheese sauce
Served with crispy garlic bread
£7.95
Bavarian Chicken
& Bacon salad
Bayrisher
Hähnchen Salat
The Manager’s favourite!
24 hour marinated Chicken Strips with crispy
bacon served on a bed of fresh leaves with
shaved parmesan and croutons
£5.95
Wiener Schnitzel
Viennese style, tenderised Pork Fillet, served
with Bavarian Potato salad, lemon and house
made garlic-herb mayonnaise
Dips: Choose from Thousand Island Dressing, Mild Mustard, Curry Ketchup,
Bavarian Essence, Garlic Herb & Mayo, Pepper Sauce.
Add extra dips for £1.25
the mountain that sticks out
farthest into space.
• For every 1,000ft
gained in height, the boiling
point of water reduces by
1.8F (1C). So, at 15,000ft
(the summit of Mont Blanc)
water boils at 184F (84.4C).
At the top of Everest it
boils at 158F (70C) and at
75,000ft it would boil at
room temperature.
• The highest mountain
in the known universe is
Olympus Mons, a giant
volcano on Mars, almost
three times the height
of Mount Everest. After
Everest, the world’s highest
mountain above sea level is
K2, at 28,251ft. K2 is not
in the Himalayas but the
Hauptmahlzeit - Main Course
£7.95
Bar Varia Slow Cooked
Bavarian Goulash Stew
Karakoram Range – the
initial K of which provides
its rather functional name.
This was a temporary label
given to it by Lieutenant
Thomas
Montgomerie
(1830-1878).
• One in ten mountain
climbers die trying to
summit Everest and those
who successfully summit
have a one in twenty chance
of dying on the way down.
• Almost all the famous
ascents have involved rock
and ice climbing. The first
significant
achievements
in mountain climbing were
the ascents of Mont Blanc
made by Jacques Balmat
and Michel G. Paccard
(1786) and by Horace B. de
Saussure (1787).
Our own Goulash with hearty chunks of tender
beef and vegetables in a paprika and garlic
broth served with fresh crusty bread. The
perfect warmer after a day on the slopes
£6.95
Jaeger Steak Feast
Dad’s Favourite! 21 Day aged, prime Scottish
Rib eye Steak, a bucket of chunky fries with
paprika salt and German Bier Battered Onion
Rings.
Freshly Grilled
Burgers
The Slope Style
Burger - Scottish Beef
Flamme Gegrillt
Hähnchen
6 oz of prime Scottish Beef served on a hearty
bun topped with smoked melted cheddar cheese
served with a bucket of Bavarian paprika salted
fries, curry ketchup and fresh salad
£9.45
Afraid of the Park
Burger - Chicken
Flamme Gegrillt
Hähnchen
Bar Varia’s legendary 24 hour marinated
Chicken Breast on a hearty bun served with
a bucket Bavarian paprika salted fries, curry
ketchup and fresh salad
£8.75
Ski Sundae
Butterscotch Sundae
Real fudge pieces, sticky toffee sauce, syrup
and ice cream
£4.25
Park Style Sundae
Cookie Dough Sundae
Pieces of fresh cookie dough with syrup
and ice cream
£4.25
Choc Chic Sundae
Choc-a-holic Sundae
rich chocolate sauce, chocolate flakes and ice
cream
£4.25
Ann's Big Smiler
Ann’s legendary homemade
Nutella cheesecake
Rich chocolate nestling in a delightful crispy
base. Careful, it’s addictive!
£4.25
Clan Pfann
Fresh homemade pancakes with Fruits of the
Forest served with ice cream
£4.25
Naw Bambi's Maw
Burger - Venison
Flamme Gegrillt
Rehfleisch
A walloping 6 oz Scottish Venison Burger on
a hearty bun served with a bucket of Bavarian
paprika salted fries, curry ketchup and fresh
salad
£9.50
£17.95
Extra Burger Toppings
Jägermeister Smokey Sauce,
Parsley & Garlic Butter or Pepper Sauce
Bacon, Smoked Ham, Caramelised Onions,
Chorizo
£1.25
Dessert menu
£1.25 each
“I’ve never met a problem, a proper
dessert can not fix.”
Sarah Ockler, Bittersweet
“The 12 step chocoholic programme.
Never be more than 12 steps away
from a chocolate!”
Terry Moore
“There are two types of people in this
world. Those who love pudding and
fascists!”
Lesley Moak Murray
Ein Prosit
A very popular song at Bar Varia and Oktoberfest is Ein
Prosit. The traditional way is to hold up whatever you are
drinking (usually steins of beer) high in the air and sing:
Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, Der Gemütlichkeit
A Cheer, A Cheer, Well being and happiness
enjoyed with good friends
Ein Prosit, Ein Prosit, Der Gemütlichkeit
Usually followed by – Eins, zwei, drei
Then possibly some hoy hoy hoys and Prrrrrost!
• Spaghetti is reported to
have come from Bavaria as
noodles…
• The oldest brewery in
the world is Weihenstephan
in Bavaria, funded by
Benedictine monks in 1040
AD.
• Germans call festival
goers who pass out
from excessive drinking
“Bierleichen”. Translation:
beer corpses.
• Yodeling was originally
thought to be a means of
communication
between
mountainous villages.
• There are many types of
beer in Germany, from the
blond Pils (pilsener) to the
very dark Dunklesbier and
Schwarzbier. All very good.
Even the smallest region
usually has its own brewery.
• To get ONE beer in
Germany, you show your
thumb. To show your first
finger means that you
want 2 beers: One with the
thumb, and one with the
finger. So, unless you really
want 2 beers, be careful
what finger you show!
• Beer can even improve
your health (in moderation,
of course) by strengthening
your bones and reducing the
chance of kidney stones by
as much as 40%.
• “Beer is proof that
God loves us.” Benjamin
Franklin.
• The oldest written
recipes ever discovered,
date back to 5,000 BC and
are for making beer.
• The first professional
brewers were women.
• Beer was the drink of
choice in the middle ages
because clean water was
difficult to find and alcohol
in beer killed most microorganisms, making it safer
to drink.
• Cenosillicaphobia is the
fear of an empty glass.
• The Pilgrim Fathers
on the Mayflower stopped
at Plymouth Rock instead
of continuing to Virginia
because they ran out of beer.
• Beer makes you
Ski
Factoids
Schnee Fuhrer.
Staff Writer
•
Sausages
were
nicknamed
bangers
during the Second World
War. Their high water
content due to the scarcity
of other ingredients meant
that they were liable to
explode when cooked as the
water turned to steam.
• In 320 AD, because of
their association with pagan
festivals, Roman Emperor
Constantinus the First and
the Catholic Church made
sausage eating a sin and
their consumption was
banned! This led to sausages
going underground until the
ban was lifted.
• The word sausage is
derived from the Latin
word Salsus which means
something salted.
• The term "hot dog" was
first used by a newspaper
reporter in 1893 who
likened its resemblance to a
Dachshund Wiener dog. So
the first hot dogs were true
sausages made with quality
ingredients and smoked in a
natural casing.
• It was law in Bavaria
that white sausage must not
be eaten after 12 noon.
• As legend has it, 7th
century Byzantine Kaiser
Basileios the First liked
his meat covered with
sheets of gold to display his
wealth. Following him, the
commoners tried to do the
same. However, the practice
was too expensive, so they
created an alternative by
using ‘yellow gold’ and the
Schnitzel was born.
• Slang dictionaries give
Schnitzel a wide variety
of entertaining, somewhat
x-rated, meanings… We’ll
just say that in Germany you
can use the word Schnitzel
in lieu of “Honey,” as in “I
am crazy about you my little
Schnitzel” or “she is as cute
as a Schnitzel…”
• Schnitzel is a traditional
smarter! The New England
Journal of Medicine found
women who drank beer
moderately had better
cognitive function.
• Beer strengthens your
bones due its high levels of
silicon, which increases the
deposit of calcium and other
minerals into bone tissue.
• Vikings believed a giant
goat would grant them
endless supplies of beer in
Valhalla.
• In the middle ages
even children drank beer
– beer contains many of
the nutrients we need to
survive, therefore it became
a staple in the diet.
• Germany has the most
Breweries in the world –
over 1,200 of them. But
the Irish outdrink them in
consumption of beer per
capita.
• The expression “Rule of
Thumb” actually came from
brewers, who used to insert
their thumb into the mix
during brewing to determine
when the temperature was
right for the yeast.
Austrian dish made by
pounding and tenderdizing
boneless meat until it’s
thin (creating an escalope),
coating it in bread crumbs,
and then frying it.
• Ski is from the Old Norse
“Skio” meaning a split
piece of wood (along with
Slalom and Ombudsman, it
is one of the few Norwegian
words
which
English
has
borrowed).
There
are prehistoric carvings,
more than 7,000 years old,
showing Sami and early
Nordic people skiing. The
oldest known ski, found in
Sweden, dates from 4,5002,500BC. Some of the
• Hops used in beer are
from the same family as
flowering marijuana plants.
• The first recorded drink
driving incident was in
2,000 BC, in Ancient Egypt.
An inebriated charioteer
was apprehended after
running down a vestal virgin
of the Goddess Hathor. The
culprit was crucified on the
door of the tavern that sold
him the beer and his corpse
allowed to hang there until
the scavengers reduced it to
bones…
• Beer Gone Bad. When
British brewers tried to send
their pale ales to India, the
beer would go bad during
the long ocean voyage.
Brewers began to add extra
alcohol and hops to help
with preservation. This
inadvertently created a new
style of extra bitter, extra
powerful beers called India
Pale Ales (IPAS).
• In the 19th century,
nursing mothers in Munich
would drink up to 7 pints of
beer a day under the belief
this was required in order to
earliest written accounts of
skiing come from Iceland.
In 1200, the great saga
writer Snorre Sturlason
recounted tales of Ull, the
Norse God of Skiing, and
Skade, the Goddess of
Skiing and Hunting.
• Lovers of Swiss ski
holidays have the creator
of Sherlock Holmes, Sir
Arthur Conan Doyle to
thank. He had fallen in love
with the sport in Norway
and thought Switzerland
offered the perfect terrain.
He imported some skis
and encouraged two Swiss
brothers to join him. They
practised at night to avoid
being teased by the locals.
Conan Doyle later wrote: “I
am convinced that the time
will come when hundreds
of English men will come to
Switzerland for the skiing
season.”
• In 1965, Sherman
Poppen from Michigan
made a snowboard for his
daughter by binding two
skis together. He called it
a Snurfer and sold nearly
a million of them within a
decade.
•
Bobsledding
was
invented in the 1870s in
St Moritz, Switzerland, by
a hotelier, Caspar Badrutt
(1848-1904). In an attempt
breast-feed their children.
• The first beer cans were
produced in 1935. Drinkers
were no longer going to
taverns, and breweries
needed to get beer into
their homes. The smaller
packages made it much
easier to get beer home.
• Beer prevents kidney
stones. A study published
in the American Journal
of Epidemiology found
that beer consumption was
inversely associated with
risk of kidney stones (in
middle aged men). Each
bottle of beer consumed per
day was estimated to reduce
the risk by 40%.
•
Researchers
have
pointed out that alcohol
raises HDL cholesterol (the
good cholesterol) which is
associated with lower risk
of heart disease and better
cognitive functioning.
• Zythology is the study
of beer and beer making,
including the role particular
ingredients play in the
brewing process.
to make his hotel more
popular
with
English
tourists during the winter,
he modified delivery sleds
and sent his guests flying
around the town’s streets.
This became so popular
that terrified pedestrians
protested, so Badrutt built
the first half-pipe, from
which the sports of Luge,
Skeleton and Bobsledding
developed. The legendary
Cresta Run skeleton track
was built there in 1884 by
British military officers and
remains resolutely off limits
to women.
• Cross country skiing
burns more calories per
hour than any other sport.
It is also considered a lowimpact, low-risk form of
aerobic exercise.
• Ralph Miller of the US,
set the speed ski record at
109.14 mph on the slopes of
Garganta Schuss in Portillo,
Chile.
• The world's largest
snowflake recorded fell at
Fort Keogh, Montana on
January 28, 1887. It was
reportedly 38 cm wide and
20 cm thick.
• A single snowstorm
can drop 40 million tons of
snow, carrying the energy
equivalent to 120 atom
bombs.
How to determine
what you're bevying!
What is a
Lager?
Lager- Derived from the
German ‘lagern’ which
means “to store”. Lager
is brewed using bottom
fermenting yeast that work
slowly at around 34 degrees
F. In many cases it is then
stored in cool temperatures
to allow it to mature further.
Lager yeast produce fewer
by-product characters than
yeast used in ale brewing
which is the reason that
other flavours, such as hops,
are detected in lager.
What is an Ale?
This category of beer uses
yeast that ferments at the
“top” of the fermentation
vessel, and typically at
higher temperatures than
lager yeast (60°-75°F),
which makes for a quicker
fermentation period (7-8
days, or even less). Ale
yeast are known to produce
by-products called esters,
which are “flowery” and
“fruity” aromas.
When you feel like
chatting pretentiously with
your pals, what you should
be looking for:
Appearance – Check the
colour, if it’s clear or cloudy
and its head and how it
holds. You can usually
make a rough guess at what
type of beer it is from this.
Smell – Get your snout
into the glass and take a
waft!
• Malts: sweet, roasty,
smoky, toasty,
chocolaty, nutty,
caramely, biscuity?
•
•
Hops: dank / resiny,
herbal, perfumy, spicy,
leafy, grassy, floral,
piney, citrusy?
Yeast will also create
aromas; fruity or
flowery aromas (esters)
from ales and very
clean aromas from
lagers.
Taste – Take a swally!
What do you taste? This
will quite often back up
what you experienced when
dipping your nose in the
glass. Do you smell one
thing in particular or do you
get a couple of smells?
The finest real bier selection
over 40 genuine biers
At Bar Varia we have
a massive selection that
will please every drinker.
Whether it’s “here, just geez
any lager” you are after, or
you’re the ‘adventurous
weird one’ (always our
preferred type of person) in
your group of pals, we feel
we have something that
caters to everyone’s taste.
We do however ask that
while sampling our mental
range, that you enjoy them
responsibly and always
remember your limits!
There is nothing worse than
looking after someone who
has tried to ‘keep up’ with
their 6ft 5in rugby player pal
and made a tit of themselves.
Session beer
Generally a beer that has
no higher than 5% ABV,
featuring a balance between
malt and hop characters
(ingredients) and, typically,
a clean finish - a combination
of which creates a beer
with high drinkability. The
purpose of a session beer
is to allow a beer drinker
to have multiple beers,
within a reasonable time
period or session, without
overwhelming the senses or
reaching inappropriate levels
of intoxication. So if you are
planning a lengthy bevy, and
you’re a beer drinker, then a
session beer should be your
choice.
So why should a session
beer be under or very close to
5% ABV? As you approach
the 6% mark, it has been
found that beer drinkers feel
the impact of this extra 1%
quite easily over the course
of a drinking session. While
body chemistry varies greatly
from person to person, 5%
ABV seems to be optimal
for everyone. Remember,
the point of a session beer
is imbibing socially without
getting trashed!
Reinheitsgebot
‘Purity Law’ officially
passed in Bavaria in 1516
and now applied to all
German brewers making
beer for consumption in their
own country. It requires that
only malted grains, hops,
yeast and water may be used
in the brewing. Our friends
from Glasgow, WEST also
adhere to the Reinheitsgebot.
Biers
Kolsch
Beer Chat: Kölsch is an appellation protected
by the ‘Kölsch Konvention’, and its use is
restricted to the 20 or so breweries in and
around Cologne (Köln), Germany.
(abv) range: 4.0-6.0%
Our example: Kuppers Kölsch
Helles
Beer Chat: ‘Helles’ is the German for “bright”,
due to its ‘get the sunnies out’ shine.
(abv) range: 4.0-6.0%
Our example: Augustiner Münchner Hell,
Hacker-Pschorr Münchner Hell, Spaten
Münchner Hell
Our international alternatives: Birra Peroni,
Steinlager, Zyweic
German Pilsner
Beer Chat: Brewers in Germany jumped on
the phenomenon that was pilsner due to its
popularity in the fear that it would affect sales of
German beer. Probably a good call in hindsight!
(abv) range: 4.0-5.5%
Our example: Krombacher Pils, Bitburger
Premium Pils
Fruit Lambic
(abv) range: 3.0-8.0%
Our example: Bacchus Framboise
Witbier
•
Notable
German
inventions
include
the
printing press, x-rays, diesel
engines, aspirin, fluorescent
lamps and the pregnancy
test. They also invented the
cuckoo clock in the 17th
century.
• Adidas was founded by
the Bavarian, Adolf ‘Adi’
Dassler.
• The most successful
team in the Bundesliga is
Bayern Munich – 10% of
whose shares are owned by
Adidas.
• The castle in the family
movie Chitty Chitty Bang
Bang is Neuschwanstein
Castle,
Bavaria.
This
castle was the inspiration
for Cinderella’s castle at
the world famous Disney
Resorts.
• The car makers BMW
(Bayerishche
MotorenWerke Bavarian Motor
Works), Audi, Siemens,
Adidas and Puma all started
in Bavaria.
• The Reinheitsgebot
– Bavarian Purity Law
– originated in 1487, in
Ingolstadt Bavaria. The
law provided that the only
ingredients that could be
used in the production of
beer were water, barley and
hops. Bar Varia has over
40 genuine beers for you to
sample…
• The Oktoberfest is most
famous for its huge beer tents
and the strong beer served in
steins. How do you order one
in Bavaria?
"A
Maß".
"Maß"
(pronounced like the English
"must" without the "t")
actually denotes the unit,
i.e. the litre, but has come
to mean "a litre of beer in
a stein". The other options
all refer to beer as well: "A
Hoibe", or "eine Halbe"
in High German, is half a
litre; "a Häis" ("ein Helles")
is pale beer (lager), and "a
Dunggls" ("ein Dunkles") is
dark beer.
• The essential battle cry
in any of the big beer tents
at the Oktoberfest is to shout
"Oans, zwoa, g'suffa!" It is
typically preceded by the
oompah band intoning "Ein
Prosit der Gemütlichkeit"
(which roughly translates
as, "Here's to a cozy
atmosphere"). You will soon
find yourself shouting along
with everyone else, but what
are you actually shouting?
"One, two, drink up!".
Some bandleaders will count
to three instead of two; both
versions are accepted, so
to speak. If you chose "It's
tapped", you were at least
on the right track: This is
what the mayor of Munich
exclaims when he taps the
first barrel of beer during
the opening ceremony of
the Oktoberfest. It is always
a big event, and newspapers
will never fail to tell you
how many times the mayor
had to swing the wooden
hammer to drive the tap into
the barrel. Anything above
three is embarrassing. The
bavarian for "It's tapped!" is
"Ozapft is!"
• "Dirndl" is also a
bavarian term for "girl".
They are becoming very
fashionable again (and
expensive!) and every store
in Bavaria will have them
during Oktoberfest. The
apron of a dirndl is tied on
the left if you're single, on
the right if you're married,
and in the back if you're a
widow or a child.
(abv) range: 4.0-7.0%
Our example: Vedett Extra White (check the
label for pouring instructions!!! And how to
get your face on a bottle!)
Crazy alternative: Fruli Strawberry Beer
(Belgian Witbier made with 30% real
strawberry juice)
Dunkel / Dark Lager
(abv) range: 4.0-6.0%
Our example: Paulaner Dunkel
Weizenbock
The Godfather of the Hefeweizens!
(abv) range: 7.0-10.0%
Our example: Weihenstephan Vitus, Erdinger
Pikantus
Dunkelweizen
(abv) range: 4.0-7.0%
Our example: Weihenstephan Dunkel,
Erdinger Dunkel
Prices as listed
Wine
187.5ml
750ml
Chardonnay, SE Australia
£3.75
£13.95
A fresh style of apricot slices and a twist of
citrus, suitable for any occasion.
£3.75
£13.95
Curico Valley, cooled by the Pacific Ocean.
Creates a racy gooseberry and white peach juiciness.
Pinot Grigio, Veneto
Italy (1)
£3.75
£13.95
Clean and refreshing. Very popular grape with light
elegant green apples and gentle floral finish.
Piesporter Michelsberg, J Brader
Germany£16.50
This tiny village and dramatic steep vineyards give a
distinctive minerally character, fresh and lively.
Ripe pear and crisp apple flavours.
Oben Grove Riesling-Guwurztraminer,
Rhein
Germany£16.00
Aromatic lime and apples with the soft sweetness
of peach and cherry blossom.
£19.95
Red Wine
Prices as listed
187.5ml
750ml
£3.75
£13.95
Merlot, Pays d'Oc
France (a) Merlot simply soaks up this sun-drenched region.
Redcurrants and sumptuous black cherries abound.
Raspberry Gin Sour
Gin, raspberry liqueur, sugar, lemon and lime
fuse to create this short & sweet refresher.
Australia (b)
£3.75
£13.95
These grapes are amongst the spiciest and the
most ready to burst blackberry style in all of Riverland.
Landen Pinot Noir, Pfalz
Germany £16.00
Very pale red with gentle cherry and damson flavours
and a refreshing crisp finish.
French Martini
The Lady’s favourite
Vodka, Chambord and pineapple juice.
Kentucky Dream
Apple Strudel Martini
A flavoursome mix of vanilla vodka,
cinnamon liqueur, apple schnapps and apple
juice.
£5.95
Cosmopolitan
Needs no introduction.
Vodka, triple sec and cranberry.
Elderflower Collins
A refreshing gin concoction of Hendricks,
elderflower cordial and slices of cucumber,
topped with soda water.
£5.95
Spain £5.50
Fine, delicate aromas of green apple and pear, with notes
of peach and melon over a lemon backdrop.
Big Squeeze
Cranberry juice, orange juice, lemon and
fresh berries.
£3.95
Evening
Cocktails
6.30 - 7.30
Famous actor
outraged at
term of abuse
Not even Bavarians
doubt that Johnny Depp
is a brilliant actor. His last
name, however, is rather
unfortunate and a constant
source
of
amusement
to them. What does the
Bavarian term ‘Depp’
mean?
Idiot. ‘Depp’ is the
universal term of abuse
in Bavaria and is usually
combined with an adjective
such as "damisch" or
"sakrisch".
Wine Expressions (house wine)
Sparkling
Freixenet Cordon Negro Brut, Cava
Planters Punch
£6.95
£5.95
Shiraz, SE Australia
Pelican Design Consultants • www.pelican-design.com
£6.95
£5.95
Lively and fruity, the warm Central Valley deepens the red
berry richness and juicy flavours. Rich, fruity rose wine.
£3.95
£3.95
Rose Wine
£3.75£13.95
Cranberry juice, apple juice, lemon and
elderflower.
A sweeter take on ‘the dudes’ favourite.
Vanilla vodka, Kahlua coffee liqueur, cream
and milk.
A balanced blend of bourbon, vanilla
schnapps and apricot brandy; Inducing sweet
dreams of Kentucky.
USA
Virgin Summer Breeze
Apple juice, orange juice, fresh lemon and
grenadine topped with soda.
Apple with floral notes and minerality; dry with a relatively
rich mouth-feel: citrus fruits appear on the finish.
Rose, California
Mocktails
White Russian
£5.95
Pinot-Blanc, Portrait range,
Paul & Philippe
France The modern classic of rum, sugar & lime
blended with ice and the choice of forest
fruits or mango.
£6.95
Sauvignon Blanc, Central Valley
Chile (2)
All £3.95 Monday to Thursday
Frozen Daiquiri
White Wine
Australia (3)
Cocktails
1. Very dry, delicate, light white
See our drinks menu for our
full range of cocktails, beers
and everything else we do
2. Dry, herbaceous or aromatic white
3. Juicy, Fruit driven, ripe white
a. Light, simple, delicate red
b. Juicy, medium-bodied, fruit-led red
c. Oaked, intense, concentrated red