Is Money The Root Of All Evil?

They say 'Money is the root of all evil'.

I say - Nonsense!
I completely disagree.
I don't think money is the root of all evil. Not at all.
Surely, the opposite is far more accurate?
Not having money may cause problems, may be the reason people don't behave as we may wish they would.
So, money is not the problem, it's the lack of money that is the reason for a lot of troubles in the World.

So, if money isn't the root of all evil, then I say - Poverty is the root of all evil.
Isn't it?

What do you think?
Is money really responsible for all of the evil in the World?
I'm interested to hear your opinions?

Gran Colina Rioja 2007 - Wine Review

As I mentioned on the previous two blog post, we had a few bottles of the Gran Colina Rioja, all different years, so I can't exactly remember what was what.
However I do remember that we liked them all.

This bottle is the Gran Colina Rioja 2007, I think I remember this being the nicest, it was rich with flavours of black cherry, plum, and a pleasant amount of warm spices.

From the bottle label -
Intensely aromatic with rich damson plum and black cherry, dried fruit flavours, spicy vanilla and toasty notes adding complexity. 
This elegant, silky smooth Rioja is delicious with roast lamb and hard cheeses. 
Have you tried Gran Colina Rioja 2007?
What did you think of this wine?

Salice Salentino 2011 - Wine Review

Italian wine from Puglia region.

From the bottle label -
The Salento peninsula, located on the heel of Italy's boot in the rustic Puglia region, is baked in sunshine during the day and cooled at night by mellow Adriatic breezes.
This is no bland, mass-production wine. Generations of expertise ensure that Moramari is rich, spicy and bursting with authentic Puglian flavour.
Harnessing all the natural energy that goes into it, this is a powerful and concentrated wine which is just crying out to be savoured with a slow, home-cooked meal.

This wine was quite rich, but a little too acidic for me, and it tasted like petrol smells.
Have you tried Salice Salentino 2011?

Batemans Dark Lord, Dark Ruby Beer - Review

Mmm, dark beer!

I went into our kitchen the other day to see what Mr.R was rustling up for our lunch, and I spotted a bottle of beer and a glass with said beer in it, on the worktop.
I immediately grabbed the glass and took a sip. It was delicious!
Mr.R was incredulous.
He'd only just poured the beer into the glass so that he could take a photo, to accompany the blog post he intended to write for his blog.

It makes a change for me to taste something before Mr.R. I was most impressed with this beer. It's 5%, full of flavour, I tasted caramel, toffee, and lovely cooked fruits. Very nice indeed.

The label on the bottle says -
Brewed to commemorate 'Black Tom' who fought the English Civil War at The Battle of Winceby, Lincolnshire. It is RICH and Spicy and goes well with CHEESE AND RED MEAT. 
Gold Medal Winner World's 50 Best Beers International Beer Competition.
BATEMANS are great FAMILY BREWERS who have been brewing beer in their River Steeping in Lincolnshire since 1874. Visit the fantastic Victorian Brewhouse, sit out by the river, enjoy the food and beer, play the old pub games, discover the 4,500 bottled beer collection and investigate the fascinating exhibits. Fun for all the family!
We really enjoyed this dark beer. 
Have you tasted Batemans Dark Lord Dark Ruby Beer? Did you like it?

Shepherd Neame, Double Stout - Beer Review

I love stout!

It wasn't until our past travels took us to Eastern Europe that I really got the taste for stout, but now I really enjoy it.
This review is not about Eastern Europe though, it's about the oldest brewer in Britain. Shepherd Neame.
Ooh, just writing the name has made my tastebuds tingle.

We recently had a bottle of Shepherd Neame Double Stout, well, I say we, but actually I only managed to have a sip before Mr.R made it vanish.
We love this ale, it is rich and creamy, with flavours of coffee, chocolate, molasses, caramel, roasted malts, and a bitter finish.
It is seriously good. So good, I wish I had some now, but alas I don't.

The label on the bottle says -
A classic double stout from a recipe discovered in the vaults of Britain's oldest brewer. This beer combines the complex flavours and characteristics of pale ale, roasted crystal and chocolate malts with the finest kilned roasted barley. It is bittered with our famed East Kent hops and brewed in the UK's last remaining wooden mash tuns.
This magnificent example of a classic double stout delivers a velvety-smooth plate of dry, burnt flavours complemented by roast, cocoa and coffee notes. Black, creamy and delicious, it is a Shepherd Neame masterpiece. 
SEE Black
SMELL Roasted, Chocolate, Hoppy
TASTE Dry, Coffee, Bitter 
5.2%

Just reading the description of this double stout you can feel the pride in their product. And they are most definitely right to be proud of this seriously delicious brew. It is sublime.

Hmm, as I sit typing this beer review I am transported back to when we first arrived back in Britain from our World travels, we didn't have anywhere to live so we were travelling around the country searching for somewhere to call home. At one point we were staying in Kent, where we found a really lovely new home, all be it a very temporary one in the shape of the pub down the road from our accommodation.
What made this pub the perfect home for us was the bottles of Shepherd Neame Double Stout that we spotted on a shelf behind the bar as soon as we entered.
Thankfully the landlady had a few bottles in the fridge too, but not for long. Once we'd had a bottle each, we couldn't resist having a second one.
Just before we left the pub the landlady asked if we'd be back, we said we would so putting her remaining stock of Shepherd Neame Double Stout in the fridge would be much appreciated.
We returned to the pub the following day, and the cold double stout slipped down like the purest silk. Absolutely delicious!
I think it's pretty obvious from my rambling that we love this beer.
Have you improved your life by drinking Shepherd Neame Double Stout?
If not, I strongly suggest you try it at your earliest convenience. You'll love it!