Beer! And hot dogs! And smoked chicken leg! And GIN! (So much gin).\n\nIt's only right that my first review of 2013 be a 5 star one of newest beer bar in the Old Town, The Hanging Bat. It opened to a hushed drum roll of anticipation. A coming together of some of Edinburgh's best beer drinkers, from the likes of Brew Dog and Holyrood 9a, as well as a Slow Food chef who had worked in some top restaurants, it had a lot resting on its shoulders / wings (do bats have shoulders? Hmm anyway.)\n\nI didn't go for a while after it opened. I wanted to, I really did. But I wanted my first visit to include all it was known for already: beer and gourmet hot dogs.\n\nWalking in, I immediately warmed to it. Well, it was warm inside anyway, and smelled of delicious smokey, peaty smokiness. That'll be from all the meat that is smoked inhouse: like the smoked chicken leg, the pulled pork and the hot dogs.\n\nIt's on three floors as well. Not much room on the floor with the bar, but a wee upstairs balcony provides plenty of sofas and window bar stools, whilst downstairs much the same. The toilets are up the back beyond the kitchen (more smokiness) and a window that shows into their current brewing creation. I know it's been shouted about before, but their toilets are worth mentioning. Half kegs as sinks, and beer taps as water taps! Eep!\n\nI don't know a LOT about beer. But I do know what beer I do and don't like. Luckily they have so many you're bound to get something you like. And they have a nice idea of serving 5 different 1/3 pints with tokens so you can try 5 different beers.\n\nThey do only serve to a maximum of 2/3 pints (never a full pint). I think this is because they believe, in their beer connoisseur imbibing abilities, that after 2/3 of a pint the last 1/3 has gone flat and a bit warm and not as nice. It's true really. People have complained about this but, well, even if it is very 'ooo we know beer' and some people can interpret that as snobby, I think it makes sense.\n\nSo they've got lots of beer, lots of craft beer, lots of fruit beer, lots of German beer, they've even got a list called 'Unusual Beers' or something. They have 4 different types of meat on their menu, as well as Beer Mac 'n' Cheese and Beer Cake, they've got comfy sofas. So people can come here and drink beer but not in the traditional Scottish old man boozer type surroundings. They can come here and drink beer accompanied by delicious hot dogs (there's 4 different types, and the one that comes with haggis is brilliant. The haggis itself is some of the best I've tried).\n\nI'm not a big beer drinker, but I can see The Hanging Bat changing that. Oh and did I mention the gin? They have around 20 on the menu. Really impressive considering spirits aren't even the first order of the day.
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