Moish writes "the other English blog" on Israeli beer, called Beer Israel (http://beerisrael.com/), in which he offers reviews and comments on Israeli craft beers and breweries. If you don't know it, it's worth checking out. Moish knows Israeli beers.

The beer's name comes from Moish's town of Givat Shmuel, near Ramat Gan and B'nei Brak, which translates accurately as "Samuel's Hill." The "Highland" part is more of a poetic flourish harking back to Moish's own Scottish heritage.
"My family came from Scotland," he told me, "even though I was born in Liverpool and raised in Manchester."
Moish Rubinstein and his wife Bat-Chen at the launch party for his new beer: Moish should have been wearing the kilt! |
Why take this step?, is what I asked Moish. This was his answer:
"1) Being a blogger made me a believer in the culture of craft beer, and I want to be a part of it.
"2) Grass-roots brewing means that you want others to enjoy your beer, and I can reach more people if I sell it commercially.
"3) Israel is the most natural place in the world to be a beer-brewing entrepreneur. It was the 'start-up nation' mentality that made me do it. That mentality is paramount in this country. It's what makes everything tick -- from the kibbutz to hi-tech to craft breweries.
"4) In Great Britain, where I grew up, craft beers are very geographical and local, expressing pride in your home area. Samuel's Highland tries to do that. The name honors the founder of Givat Shmuel, Samuel Pineles (1843-1928), a great philanthropist and Zionist. The kumquats which I use in the brewing come from the parks in Givat Shmuel."
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Kumquats: Sweet on the outside, bitter on the inside. |
The beer's base is an American pale ale, to which Moish adds whole kumquats during the boil. This draws the sweet oils out of the peel. Then during the cooling process, the kumquats are crushed, allowing the bitter, citrusy juice to enter the recipe.
The kumquats are also used a third time, but Moish is keeping this a secret.

For sure, this was an unexpected beer, very different from the styles you find in most craft breweries.
The kumquats really add a unique set of aromas and flavors. I go back to Ernest Hemingway who said, in so many words, if you're just going to make a copy of something else, why bother?
Samuel's Highland is nobody's copy. It's a good beer to have if you want to try something different. In the meantime, it's available only in shops in Givat Shmuel and environs, and in the beer specialty stores in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem. But Moish plans to bring his beer to more and more people, and if anyone can do it, he can.