Wednesday 31 October 2012

Wychcraft

Hey folks, so today is Halloween so I thought I would do a post on a seasonal beer, one angled towards Halloween. I Hope you enjoy, feedback welcomed!!!!
Beer Name:
Wychcraft
Brewery:
Wychwood Brewery
Brewed and Bottled:
Marston's PLC, Wychwood Brewery, Eagle Maltings, 
The Crofts, Witney, Oxfordshire,
OX28 4DP, England
Alcoholic Percentage:
4.5% Vol
Measure:
500ml
Taste:
Hoppy, Bitter, Astringent, Smooth
Colour:
Golden Orange, Honey Coloured
Odour:
Slightly Hoppy
General Thoughts:
This is a hoppy blonde beer with a slight bitter after taste. This is a very mild, mellow in flavour beer that would be nicely enjoyed on a hot summers day. There isn't however anything that distinguishing about this beer, nothing that really stands out for me, nothing to make it special. I was expecting a lot more for a seasonal style beer, but on the whole an OK beer but nothing special unfortunately. 

Price:
€2.79 ( Based on Dublin Tesco 27/10/2012)


Shane

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Tuesday 30 October 2012

A Hidden Gem to accompany Great Beer!!!!

Hey Guys & Girls, I thought I would post something a little different today, so instead of just a beer review I'm going to talk about a great accompaniment to go with good beer.

     So this weekend I went to the Ideal Home Show in Dublin and came across a fantastic little stand selling chutneys, jams and preserves. I was greeted by two lovely ladies that showed a real passion for their craft of making chutneys etc.
 I was so impressed with the passion and knowledge they had about chutneys and the love that they clearly put into making them. This got me thinking, what a perfect opportunity to write about some people that show the passion I have for Beer, in something that goes brilliantly with Beer.
Some of the products that they had on offer were:
  • Strawberry Jam
  • Plum Jam
  • Quince Chilli Jelly
  • Brandy Butter
  • Red Pepper Chilli Chutney
  • Apricot, Garlic & Ginger Chutney
I tried all of these as well as some others but these were the ones that I bought. They have a huge variety of different products many of which can be paired perfectly with a good beer. I would highly recommend this company and you can find their details below. I would recommend pairing the chutneys above with a nice full flavoured beer, something that stands alone but helps compliment the delicious flavours of the chutneys. I would suggest something smooth and not too heavy, a beer with citrus or honey notes. I would recommend Young's Bitter - Conditioned Ale which I have previously reviewed. You can find the review here

Crossogue Preserves
Crossogue House
Ballycahill, 
Thurles,
Co. Tipperary,
Ireland

Tel: +353 504 54 416
Website: www.crossoguepreserves.com
Email: info@crossoguepreserves.com

These guys are also on Twitter and Facebook.  I hope this gives you all a bit of inspiration to go out and try matching some chutneys with some great beers. This is the perfect time in the run up to Christmas. 

Would love to hear all your stories/recommendations about great produce that matches perfectly with great beer, and any feedback you may have!!!!
Shane
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Monday 29 October 2012

Leann Folláin

Hey everyone, so today's beer of choice is another from the Carlow Brewing Company - O'Hara's. Hope you enjoy!!!!
Beer Name:
Leann Folláin
Brewery:
O'Hara's
Brewed and Bottled:
Carlow Brewing Company, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland
Alcoholic Percentage:
6.0% Vol
Measure:
500ml
Taste:
Malty, Slight Bitterness, Deep, 
Full Bodied,Slight Heaviness,
Coffee,Slight Chocolate
Colour:
Dark, Black
Odour:
Chocolate / Coffee
General Thoughts:
This is an intensely deep, full flavoured beer. A strong malty beer, smooth in taste. This beer is surprisingly not overpowering considering the alcoholic strength of it. It is on the other hand a fairly rich beer and quite heavy. This for me is not a beer I could drink all night, however this is certainly a beer to be enjoyed. I would recommend this as a great choice for a cold winters night in, something to warm you up deep inside. On the whole this is a very nice beer, one to be enjoyed and savoured.
Price:
€2.79 ( Based on Dublin Tesco 27/10/2012)

Shane

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Sunday 28 October 2012

Banana Bread Beer


Hey everyone sorry it's been a couple of days since I last posted, but i'm back with a new blog post on a new beer. I hope you all enjoy !!!!

Beer Name: 
Banana Bread Beer
Brewery: 
Well's & Young's
Brewed andBottled:
Wells & Young's Brewing Co. Ltd, 
Bedford, United Kingdom, 
MK40 4LU
AlcoholicPercentage:
5.2% Vol
Measure:
500ml
Taste: 
Smooth, Subtle taste of Banana, 
Mellow, Fruity after taste, slightly sweet
Colour:
Light Brown, Caramel Coloured
Odour:
Strong smell of Banana, Fruity
GeneralThoughts:
 A very palatable, surprising beer for me. Before I tried this beer I wasn't expecting to like it, however I really did. The taste of Banana is very subtle, in fact the aroma of Banana is much stronger than the taste of it. It was a smooth beer with no bitter after tones. This beer also tastes remarkably mellow for a slightly stronger beer. On the whole a very nice mellow, easily drinkable beer, with an interesting twist with the Banana,worth its price.
Price:
€2.99 ( Basedon Dublin Tesco 27/10/2012)

Shane

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Wednesday 24 October 2012

Young's Bitter - Bottled Conditioned Ale

Hey Guys and Girls, here's today's blog post and beer of choice, let me know what you think, would love to know your thoughts and opinions : ) !!!

Beer Name:
Young's Bitter - Bottled Conditioned Ale
Brewery:
Wells & Young's Brewing
Brewed and Bottled:
Wells & Young's Brewing Co. Ltd, 
Bedford, United Kingdom, 
MK40 4LU
Alcoholic Percentage:
4.5% Vol
Measure:
500ml
Taste:
Bitter, Citrus Notes, Mild in Flavour, Smooth
Colour:
Amber, Honey, Slightly Cloudy
Odour:
Fruity
General Thoughts:
Overall this is a pleasant beer that leaves a slight bitter and hoppy after taste. Not to alcoholic in flavour, mild and mellow. On the whole this is a very mild beer but does have a nice flavour to it. I would say that this beer is worth the money that you would pay for it, however it doesn't really stand out for me. On the whole its a nice beer, however no outstanding flavours or attributes that would draw me to buy it on a regular basis.

Price:
€2.79 ( Based on Dublin Tesco 20/10/2012)

Shane
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Tuesday 23 October 2012

Greene King IPA Export

Hey Guys, to kick start today's blog post I have gone for a slightly stronger beer from the United Kingdom, Hope you enjoy!!!!

Beer Name:
Greene King IPA Export
Brewery:
Greene King Brewery
Brewed and Bottled:
Greene King, Westgate Street, 
Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk, 
IP33 1QT
Alcoholic Percentage:
5% Vol
Measure:
500ml
Taste:
Alcoholic, Slightly Hoppy, Yeasty, No Real Bitterness, Smooth
Colour:
Light Brown, not as dark as a Porter
Odour:
Earthy, Fruity
General Thoughts:
This is a very palatable beer that is full of deep flavours. It is a strong tasting beer, much stronger in taste than the standard IPA, however not overpowering or unbearable. This beer also has a nice fruity note broadening the depth of flavour. No bitter after taste, on the whole clean and crisp. I also think this is a very reasonable priced beer for what you get. I would highly recommend this beer to any beer drinker from the avid beginner to the more developed palate.

Price:
€2.79 (Based on Dublin Tesco 20/10/2012)


Shane
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Monday 22 October 2012

Scarecrow

Hey everyone, so today's blog is looking at a beer from the English countryside, it also happens to be an organic beer. Let me know your thoughts.

Beer Name: 
Scarecrow - Organic Golden Pale Ale
Brewery: 
Wychwood Brewery
Brewed and Bottled: 
Marston's PLC, Wychwood Brewery, Eagle Maltings, 
The Crofts, Witney, Oxfordshire,
OX28 4DP, England
Alcoholic Percentage: 
4.7% Vol
Measure:
500ml
Taste:
Bitter after taste, Slightly Metallic, Full Bodied
Colour:
Golden Brown, Dark Honey
Odour:
Hoppy, Earthy
General Thoughts:
This is a not too overpowering beer, but full bodied with good flavour. This beer leaves a slight bitter after taste, a metallic note. I don't feel that this beer is worth the money that you would pay for it. I feel that there are many other pale ale's out there, that are much more flavoursome and cost less than this, I don't feel that this beer really stands out from the crowd. However on the whole its not a bad beer.

Price:
€2.99 (Based on Dublin Tesco 20/10/2012)


Shane

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Sunday 21 October 2012

London Pride

Hey everyone, the second beer that I have decided to look at is London Pride. This is a beer that I drank a lot in my youth so thought I would share this one with you all.

Beer Name: 
London Pride
Brewery: 
Fuller's - Griffin Brewery
Brewed and Bottled: 
Fuller Smith & Turner PLC, 
Chiswick Lane South, London, W4 2QB, England
Alcoholic Percentage: 
4.7% Vol
Measure: 
500ml
Taste: 
Full bodied, Heavy on Hops, Slight Bitterness, Smooth
Colour: 
Reddish Tint, Semi Dark Orange
Odour: 
Fruity, Hoppy

General Thoughts:
A great tasting, full bodied beer with a slight bitterness and Hoppy flavour on the after taste. This is an all round great beer that is very palatable. I would highly recommend this beer, especially if you are someone that likes a darker beer with deep, full flavour.

Price: 
€2.33 (based on Dublin Tesco 20/10/2012) 
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Friday 19 October 2012

Curim Gold

Hey everyone, so to kick off my blog I thought I would start off with a great Irish beer. This is a beer that I have enjoyed on many occasions and thought would be a good starting point for things to come, Hope you enjoy.

Beer Name: 
Curim Gold - Celtic Wheat Beer
Brewery: 
O'Hara's
Brewed and Bottled: 
Carlow Brewing Company, Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, Ireland
Alcohol Percentage: 
4.3% Vol
Measure: 
500ml
Taste: 
Slight Bitterness, Creamy, Silky
Odour: 
Fruity
Colour: 
Clear, Golden
General Thoughts: 
This is an easy to drink beer, its not in anyway overly alcoholic its more mellow and palatable. I would definitely recommend this to people that are new to craft beers and Ales.
If your looking for an Irish beer, this independent companies beers are a great introduction.


Price: 
€2.65 (Based on Tesco Dublin 19/10/2012) 

Shane
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Introduction To Me

Hi my name is Shane, I'm a 20 something living and working in the busy Dublin city. I have tried many beers over the years, and enjoyed it!!!

There are many resources on the internet, available for those that want information about beer but if often complicated and boring. I have started this blog for other people like me....the average Guy/ Girl that likes their beer.

I am not a professional taster this blog is my own thoughts and opinions which I look forward to sharing with you, on both popular and the hidden treasures of small breweries so that you too can enjoy these drinks as much as me.

Always drink responsibly and visit Drinkaware

Shane
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