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08-04-2024, 09:10
Visit The Beer Nut site (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-original.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iZP0COlEZQMoc-Ng6DghG2weAfO0mMePE4loRlZCbpUGrkG5kZJLUAydP9o1wr1L Ig-TaHYZAPOrZKagBi_zB8JCNAJXOmhN90a9ADGhv_IkogFJsI3wi WbBqpuHwX_Lap2tRTSfCRuB9IpiTV5KVfu4ouayejjBUZIFp5z 7EP-tglw_1jjtHw/w171-h200/wicklow_wolf_hideaway_helles.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iZP0COlEZQMoc-Ng6DghG2weAfO0mMePE4loRlZCbpUGrkG5kZJLUAydP9o1wr1L Ig-TaHYZAPOrZKagBi_zB8JCNAJXOmhN90a9ADGhv_IkogFJsI3wi WbBqpuHwX_Lap2tRTSfCRuB9IpiTV5KVfu4ouayejjBUZIFp5z 7EP-tglw_1jjtHw/s2100/wicklow_wolf_hideaway_helles.jpg)Easter weekend saw the return of Ireland's longest-running beer festival, at Franciscan Well in Cork. Having missed last year's due to transport issues, this was the first I'd been to at actual Easter since 2019. It seemed rather more subdued than in the years of the Irish craft beer boom, with just ten visiting breweries plus the venue's own Original 7.
Wicklow Wolf had two unfamiliar beers for me, including a new draft-only Helles, called Hideaway. It's lighter than one would see in Germany, at 4.5% ABV, and has a bit of haze going on. When first poured in the chilly back yard it didn't taste of much, and it went downhill from there. Once the beginnings of warmth arrived it began to develop sweet estery flavours of banana, and then a strangely sharp pine detergent effect. It lacks the gentle, rounded, spongecake or white bread that Helles should provide, and I'm not sure it's a good example of any kind of pale lager. I'll be leaving it alone.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVxSQ5X8Oi5JIs7QhhbBP1v433BTvwuUWe01w-FWiQe5OSjDZazPyz5OFt1IkIB1W8DtXooxIC-3U8mpNYzIOris2F7pZ4JXui-3B_qgnd9NZXpx1BQP29r8deuA455_C7Jo3cfFsHh_XQTKwdgKD Y3JILqSL8KacCQF6JjmZpvqcjjzw2aDyRA/w147-h200/wicklow_wolf_cavehill_kentucky_common.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVxSQ5X8Oi5JIs7QhhbBP1v433BTvwuUWe01w-FWiQe5OSjDZazPyz5OFt1IkIB1W8DtXooxIC-3U8mpNYzIOris2F7pZ4JXui-3B_qgnd9NZXpx1BQP29r8deuA455_C7Jo3cfFsHh_XQTKwdgKD Y3JILqSL8KacCQF6JjmZpvqcjjzw2aDyRA/s3070/wicklow_wolf_cavehill_kentucky_common.jpg)The event also saw the launch of Wicklow Wolf's new collaboration with Kentucky distillery Rabbit Hole. It's called Cavehill and is in the Kentucky common style. Wicklow Wolf had one of these in their original line-up, and I was quite fond of the crisp dark ale. There's no crispness in this bourbon barrel aged one, however, it's big and round and creamy, with a huge vanilla flavour up front. Caramel and chocolate follow it along, and there's a very obvious heat, more than might be expected for 7% ABV, though perhaps it's more pronounced because some of it derives from the whisky. I get what it's trying to be, but it wasn't to my taste. A half was plenty; more would be just too cloying.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZB492McIaLqM_jEEDDyHKwbRj_qlxsrkY-vE5GxJ8gsHBvw9AGK9J1cZxuaugvbkTeXfRZ92OrpwAoswoXwd R5lzRTfId-kNXe31t5bKpPYaWlB-Ct1H7yfElZ2FcStY1s5ozKCL3_RpHESRbS39yQWuCntOMDk-_kwtDGg7AMn0AXknIJuxkw/w180-h200/west_cork_cape_clear_lavender_ale.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZB492McIaLqM_jEEDDyHKwbRj_qlxsrkY-vE5GxJ8gsHBvw9AGK9J1cZxuaugvbkTeXfRZ92OrpwAoswoXwd R5lzRTfId-kNXe31t5bKpPYaWlB-Ct1H7yfElZ2FcStY1s5ozKCL3_RpHESRbS39yQWuCntOMDk-_kwtDGg7AMn0AXknIJuxkw/s1935/west_cork_cape_clear_lavender_ale.jpg)There were two regular beers on offer from West Cork Brewing of Baltimore, plus a new one. Cape Clear is named for the nearby island which has become a centre of excellence for the cultivation of lavender, and the beer contains lavender grown on the island. Its base is an 80/- Scottish-style ale, finishing at 4.5% ABV, into which the lavender has been added at flame-out. While Tara the brewer said the amount was only a few hundred grams in the batch, the result is substantial, with a bright and summery floral perfume present in both the aroma and flavour. This matches well with the toffee sweetness from the dark amber base beer, resulting in something characterful and individual, but not overdone or gimmicky. Apart from tasting nice, it's an excellent example of beer making use of local ingredients and becoming part of their story.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS4kegat6d1-BonBR12sQ-Uk4JygP72sZQd1DRwOjGwSGsmdqPUzj90gjuHqDthX5WfgH6zJ F49Y_P1rwy8VNVyGBM02mbe4gXdG3HKxfN9VWalPFb4cOaLPZi rQZQ_abWggRTgK15lcSJFSSeMzHUzlHGhwx1JS2GeNtfu-Nbp2L8I1hLc58xA/w193-h200/third_barrel_stupid_sexy_flanders_red_ale.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS4kegat6d1-BonBR12sQ-Uk4JygP72sZQd1DRwOjGwSGsmdqPUzj90gjuHqDthX5WfgH6zJ F49Y_P1rwy8VNVyGBM02mbe4gXdG3HKxfN9VWalPFb4cOaLPZi rQZQ_abWggRTgK15lcSJFSSeMzHUzlHGhwx1JS2GeNtfu-Nbp2L8I1hLc58xA/s2250/third_barrel_stupid_sexy_flanders_red_ale.jpg)My only other dark beer came from Third Barrel, a new Flanders-style red ale called, of course, Stupid Sexy Flanders. Rodenbach's Roeslare Blend of yeast and bugs has done the business beautifully here, and it really presents the cherry and strawberry notes of Rodenbach very well. It is a little sharp at first, delivering a vinegary burn on the first taste, but it settles quickly, becoming a more rounded and classy balsamic tang. A cleansing crispness finishes it off. My only criticism is that it's a little on the strong side at 7% ABV. Good and all as it is, I think it's one to enjoy in small doses.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgs3UMH44zVhqyb5fDtTOoFsVTCkQ_27IOYfchjHkST 9MWnSm7pJuUueBtNTATwpWEnsRrNRhjqTEtPvkitihJTw2Mb7k 8HAx5fUbrrtXf9KybrW4VoZKR4vyYtVcW3JUph6zr8eo9-az0np5ncF5y3M2W9K5ZKEWT6U3H9tfHKurjfG8w56Gbg/w200-h161/blacks_of_kinsale_citrus_chiller_hoppy_lager.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgs3UMH44zVhqyb5fDtTOoFsVTCkQ_27IOYfchjHkST 9MWnSm7pJuUueBtNTATwpWEnsRrNRhjqTEtPvkitihJTw2Mb7k 8HAx5fUbrrtXf9KybrW4VoZKR4vyYtVcW3JUph6zr8eo9-az0np5ncF5y3M2W9K5ZKEWT6U3H9tfHKurjfG8w56Gbg/s2250/blacks_of_kinsale_citrus_chiller_hoppy_lager.jpg)A nother lager to clear the palate next: Citrus Chiller, from Black's of Kinsale. This is a very light affair, being an extremely pale yellow, 4.2% ABV and thinly textured. The flavour doesn't provide anything more intense than some highly dilute lemon barley water, which makes it refreshing, I guess, but very basic. I don't know how the citrus effect was achieved, but it seemed a little artificial to me, with a lingering cordial stickiness as the aftertaste. It has its place, but sipped in a cold beer garden is probably not it. Wait until the mercury is high before tackling one of these.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvh-yDl_TTKDahAi5uZvBdjtBa5kF0DAzwfJxyYXy2RztdycMDbJs0 8IuOLsXtB-5OloPCBTwniOQXufqp2Y_UrGTwZYXZVQvVToy9U1Wk9ISIki99 CleJmOCyLfI06U9QaMQYA9NU6muUsP3-3S4rQ9kAaS5pHBaU1WA51Xnq5dP47cGjH1v4A/w127-h200/9_white_deer_stag_lilt_gose.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvh-yDl_TTKDahAi5uZvBdjtBa5kF0DAzwfJxyYXy2RztdycMDbJs0 8IuOLsXtB-5OloPCBTwniOQXufqp2Y_UrGTwZYXZVQvVToy9U1Wk9ISIki99 CleJmOCyLfI06U9QaMQYA9NU6muUsP3-3S4rQ9kAaS5pHBaU1WA51Xnq5dP47cGjH1v4A/s3570/9_white_deer_stag_lilt_gose.jpg)9 White Deer also pre-empted the summer with a festival special they called Stag Lilt. Allegedly, it's a gose, but it was neither sour nor salty nor herbal, so zero for three on the Leipzig scale. From the name, you can probably guess that they've used some tropical fruit concentrate in the recipe. They don't tell us what, and I genuinely couldn't figure it out from the flavour. Much like with actual Lilt, it's a mish-mash of ersatz fruit characteristics, all on a theme of sweet. I got the same wateriness and artificiality as in the previous beer, though in this one the ABV is a ridiculously high 5.5% according to the festival brochure. Fair play to 9 White Deer for doing something beyond their usuals for the festival, but gose may not be a genre that suits them.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeggjw7yHfiA0ZxTcajMtAnBZi9r-Fzuz6TwWctL4nFRTfFHHGuhI-zffJnx5N2l6InYmdFHq7kk_ywqbihZiScQWUsBCv1QA4SZuoG3 rJybX-j9ie0z_jLXDfgvCnm1SV6THxpRjvo5utwY-V09FqQP_obmS2LkB1H_yZh1nXOe1jZxv869q_aA/w200-h199/lough_gill_gaelic_amore_ddh_juicy_ipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeggjw7yHfiA0ZxTcajMtAnBZi9r-Fzuz6TwWctL4nFRTfFHHGuhI-zffJnx5N2l6InYmdFHq7kk_ywqbihZiScQWUsBCv1QA4SZuoG3 rJybX-j9ie0z_jLXDfgvCnm1SV6THxpRjvo5utwY-V09FqQP_obmS2LkB1H_yZh1nXOe1jZxv869q_aA/s2265/lough_gill_gaelic_amore_ddh_juicy_ipa.jpg)Hazy IPA is still in fashion, and I drank a whole three of them on the day. First up was Lough Gill with a 7%-er called Gaelic Amore. Modern enhanced hop product "Cryo x Phantasm" features, alongside Nelson Sauvin and El Dorado. The beer is brightly hazy, looking like a glass of Sunny Delight, topped with a fine froth. I got Calippo ice pop from the aroma, followed by a flavour which took me on a journey, beginning at soft lemon pie and vanilla, building to a harder grapefruit and lime pith, finishing up on a savoury kick of garlic and a burn of alcohol. Phew. It's quite a textbook New England profile, and I'm sure the enthusiasts will be delighted to see the style created so diligently. I thought it was OK, but unspectacular, and very much something that's readily available from any number of other breweries. I'm a fan of both the named hops and was a little disappointed not to find their individual characteristics on display in this.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTNEIuJnHPrCF5c4w4oOa1uDfWkTnIuiNsYjNRbtcoT nDjGig0zo472RpuZSpsgBdekxioHDfRU4vvT3zmhOGhhlC1Mgw MxyvzVaGJJgXAsPZtwKl5Rljw37MZhodFJFXKxw-8ub7409jzeMVQAlQG7M2QZOotbWrPXyw_bdNsb5EiFmnEAcU4g/w172-h200/lineman_electric_avenue_6.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTNEIuJnHPrCF5c4w4oOa1uDfWkTnIuiNsYjNRbtcoT nDjGig0zo472RpuZSpsgBdekxioHDfRU4vvT3zmhOGhhlC1Mgw MxyvzVaGJJgXAsPZtwKl5Rljw37MZhodFJFXKxw-8ub7409jzeMVQAlQG7M2QZOotbWrPXyw_bdNsb5EiFmnEAcU4g/s2115/lineman_electric_avenue_6.jpg)We're now on version six of Lineman's Electric Avenue, where the hops are Citra, Mosaic and Ekuanot. This was scary fresh, exhibiting the hard bitterness of raw hop pellets. That made it quite hard work for me, especially late in the day as it was. I liked the boldness of it, and it's another that hop connoisseurs will particularly appreciate, but at the same time I think the bitterness should have been dialled down. I could tell that Mosaic's soft melon notes were present in the background, but they were getting comprehensively drowned out by the obstreperous Citra. It would be churlish to even introduce the word "balance" into the context of this beer -- such a multi-tonal hop symphony has no place for it -- but balance does serve a purpose, and this could have done it a bit better, for my taste anyway.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfwvbQqAFVPo9uIiKca2GVBYYofVTo92bfPwj1MUBNa aL3GgIgYKhSjzKBY7hCQIRXaSEkPkehar173oZHNJzScbDkqwk 5B3iYUxhsL9eQM9RqkXJ0_AE50kUeUSEI0bIWCV0B4O6REo9JA vsLj_diqKVVPxP_X3RsUXuwoHyMAk3Jz8vCvvusg/w183-h200/original_7_juice_bomb_neipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfwvbQqAFVPo9uIiKca2GVBYYofVTo92bfPwj1MUBNa aL3GgIgYKhSjzKBY7hCQIRXaSEkPkehar173oZHNJzScbDkqwk 5B3iYUxhsL9eQM9RqkXJ0_AE50kUeUSEI0bIWCV0B4O6REo9JA vsLj_diqKVVPxP_X3RsUXuwoHyMAk3Jz8vCvvusg/s2010/original_7_juice_bomb_neipa.jpg)That leaves just our hosts, Original 7. Their recently-released New England-style IPA is called Juice Bomb and is a much calmer creature. That said, it's no lightweight at 5.8% ABV and there's a proper soft and fluffy texture. You get a squeeze of orange juice, some vanilla essence and a very slight savoury allium note, but none of it goes overboard. I've remarked before that the brewery makes pub beers for pub drinkers, and this does a good job of taking the style and adapting for pint drinking. In contrast with Electric Avenue, you could have a few without feeling overwhelmed by any part of it.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TCaQCYX0hw7piZjwlVo-uqp9jnvZfDzCLZDcWFhr5wFR8az1CtwavOrcdPEe3aOxnpCmtL K3GDz07Z10DHq1tr2zKDEd7fgvWo2jtCREeeV_P9U54Le3gobV XedjmWcwvROpLKMVmdGVxTHK0mQQ3c9H-PgcWMpPNp-P_y9n2orWJcAXb8sHcQ/w200-h194/original_7_basic_peach_ipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TCaQCYX0hw7piZjwlVo-uqp9jnvZfDzCLZDcWFhr5wFR8az1CtwavOrcdPEe3aOxnpCmtL K3GDz07Z10DHq1tr2zKDEd7fgvWo2jtCREeeV_P9U54Le3gobV XedjmWcwvROpLKMVmdGVxTHK0mQQ3c9H-PgcWMpPNp-P_y9n2orWJcAXb8sHcQ/s2025/original_7_basic_peach_ipa.jpg)Brand new for the event was Basic Peach, and here comes the fruit syrup again. This purports to be an IPA, hopped with Cashmere and Belma, but the sticky additive dominates it completely, to the point where it creates an impression of drinking neat peach schnapps. Though an innocent clear gold colour, it's a full 6% ABV and quickly coats the palate. Belma, known for its sweet strawberry taste, is probably a good choice of hop for it, but whether any of its character was delivered, or whether the sweetness was solely peach concentrate, is impossible to tell. Still, I can't say I wasn't warned by the name, and it certainly delivers what's promised.
Cheers to all the brewers who brought an interesting an eclectic range of beers, and a particularly big thanks to the organisers who have kept this event alive and kicking for so long. I hope to see you next year, when we might get a warmer day for it.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YuvwuQZhGcnlrAaBu9mXHpNAx2kcSiO9AECeyAPSKw u4VMDOdFbybxTMm5CvvBKXLk0ZK73xJ6v7KYIHEIKJQ4Ot51C3 UQAkvvPoj4C7R1s4HJwTqCI9u7pQjTtB4KcNZRcpO7wyCRfnxK-euwK8QlfAV_VVqSock6EO1gRuN0bJcGyBI_ztAA/w640-h252/franciscan_well_easter_beer_festival_2024.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YuvwuQZhGcnlrAaBu9mXHpNAx2kcSiO9AECeyAPSKw u4VMDOdFbybxTMm5CvvBKXLk0ZK73xJ6v7KYIHEIKJQ4Ot51C3 UQAkvvPoj4C7R1s4HJwTqCI9u7pQjTtB4KcNZRcpO7wyCRfnxK-euwK8QlfAV_VVqSock6EO1gRuN0bJcGyBI_ztAA/s3711/franciscan_well_easter_beer_festival_2024.jpg)
More... (https://thebeernut.blogspot.com/2024/04/the-original.html)
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iZP0COlEZQMoc-Ng6DghG2weAfO0mMePE4loRlZCbpUGrkG5kZJLUAydP9o1wr1L Ig-TaHYZAPOrZKagBi_zB8JCNAJXOmhN90a9ADGhv_IkogFJsI3wi WbBqpuHwX_Lap2tRTSfCRuB9IpiTV5KVfu4ouayejjBUZIFp5z 7EP-tglw_1jjtHw/w171-h200/wicklow_wolf_hideaway_helles.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iZP0COlEZQMoc-Ng6DghG2weAfO0mMePE4loRlZCbpUGrkG5kZJLUAydP9o1wr1L Ig-TaHYZAPOrZKagBi_zB8JCNAJXOmhN90a9ADGhv_IkogFJsI3wi WbBqpuHwX_Lap2tRTSfCRuB9IpiTV5KVfu4ouayejjBUZIFp5z 7EP-tglw_1jjtHw/s2100/wicklow_wolf_hideaway_helles.jpg)Easter weekend saw the return of Ireland's longest-running beer festival, at Franciscan Well in Cork. Having missed last year's due to transport issues, this was the first I'd been to at actual Easter since 2019. It seemed rather more subdued than in the years of the Irish craft beer boom, with just ten visiting breweries plus the venue's own Original 7.
Wicklow Wolf had two unfamiliar beers for me, including a new draft-only Helles, called Hideaway. It's lighter than one would see in Germany, at 4.5% ABV, and has a bit of haze going on. When first poured in the chilly back yard it didn't taste of much, and it went downhill from there. Once the beginnings of warmth arrived it began to develop sweet estery flavours of banana, and then a strangely sharp pine detergent effect. It lacks the gentle, rounded, spongecake or white bread that Helles should provide, and I'm not sure it's a good example of any kind of pale lager. I'll be leaving it alone.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVxSQ5X8Oi5JIs7QhhbBP1v433BTvwuUWe01w-FWiQe5OSjDZazPyz5OFt1IkIB1W8DtXooxIC-3U8mpNYzIOris2F7pZ4JXui-3B_qgnd9NZXpx1BQP29r8deuA455_C7Jo3cfFsHh_XQTKwdgKD Y3JILqSL8KacCQF6JjmZpvqcjjzw2aDyRA/w147-h200/wicklow_wolf_cavehill_kentucky_common.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiVxSQ5X8Oi5JIs7QhhbBP1v433BTvwuUWe01w-FWiQe5OSjDZazPyz5OFt1IkIB1W8DtXooxIC-3U8mpNYzIOris2F7pZ4JXui-3B_qgnd9NZXpx1BQP29r8deuA455_C7Jo3cfFsHh_XQTKwdgKD Y3JILqSL8KacCQF6JjmZpvqcjjzw2aDyRA/s3070/wicklow_wolf_cavehill_kentucky_common.jpg)The event also saw the launch of Wicklow Wolf's new collaboration with Kentucky distillery Rabbit Hole. It's called Cavehill and is in the Kentucky common style. Wicklow Wolf had one of these in their original line-up, and I was quite fond of the crisp dark ale. There's no crispness in this bourbon barrel aged one, however, it's big and round and creamy, with a huge vanilla flavour up front. Caramel and chocolate follow it along, and there's a very obvious heat, more than might be expected for 7% ABV, though perhaps it's more pronounced because some of it derives from the whisky. I get what it's trying to be, but it wasn't to my taste. A half was plenty; more would be just too cloying.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZB492McIaLqM_jEEDDyHKwbRj_qlxsrkY-vE5GxJ8gsHBvw9AGK9J1cZxuaugvbkTeXfRZ92OrpwAoswoXwd R5lzRTfId-kNXe31t5bKpPYaWlB-Ct1H7yfElZ2FcStY1s5ozKCL3_RpHESRbS39yQWuCntOMDk-_kwtDGg7AMn0AXknIJuxkw/w180-h200/west_cork_cape_clear_lavender_ale.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEZB492McIaLqM_jEEDDyHKwbRj_qlxsrkY-vE5GxJ8gsHBvw9AGK9J1cZxuaugvbkTeXfRZ92OrpwAoswoXwd R5lzRTfId-kNXe31t5bKpPYaWlB-Ct1H7yfElZ2FcStY1s5ozKCL3_RpHESRbS39yQWuCntOMDk-_kwtDGg7AMn0AXknIJuxkw/s1935/west_cork_cape_clear_lavender_ale.jpg)There were two regular beers on offer from West Cork Brewing of Baltimore, plus a new one. Cape Clear is named for the nearby island which has become a centre of excellence for the cultivation of lavender, and the beer contains lavender grown on the island. Its base is an 80/- Scottish-style ale, finishing at 4.5% ABV, into which the lavender has been added at flame-out. While Tara the brewer said the amount was only a few hundred grams in the batch, the result is substantial, with a bright and summery floral perfume present in both the aroma and flavour. This matches well with the toffee sweetness from the dark amber base beer, resulting in something characterful and individual, but not overdone or gimmicky. Apart from tasting nice, it's an excellent example of beer making use of local ingredients and becoming part of their story.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS4kegat6d1-BonBR12sQ-Uk4JygP72sZQd1DRwOjGwSGsmdqPUzj90gjuHqDthX5WfgH6zJ F49Y_P1rwy8VNVyGBM02mbe4gXdG3HKxfN9VWalPFb4cOaLPZi rQZQ_abWggRTgK15lcSJFSSeMzHUzlHGhwx1JS2GeNtfu-Nbp2L8I1hLc58xA/w193-h200/third_barrel_stupid_sexy_flanders_red_ale.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOS4kegat6d1-BonBR12sQ-Uk4JygP72sZQd1DRwOjGwSGsmdqPUzj90gjuHqDthX5WfgH6zJ F49Y_P1rwy8VNVyGBM02mbe4gXdG3HKxfN9VWalPFb4cOaLPZi rQZQ_abWggRTgK15lcSJFSSeMzHUzlHGhwx1JS2GeNtfu-Nbp2L8I1hLc58xA/s2250/third_barrel_stupid_sexy_flanders_red_ale.jpg)My only other dark beer came from Third Barrel, a new Flanders-style red ale called, of course, Stupid Sexy Flanders. Rodenbach's Roeslare Blend of yeast and bugs has done the business beautifully here, and it really presents the cherry and strawberry notes of Rodenbach very well. It is a little sharp at first, delivering a vinegary burn on the first taste, but it settles quickly, becoming a more rounded and classy balsamic tang. A cleansing crispness finishes it off. My only criticism is that it's a little on the strong side at 7% ABV. Good and all as it is, I think it's one to enjoy in small doses.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgs3UMH44zVhqyb5fDtTOoFsVTCkQ_27IOYfchjHkST 9MWnSm7pJuUueBtNTATwpWEnsRrNRhjqTEtPvkitihJTw2Mb7k 8HAx5fUbrrtXf9KybrW4VoZKR4vyYtVcW3JUph6zr8eo9-az0np5ncF5y3M2W9K5ZKEWT6U3H9tfHKurjfG8w56Gbg/w200-h161/blacks_of_kinsale_citrus_chiller_hoppy_lager.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcgs3UMH44zVhqyb5fDtTOoFsVTCkQ_27IOYfchjHkST 9MWnSm7pJuUueBtNTATwpWEnsRrNRhjqTEtPvkitihJTw2Mb7k 8HAx5fUbrrtXf9KybrW4VoZKR4vyYtVcW3JUph6zr8eo9-az0np5ncF5y3M2W9K5ZKEWT6U3H9tfHKurjfG8w56Gbg/s2250/blacks_of_kinsale_citrus_chiller_hoppy_lager.jpg)A nother lager to clear the palate next: Citrus Chiller, from Black's of Kinsale. This is a very light affair, being an extremely pale yellow, 4.2% ABV and thinly textured. The flavour doesn't provide anything more intense than some highly dilute lemon barley water, which makes it refreshing, I guess, but very basic. I don't know how the citrus effect was achieved, but it seemed a little artificial to me, with a lingering cordial stickiness as the aftertaste. It has its place, but sipped in a cold beer garden is probably not it. Wait until the mercury is high before tackling one of these.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvh-yDl_TTKDahAi5uZvBdjtBa5kF0DAzwfJxyYXy2RztdycMDbJs0 8IuOLsXtB-5OloPCBTwniOQXufqp2Y_UrGTwZYXZVQvVToy9U1Wk9ISIki99 CleJmOCyLfI06U9QaMQYA9NU6muUsP3-3S4rQ9kAaS5pHBaU1WA51Xnq5dP47cGjH1v4A/w127-h200/9_white_deer_stag_lilt_gose.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqvh-yDl_TTKDahAi5uZvBdjtBa5kF0DAzwfJxyYXy2RztdycMDbJs0 8IuOLsXtB-5OloPCBTwniOQXufqp2Y_UrGTwZYXZVQvVToy9U1Wk9ISIki99 CleJmOCyLfI06U9QaMQYA9NU6muUsP3-3S4rQ9kAaS5pHBaU1WA51Xnq5dP47cGjH1v4A/s3570/9_white_deer_stag_lilt_gose.jpg)9 White Deer also pre-empted the summer with a festival special they called Stag Lilt. Allegedly, it's a gose, but it was neither sour nor salty nor herbal, so zero for three on the Leipzig scale. From the name, you can probably guess that they've used some tropical fruit concentrate in the recipe. They don't tell us what, and I genuinely couldn't figure it out from the flavour. Much like with actual Lilt, it's a mish-mash of ersatz fruit characteristics, all on a theme of sweet. I got the same wateriness and artificiality as in the previous beer, though in this one the ABV is a ridiculously high 5.5% according to the festival brochure. Fair play to 9 White Deer for doing something beyond their usuals for the festival, but gose may not be a genre that suits them.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeggjw7yHfiA0ZxTcajMtAnBZi9r-Fzuz6TwWctL4nFRTfFHHGuhI-zffJnx5N2l6InYmdFHq7kk_ywqbihZiScQWUsBCv1QA4SZuoG3 rJybX-j9ie0z_jLXDfgvCnm1SV6THxpRjvo5utwY-V09FqQP_obmS2LkB1H_yZh1nXOe1jZxv869q_aA/w200-h199/lough_gill_gaelic_amore_ddh_juicy_ipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeggjw7yHfiA0ZxTcajMtAnBZi9r-Fzuz6TwWctL4nFRTfFHHGuhI-zffJnx5N2l6InYmdFHq7kk_ywqbihZiScQWUsBCv1QA4SZuoG3 rJybX-j9ie0z_jLXDfgvCnm1SV6THxpRjvo5utwY-V09FqQP_obmS2LkB1H_yZh1nXOe1jZxv869q_aA/s2265/lough_gill_gaelic_amore_ddh_juicy_ipa.jpg)Hazy IPA is still in fashion, and I drank a whole three of them on the day. First up was Lough Gill with a 7%-er called Gaelic Amore. Modern enhanced hop product "Cryo x Phantasm" features, alongside Nelson Sauvin and El Dorado. The beer is brightly hazy, looking like a glass of Sunny Delight, topped with a fine froth. I got Calippo ice pop from the aroma, followed by a flavour which took me on a journey, beginning at soft lemon pie and vanilla, building to a harder grapefruit and lime pith, finishing up on a savoury kick of garlic and a burn of alcohol. Phew. It's quite a textbook New England profile, and I'm sure the enthusiasts will be delighted to see the style created so diligently. I thought it was OK, but unspectacular, and very much something that's readily available from any number of other breweries. I'm a fan of both the named hops and was a little disappointed not to find their individual characteristics on display in this.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTNEIuJnHPrCF5c4w4oOa1uDfWkTnIuiNsYjNRbtcoT nDjGig0zo472RpuZSpsgBdekxioHDfRU4vvT3zmhOGhhlC1Mgw MxyvzVaGJJgXAsPZtwKl5Rljw37MZhodFJFXKxw-8ub7409jzeMVQAlQG7M2QZOotbWrPXyw_bdNsb5EiFmnEAcU4g/w172-h200/lineman_electric_avenue_6.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsTNEIuJnHPrCF5c4w4oOa1uDfWkTnIuiNsYjNRbtcoT nDjGig0zo472RpuZSpsgBdekxioHDfRU4vvT3zmhOGhhlC1Mgw MxyvzVaGJJgXAsPZtwKl5Rljw37MZhodFJFXKxw-8ub7409jzeMVQAlQG7M2QZOotbWrPXyw_bdNsb5EiFmnEAcU4g/s2115/lineman_electric_avenue_6.jpg)We're now on version six of Lineman's Electric Avenue, where the hops are Citra, Mosaic and Ekuanot. This was scary fresh, exhibiting the hard bitterness of raw hop pellets. That made it quite hard work for me, especially late in the day as it was. I liked the boldness of it, and it's another that hop connoisseurs will particularly appreciate, but at the same time I think the bitterness should have been dialled down. I could tell that Mosaic's soft melon notes were present in the background, but they were getting comprehensively drowned out by the obstreperous Citra. It would be churlish to even introduce the word "balance" into the context of this beer -- such a multi-tonal hop symphony has no place for it -- but balance does serve a purpose, and this could have done it a bit better, for my taste anyway.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfwvbQqAFVPo9uIiKca2GVBYYofVTo92bfPwj1MUBNa aL3GgIgYKhSjzKBY7hCQIRXaSEkPkehar173oZHNJzScbDkqwk 5B3iYUxhsL9eQM9RqkXJ0_AE50kUeUSEI0bIWCV0B4O6REo9JA vsLj_diqKVVPxP_X3RsUXuwoHyMAk3Jz8vCvvusg/w183-h200/original_7_juice_bomb_neipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjfwvbQqAFVPo9uIiKca2GVBYYofVTo92bfPwj1MUBNa aL3GgIgYKhSjzKBY7hCQIRXaSEkPkehar173oZHNJzScbDkqwk 5B3iYUxhsL9eQM9RqkXJ0_AE50kUeUSEI0bIWCV0B4O6REo9JA vsLj_diqKVVPxP_X3RsUXuwoHyMAk3Jz8vCvvusg/s2010/original_7_juice_bomb_neipa.jpg)That leaves just our hosts, Original 7. Their recently-released New England-style IPA is called Juice Bomb and is a much calmer creature. That said, it's no lightweight at 5.8% ABV and there's a proper soft and fluffy texture. You get a squeeze of orange juice, some vanilla essence and a very slight savoury allium note, but none of it goes overboard. I've remarked before that the brewery makes pub beers for pub drinkers, and this does a good job of taking the style and adapting for pint drinking. In contrast with Electric Avenue, you could have a few without feeling overwhelmed by any part of it.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TCaQCYX0hw7piZjwlVo-uqp9jnvZfDzCLZDcWFhr5wFR8az1CtwavOrcdPEe3aOxnpCmtL K3GDz07Z10DHq1tr2zKDEd7fgvWo2jtCREeeV_P9U54Le3gobV XedjmWcwvROpLKMVmdGVxTHK0mQQ3c9H-PgcWMpPNp-P_y9n2orWJcAXb8sHcQ/w200-h194/original_7_basic_peach_ipa.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6TCaQCYX0hw7piZjwlVo-uqp9jnvZfDzCLZDcWFhr5wFR8az1CtwavOrcdPEe3aOxnpCmtL K3GDz07Z10DHq1tr2zKDEd7fgvWo2jtCREeeV_P9U54Le3gobV XedjmWcwvROpLKMVmdGVxTHK0mQQ3c9H-PgcWMpPNp-P_y9n2orWJcAXb8sHcQ/s2025/original_7_basic_peach_ipa.jpg)Brand new for the event was Basic Peach, and here comes the fruit syrup again. This purports to be an IPA, hopped with Cashmere and Belma, but the sticky additive dominates it completely, to the point where it creates an impression of drinking neat peach schnapps. Though an innocent clear gold colour, it's a full 6% ABV and quickly coats the palate. Belma, known for its sweet strawberry taste, is probably a good choice of hop for it, but whether any of its character was delivered, or whether the sweetness was solely peach concentrate, is impossible to tell. Still, I can't say I wasn't warned by the name, and it certainly delivers what's promised.
Cheers to all the brewers who brought an interesting an eclectic range of beers, and a particularly big thanks to the organisers who have kept this event alive and kicking for so long. I hope to see you next year, when we might get a warmer day for it.
https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YuvwuQZhGcnlrAaBu9mXHpNAx2kcSiO9AECeyAPSKw u4VMDOdFbybxTMm5CvvBKXLk0ZK73xJ6v7KYIHEIKJQ4Ot51C3 UQAkvvPoj4C7R1s4HJwTqCI9u7pQjTtB4KcNZRcpO7wyCRfnxK-euwK8QlfAV_VVqSock6EO1gRuN0bJcGyBI_ztAA/w640-h252/franciscan_well_easter_beer_festival_2024.jpg (https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1YuvwuQZhGcnlrAaBu9mXHpNAx2kcSiO9AECeyAPSKw u4VMDOdFbybxTMm5CvvBKXLk0ZK73xJ6v7KYIHEIKJQ4Ot51C3 UQAkvvPoj4C7R1s4HJwTqCI9u7pQjTtB4KcNZRcpO7wyCRfnxK-euwK8QlfAV_VVqSock6EO1gRuN0bJcGyBI_ztAA/s3711/franciscan_well_easter_beer_festival_2024.jpg)
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