This one’s a bit of a round up on some of the more interesting beers I’ve had over the past fortnight. Crooked Stave’s beers have somehow managed to find their way on to the Irish market. I picked up a couple in Drinkstore a while back for a bottle share but I wasn’t able to stay the duration and didn’t actually taste them. I was then pleasantly surprised to see the one pictured above; St Bretta Brettanomyces Citrus Wild Beer in Super Valu in Celbridge. It’s €8 plus for a 375ml bottle. But sure feck it, that’s only the price of two boring pints. This one is really good, it’s got a nice sherbert pucker thing going on. Go mad, splash out on a bottle or two.
The Fresh Prince of Kildare ( top marks for the name) is a big ass 9.2% New England Style Double IPA from Trouble Brewing which was brewed with only the freshest of hops. This one is a keg only special and I’m told there are a couple of places still pouring it, including possibly Billy Byrne’s in Kilkenny. A wee drop magically arrived in my garden in Moate. (Cheers Dave!) This one is like soup. Fresh, fruity, hoppy soup.
Dungarvan seem to be doing a special a month this weather. The March special was Curious Orange, a Saison brewed with sweet orange peel and thyme. Of course I had this with The Fall’s ‘I Am Kurious Oranj’ playing on Spotify. I have a good few Fall albums but not that one. It’s pretty accessible and enjoyable. For an album by The Fall like. The beer is as pithy as one of Mark E Smith’s finest lines. I have a habit of enjoying Dungarvan’s Saisons and this one didn’t disappoint.
Eight Degrees snapped up Spike from Terrapin on his recent visit to these shores and brewed Retribution with some contributions from him. It’s a Black Rye IPA and it was rather tasty. I’m really looking forward to trying the collaboration Eight Degrees have done with Drakes too!
Dungarvan’s April special was also a Rye IPA dubbed Magic Road. I wasn’t as mad about this one, it was decent enough but I think I wanted some more hoppiness.
A name to look out for is Wide Street Brewing. This Ballymahon based brewer has mad skills and I reckon he could be Ireland’s answer to the likes of Crooked Stave. Brett North East is a 100% Brett Pale Ale. He lists the malts, hops and yeast used in the brew on the home made label which I thought was a nice touch. It was murky as you like and the Citra came through beautifully. Good job. Sláinte!