Tag: Ireland

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Beer Documentary Review – The Irish Pub

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In our (and my) rush to talk about new beers and new breweries, it is easy to forget the third places that have existed for years and really serve a vital role. The simple pub.

There is a scene in The Irish Pub where one of the owners of a traditional Irish pub states that you don’t need a psychiatrist if you can pop dish to pub and have a “chat” with the other regulars. There is truth to that.

This documentary on Netflix runs an hour and fifteen minutes and does a fair survey of pubs from big city Dublin to other corners and crannies of Ireland. Topics like, the Snug, music, economics, regulars and others get asked at each locale and you learn not only about the pubs and people but about the country too.

You could argue that this isn’t beer related or craft beers related. And you would be right. This is most certainly NOT about beer or whiskey but rather the people that serve it and consume it. The cinematography is well done. It is easy to photograph a pub exterior (which they do) but another thing to light the interior of a bar area that re-creates what it would look like if you were drinking there while seeing the person interviewed.

Check this doc out with a pint of Guinness in hand.

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Irish-American Lager

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I have nothing against the idea of brand extension on the face of it.  You make one type of pie and it’s a good pie, then make another flavor or do another pastry.  Same goes with beer.  You make a great stout, you should be able to also brew a black lager if you want to. Or even an Irish conglomerate spin on an American water lager.

Where brand extension goes awry is the “Why?’.  Are you doing it challenge yourself?  Cool.  Is it a style that complements your current offerings.  Again, cool.  Is it a stylistic one-off or seasonal?  Brew on then.

But when you are doing it because your “growth” is slowing or because the “market” demands it then consumers (and especially craft beer people) quickly see through it as a ploy and nothing more.  And to a certain extent, that is also fine if you are making a good beer for the wrong reason.  The reason being a mere grab at the wallet with NEW!

But what is sad is that there is a huge missed opportunity here.  Guinness could have done a peat smoked barley Irish rauchbier.  Or something else that utilizes a local ingredient or theme.  Instead they are doing a lowest common denominator “American” lager?  As if that is needed.  Quality Kolsch we need.  Quality Pilsner we need.  Quality blonde ales we need.  But a (presumably) adjunct heavy light lager?  I think that not-so-prized category is covered.

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Xmas 2012 – Guinness / Generous Ale

We head to Ireland and a new holiday offering from Guinness, Generous Ale….

“Inspired by Arthur’s philanthropic legacy and devotion to generous, full-flavored beers, Guinness Generous Ale is special edition holiday beer that was developed in a traditional winter ale style, but with more body and the distinct roast for which Guinness Draught is known. With a rich amber appearance, the vanilla notes accent Guinness Generous Ale’s silky, yet vibrant taste.”

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Irish Brewery # 3 – Metalman Brewing

Our final Irish stop had one of the most intriguing names on the Beoir website, Metalman

According to their blog, they didn’t get the hops that they had ordered so their flagship pale will be tweaked this time around but I still put i down as one to try just to see how the American hop gets used by Irish brewers. Their Summer and Fall seasonals sound tasty as well.

Metalman Pale Ale

“American style pale ale, dark gold in colour with a delicate white head. Citrus and floral aromas lead into hop flavours characterised by grapefruit and mandarin produced by American hops. A dry bitter finish makes this an eminently enjoyable and refreshing beer.”

Windjammer – Summer Seasonal

“A pale amber beer, hopped exclusively with lots of New Zealand varieties. An antipodean extravaganza, lightly carbonated with a soft bitterness from a combination of Southern Cross and Pacifica, leading into tropical fruit flavours of pineapple and mango, with the wonderful addition of grapes from Nelson Sauvin hops – a delightful spring beer!”

Alternator – Autumn Seasonal

“Hazy golden wheat beer with a punchy Belgian twist! Alternator is a light-to-medium bodied beer, lightly bittered, with a citrus finish from Cascade hops which is complemented by spicy flavours from coriander, pepper and a saison-style yeast.”

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Irish Brewery # 2 – Messrs Maguire

Our second stop in Ireland courtesy of interwebs help at the Beoir site is at Messrs Maguire

But there are not going to be any stouts, Irish or otherwise for me, if I visit. I will be heading straight to two German styles.

No2: BOCK
“A classic of the style, winner of the Best Overall Beer Award at the Independent Irish Beer & Whiskey Festival 2009. This strong beer is easy drinking, with a mild malty aroma and a medium body. Reasonably sweet for a stronger beer, this finishes clean and crisp and leaves you wanting more.”

No3: HAUS LAGER
“A classic European pilsner-style lager, hopped with specially imported continental hops – Czech Saaz and Bavarian Hersbrucker – to impart a crisp, moderately bitter flavour. This beer has a dry, subtle maltiness with a nice floral aroma.”

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Irish Brewery # 1 – 8 Degrees

Since it is March, it is time to head back to the Emerald Isle and e-tour some breweries from Ireland that I found while on THIS website. Our first destination is 8 Degrees

Beer # 1 that intrigued me is, “Like tackling the Knockmealdowns in a blizzard, this beer is not for wimps. This robust malt-driven ale balances dark malts with some old world bitter hops. It won’t weigh you down like a stout and offers a rich chocolaty aroma with a burst of espresso. Perfect for a cooler evening: year round in Ireland.”

Beer # 2 is their “first ever seasonal beer …. ‘A Winter’s Ale’, at 7.5% ABV it’s a real winter warmer. Made with Green Saffron mulling spices.”

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Dublin Pubs


I am absolutely hooked on the Netflix streaming. To the point where I have watched a couple of atrocious movies just because I could. But this service isn’t just for kicking back and enjoying a flick. You can also get some beer learning in.

One of the travel documentaries from PBS that I have watched and can recommend is The Historic Pubs of Dublin.

Hosted by Frank McCourt of Angela’s Ashes fame, it is a fairly typical travelogue of pubs in Dublin with a smattering of history sprinkled in. Now you do not watch this for craft beer information. In fact you will be appalled to notice Bud tap handles next to Guinness ones. What you watch this for is to get a mini-history of pubs that you should at the very least walk through when you visit Dublin. And visit Dublin you should. My particular favorite is the pub next to the graveyard. I can so see myself walking into that on a cold and dark Irish night. And clocking in at one hour it is much better than Skyline or Prince of Persia.

If you out there in craft beer land have found any streaming worthy beer movies to watch, let me know and the world know through the lovely comments section.

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Ireland or Germany? – Clanconnel Brewing

Back to Ireland and Clanconnel Brewing. Do read their history on the home page of their website. It is very cool.

They have two beers in their line with a third in the works. You can have a Weaver’s Gold…
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“This refreshing blonde ale, strikes a perfect balance between the subtle sweetness of the malts; the wonderful zesty citrus aroma from the hops and the crisp, dry finish on the palate.”
..or the McGrath’s Red…
“A medium bodied traditional ale, combining the caramel sweetness of the malts with toasted biscuit notes, balanced carefully by the earthy hops, finishing slightly dry but smooth on the palate.”

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Ireland or Germany? – Trouble Brewing

You are not a true beer geek until you have visited and taken in the beer culture in Ireland and Germany. I have been fortunate to have been to both BUT I did not visit all the breweries PLUS more have sprung up!

So this month, I will offer up an underknown brewery from each country that should be on your next beer travel itinerary. First up, the Emerald Isle…
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“We’re dedicated to producing distinctive and outstanding beer from only natural ingredients.”, so says the Trouble Brewing website and I believe them. They are starting small and hoping to build up.

Here’s the info on beer # 1: Ór “A smooth, refreshing golden ale that is full-bodied and has a distinctive hop flavour. Brewed using the best two-row Maris Otter pale malt interwoven with a complimentary selection of speciality malt for a robust taste. It is hopped with a combination of traditional English and modern American hops, to produce a beer with subtle fruit flavours and a crisp, lingering finish. 4.3% A.B.V.”

Slainté

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Porterhouse Brewery

To Ireland we fly to talk about the Porterhouse Brewery. Ireland and Scotland have fallen behind Wales in craft beer but with BrewDog and Porterhouse, maybe the tide is turning.

Here are two of the beers that piqued my curiousity…
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“A classic full bodied continental style pilsner with an ample balance of lip smacking Hersbrucker hops. A soft, quality hop flavour with the matching subtly of fine malt and sweetness.”
Oyster-stout
“Brewed with fresh oyster. A smooth drinking aromatic stout with a discernible but unidentifiable aromatic aspect. Not suitable for vegetarians.”