What beer are we drinking this week ?

Insect Overlord

BaZmO* wrote: »

I had the Full Sail last week and thought it was beautiful, one of the best Irish IPA's I've had, perfect carbonation too.

I have a bottle of Full Sail in the fridge for this weekend. Really looking forward to it after reading a few posts in this thread recently.

BaZmO*

Insect Overlord wrote: »

I have a bottle of Full Sail in the fridge for this weekend. Really looking forward to it after reading a few posts in this thread recently.

It reminded me a bit of O'Hara's IPA, only less bitter, a tad sweeter, and less carbonated (which was a good thing, I find O'Hara's can be a bit over carbonated a lot of the time)

snowblind

I wonder what was going on with my bottle of Full Sail. Very mild hoppiness, no malt profile at all to be found, carbonation very low.

Seaneh

AFAIK the first round of bottles from Galway Bay had a problem with carbonation but this was fixed in the second run.

I had a bottle of Full Sail in Skelly's in Ballymahon (they had all the Galway Bay range, two McGrath's, Mortons Oyster, a few Schneider's and a few other random beers, pleasantly surprised) and the carbonation was spot on. got a nice head which lasted all the way down the glass and left a lot of lacing. I'd had one a few weeks previously and it was a lot less carbonated.

BaZmO*

Are they bottled conditioned?

Seaneh

BaZmO* wrote: »

Are they bottled conditioned?

Nope.

They are all filtered.

BaZmO*

Seaneh wrote: »

Nope.

They are all filtered.

Oh. I was thinking that maybe that was the reason for the lack of carbonation. My Full Sail was in a warm enough room for a week or two and it was fine, but that said, so was the Buried at Sea and that was under carbed.

snowblind

I got my Full Sail from Redmonds last week. The carbonation might have not even been that bad, the wateriness of it all just made it seem very flat. I've had similarly weak pales before (the Aldi version of O'Hara's is a bit like this, but even that one is at least somewhat enjoyable), but honestly this reminded more of a few drops of this in a bit of water than an actual IPA:

irish_goat

snowblind wrote: »

(the Aldi version of O'Hara's is a bit like this, but even that one is at least somewhat enjoyable),

I had a dodgy bottle of that when it came out too but I think it might have been a bad batch. It's grand now, great price for a pale ale.

Seaneh

snowblind wrote: »

I got my Full Sail from Redmonds last week. The carbonation might have not even been that bad, the wateriness of it all just made it seem very flat. I've had similarly weak pales before (the Aldi version of O'Hara's is a bit like this, but even that one is at least somewhat enjoyable), but honestly this reminded more of a few drops of this in a bit of water than an actual IPA:

I honestly couldn't disagree with you more.
I think Full Sail is, probably, one of the 2 or 3 best pale ales brewed in Ireland, the other two being O'Hara's IPA and Metalman with Hopplehammer being not far off the first 3.

I find that Full Sail is probably the MOST like an american style IPA of any of the irish pale ales and has a lovely malt backbone to support he massive Cascade, Colombus and El Dorado presence.
I've been a fan of it for a while now after not liking the early versions at all and it's only getting better since they moved into the new brewery. I actually find the bottles taste better than the draught, which is very rare.
I love he big cascade hit on the nose and I find the finish is exceptionally dry.

snowblind

Seaneh wrote: »

I honestly couldn't disagree with you more.
I think Full Sail is, probably, one of the 2 or 3 best pale ales brewed in Ireland, the other two being O'Hara's IPA and Metalman with Hopplehammer being not far off the first 3.

I find that Full Sail is probably the MOST like an american style IPA of any of the irish pale ales and has a lovely malt backbone to support he massive Cascade, Colombus and El Dorado presence.
I've been a fan of it for a while now after not liking the early versions at all and it's only getting better since they moved into the new brewery. I actually find the bottles taste better than the draught, which is very rare.
I love he big cascade hit on the nose and I find the finish is exceptionally dry.

I find this strange, as I'm big into my IPA's and have been hoping for more american style ones in Ireland! The Hurricane / Cyclone ones are pretty good, and I'd rate O'Hara's, Metalman and Hopplehammer way above Full Sail.

I found Full Sail to be closer to Trouble Brewing Sabotage which I also didn't like, although on the latter I found more of a hop profile which at least gave something to my taste buds when everything else was lacking.

Maybe someone swapped labels on my bottle, there was absolutely no massive hop presence, quite the opposite, with merely a hint of any malts at all. "Embittered water" was my description from smell to taste to aftertaste.

the beer revolu

I liked Full Sail too - found it a bit flat but thought there was a good solid malt profile and plenty of grapefruity hop flavours but not so much hop aroma.
It kindof reminded me of a toned down nøgne ø. I'd buy it again, unlike the Buried at Sea.

Seaneh

snowblind wrote: »

I find this strange, as I'm big into my IPA's and have been hoping for more american style ones in Ireland! The Hurricane / Cyclone ones are pretty good, and I'd rate O'Hara's, Metalman and Hopplehammer way above Full Sail.

I found Full Sail to be closer to Trouble Brewing Sabotage which I also didn't like, although on the latter I found more of a hop profile which at least gave something to my taste buds when everything else was lacking.

Maybe someone swapped labels on my bottle, there was absolutely no massive hop presence, quite the opposite, with merely a hint of any malts at all. "Embittered water" was my description from smell to taste to aftertaste.

I really don't know what you drank, but it sounds nothing like Galway Bay's Full Sail.

If you think Sabotage is MORE hoppy, you might have something wrong with you, do you have a flu/hay fever/scalded tongue or by any chance?

Insect Overlord

Sabotage nearly blew me away the first time I tried it back in the spring. I couldn't taste anything else I drank later that night.

drumswan

They seem to change the recipe of both Sabotage and Full Sail every other week (which drives me nuts). The last version (bottled) of Full Sail I had lacked aroma hops, but had a good whack of hop bitterness backed by some big sweet malts and was very good indeed.

Seaneh

Insect Overlord wrote: »

Sabotage nearly blew me away the first time I tried it back in the spring. I couldn't taste anything else I drank later that night.

Seriously?

The first time I had it was from cask, it tasted like, well, a mild red ale, nothing like a pale ale. I then had it a few weeks later from cask again "dry hopped" and again it tasted more malty than hoppy and very underwhelming.

I then had it from draught and while it was more like a pale ale it was still very muted.

Unless it has changed massively since, I honestly think it's tastes more like a red ale than an IPA.

There's a regular in the salt house who HATES hoppy beersm refuses to try American style pales and IPA's but doesn't mind english bitters and the odd casked version of pales, drinks stuff like Land Lord a lot.
He absolutely loves Sabotage, precisely because it's not hoppy.

snowblind

Seaneh wrote: »

I really don't know what you drank, but it sounds nothing like Galway Bay's Full Sail.

If you think Sabotage is MORE hoppy, you might have something wrong with you, do you have a flu/hay fever/scalded tongue or by any chance?

No, but thanks for your concern..or maybe I should put that word in quotation marks, not sure.

I had a Torpedo after from a can. Not even near my favourite IPA, but tasted as I've used to it. Palate was fine, Full Sail not. Get used to other people disagreeing with your taste, maybe?

drumswan

8 Degrees Hurricane is comfortably the best Irish 'American IPA' anyway.

irish_goat

The B&C had a cask of sabotage that was dry hopped and was very hoppy, and very tasty. Otherwise I've found it to be lacking.

BaZmO*

snowblind wrote: »

No, but thanks for your concern..or maybe I should put that word in quotation marks, not sure.

I had a Torpedo after from a can. Not even near my favourite IPA, but tasted as I've used to it. Palate was fine, Full Sail not. Get used to other people disagreeing with your taste, maybe?

Ah Seaneh is just sensitive when it comes to criticism of the Galway beers.

GLaDOS

Always found Sabotage fairly boring to be honest, a very safe drink to start off on at best. Certainly wouldn't describe it as hoppy anyway.

snowblind

BaZmO* wrote: »

Ah Seaneh is just sensitive when it comes to criticism of the Galway beers.

AND I also disliked Buried At Sea! :eek:

GLaDOS

snowblind wrote: »

AND I also disliked Buried At Sea! :eek:

On tap or bottled out of interest? Seems to be getting mixed reviews from the bottled version. I love it on draught myself, haven't gotten a bottle yet.

ciaran76

Thats it Buried At Sea is going in the fridge. Going to see why its getting so many mixed reviews.

snowblind

ScienceNerd wrote: »

On tap or bottled out of interest? Seems to be getting mixed reviews from the bottled version. I love it on draught myself, haven't gotten a bottle yet.

Bottle. Always missed it on draught (broke/pub ran out/forgot about it). I will probably try on draught. I didn't even think the carbonation was the main issue, but the sweetness and the totally-not-subtle milky chocolatey taste. I mean it was almost closer to a "flavoured alcoholic beverage" than a beer.

Now that I remember I also disliked Galway Bay Voyager. I might have even confused that with Sabotage when comparing to Full Sail, but the comparison still stands. Sabotage was rather bland but still accomplished something in the hop department. Voyager was just monotonously bitter with nothing much else going on.

Seaneh

I agree about voyager, really unbalanced beer. Someone once described it to me by saying "it tastes like ear wax".

BaZmO*

Seaneh wrote: »

I agree about voyager, really unbalanced beer. Someone once described it to me by saying "it tastes like ear wax".

Which begs the question.....

Seaneh

Just got a very belated birthday present (posted 3 weeks ago) from California.

A Lagunitas Brewing Co. T-shirt.

Would have prefered a Lagunitas IPA but sure I can't have everything I want!

Grayditch

Lagunitas do some really great beer.

Having a little can of Brooklyn Summer Ale, but it's just not good.

BaZmO*

With all the Galway talk I opened the Bay Ale tonight. Another carbonation disaster. That's 2 out 3 that tasted like bottles of home brew that were opened too early!
Tasted nice, but you'd expect better considering the price tag. I'll get them again cos I'm a geek but I'm sure they've lost some custom because of it.

ciaran76

Same as BaZmO* all thevtalk made me open my Buried at sea.

Poured rich dark colour with a head that reminds me of pouring coffee too fast.

Smelled lovely and sweet and tasted quite sweet with a slight smokey malt.

Don't think the bottle works to be honest. Never had it on tap so can't compare.

Creamy Goodness

Cracked open a hoptimum and a wild beer co bliss.

ciaran76

Moved onto Kona Fire Rock Pale Ale think its the first Hawaiian beer I ever had.

A little sweet tastes caramel like with malt and a hoppy kick. A slight honey aftertaste.

Interesting maybe a great summer type beer in a hot climate.

Grayditch

I like what Kona have done with their new bottles. The Hawaiian Islands on the glass, and the lip of the bottle is slightly grainier than a regular bottle. Nothing to do with the beer, that's generally great on it's own

thegills

Just finished a couple of bottles of St. Austell Proper Job IPA. Lovely stuff and I'd recommend it if you like Blonde beers / Pale Ale type stuff. I bought it in Superquinn.

Geuze

McEwan's Champion ale tonight.

BaZmO*

Geuze wrote: »

McEwan's Champion ale tonight.

And was it?

Geuze

BaZmO* wrote: »

And was it?

Aye, lovely drop, my head is a bit warm and fuzzy now.

Nicely shaped bottle.

The 7.3% is hitting me now, must go to sleep. Goodnight.

jsa112

Having O'Hara's Jameson Barrel Aged Lean Follain, extremely impressed with it. O'Hara's should really do this more often, its one of the best barrel aged stouts I've ever had.

adamski8

Are you sure its jameson barrels they be using?

Herb Powell

Lots and lots of cask ales, including St. Austell's Tribute.

Good stuff all round.

Heroditas

Herb Powell wrote: »

Lots and lots of cask ales, including St. Austell's Tribute.

Good stuff all round.

Tribute is fantastic stuff. If you're somewhere that has it on cask, they should also have HSD on draught too - well worth trying.

As for myself, I shall be drinking many different drinks in the RDS tomorrow. Can't wait!!

jsa112

My bad, just says "aged in Irish whiskey barrels", not specifically Jameson, not sure why that popped into my head.

Hootanany

Fullers IPA very tasty, are their better ones out there?

Creamy Goodness

jsa112 wrote: »

My bad, just says "aged in Irish whiskey barrels", not specifically Jameson, not sure why that popped into my head.

Most likely as there is a Franciscan Well stout aged in Jameson barrels out at the moment too.

GLaDOS

Hootanany wrote: »

Fullers IPA very tasty, are their better ones out there?

Fuller's 'Bengal Lancer' is another IPA they produce, which is nicer imo.

drumswan

ScienceNerd wrote: »

Fuller's 'Bengal Lancer' is another IPA they produce, which is nicer imo.

Fullers IPA is an alias for Fullers Bengal Lancer afaik.

ciaran76

Brewdog El dorado a middle of the road beer. Wouldn't buy it again.

Creamy Goodness

ciaran76 wrote: »

Brewdog El dorado a middle of the road beer. Wouldn't buy it again.

is that part of the IPA is dead series? I found 2013's to be quite underwhelming.

ciaran76

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

is that part of the IPA is dead series? I found 2013's to be quite underwhelming.

Yeah exactly.