What beer are we drinking this week, too?

Halfbaker

Brooklyn Dry Irish Stout. Nice, not exactly memorable but very drinkable. I don't think I've tasted any beer of theirs that wasn't decent.

BaZmO*

Founders Dark Penance is absolute amazeballs!

Seriously though, it's such a cracking beer.

Lovely Bloke

Was in the Harbour in Bray. Had a sample of both the Wicklow Wolf beers they have on tap.

The Brown Ale is as bland as Smithwicks and the Amber has that same earwax twang as Mcgargles red.

Yet another disappointing new Irish Brewer.

Earlier in the day I opened my own stout, pale ale, Red Ale and Xmas brew and they were all better

BaZmO*

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Was in the Harbour in Bray. Had a sample of both the Wicklow Wolf beers they have on tap.

The Brown Ale is as bland as Smithwicks and the

and the what?! Don't leave us hanging!!!!

Lovely Bloke

Lol posting on phone

Lovely Bloke

I'm actually fairly annoyed. How are these beers passing quality tests? Who is tasting these beers and telling the brewers to release them to market?

I know myself and my brewing crew wouldn't dream of even letting family taste any beer we make that would taste like either of them Wolf beers, or that St Mels IPA.

It's disheartening to think that Irish Craft might have peaked.

Serious questions need to be asked about the new generation of beers imo

cunnifferous

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I'm actually fairly annoyed. How are these beers passing quality tests? Who is tasting these beers and telling the brewers to release them to market?

I know myself and my brewing crew wouldn't dream of even letting family taste any beer we make that would taste like either of them Wolf beers, or that St Mels IPA.

It's disheartening to think that Irish Craft might have peaked.

Serious questions need to be asked about the new generation of beers imo

Have to agree. Paid €3.99 for a bottle of wicklow wolf amber and €3.70 for a St Mels IPA recently. Both garbage. Like the people that brewed them hadn't tasted them before they were bottled.

The price of a lot of new irish craft beers seems to be creeping up but the quality isin't

Ronan|Raven

Well it wasn't as bad an evenings drinking as I had imagined, managed to have some of sweetmans porter on cask which was beautiful. followed by some Sheep Stealer in the norseman.

Ronan|Raven

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I'm actually fairly annoyed. How are these beers passing quality tests? Who is tasting these beers and telling the brewers to release them to market?

I know myself and my brewing crew wouldn't dream of even letting family taste any beer we make that would taste like either of them Wolf beers, or that St Mels IPA.

It's disheartening to think that Irish Craft might have peaked.

Serious questions need to be asked about the new generation of beers imo

I'm wondering if it is the bottling where it is causing issues for a lot of breweries. St Mels pale ale whilst not the best in the world is made by a good brewer. Their brown ale I have enjoyed but did have two dud bottles out of the 10 or so I bought.

I guess it all boils down to the prices one pays for the majority of Irish craft. I want to support the local breweries and I appreciate the economies of scale but when you see the prices of some beers in off licences and pubs it makes me go nah, keep it.

At the end of the days ones pockets only run so deep with all the other bloody bills that need to be prioritised.

toffeeshel

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I'm actually fairly annoyed. How are these beers passing quality tests? Who is tasting these beers and telling the brewers to release them to market?

I know myself and my brewing crew wouldn't dream of even letting family taste any beer we make that would taste like either of them Wolf beers, or that St Mels IPA.

It's disheartening to think that Irish Craft might have peaked.

Serious questions need to be asked about the new generation of beers imo

St. Mels don't make an IPA

Insect Overlord

McGrath's Irish Black Stout (bottle 50cl)
Chimay Rouge (bottle 33 cl)
Franciscan Well pale ale
Of Foam And Fury (bottle 50 cl)

Grand night out across 4 Limerick pubs.

laros

St. Mels don't make an IPA

i think what was meant was Pale Ale rather than IPA.


http://www.stmelsbrewing.com/

Lovely Bloke

Ronan|Raven wrote: »

I'm wondering if it is the bottling where it is causing issues for a lot of breweries. St Mels pale ale whilst not the best in the world is made by a good brewer. Their brown ale I have enjoyed but did have two dud bottles out of the 10 or so I bought.

I guess it all boils down to the prices one pays for the majority of Irish craft. I want to support the local breweries and I appreciate the economies of scale but when you see the prices of some beers in off licences and pubs it makes me go nah, keep it.

At the end of the days ones pockets only run so deep with all the other bloody bills that need to be prioritised.

I had both Wicklow Wolf beers on tap in Bray

drumswan

Didn't notice any off flavours in the Wicklow Wolf red or brown. Had the red from a bottle and thought it reasonable for the style. The usual boring Irish ****e though.

All these brewers see themselves in competition with Heineken and Diageo, not with Sierra Nevada and Founders

ciaran76

Weird Beard Hit The Lights had it a few week ago and had it again yesterday it's a nice pale ale but at near €4 a 500ml bottle there are better irish pale ales.

Lovely Bloke

drumswan wrote: »

Didn't notice any off flavours in the Wicklow Wolf red or brown. Had the red from a bottle and thought it reasonable for the style. The usual boring Irish ****e though.

All these brewers see themselves in competition with Heineken and Diageo, not with Sierra Nevada and Founders

They aren't off flavours, the brown just has absolutely NO flavour, and the amber has some horrible bittering hop that Rye River also use in McGargles red

Grayditch

Anyone had that Kenmare IPA? Or maybe it's a pale ale. I've seen it cheap enough in a lot of places, but never bothered with it.

jsa112

Quite liked wicklow wolf's amber ale, their blonde isn't great(had both on bottle).

How are these beers passing quality tests? Who is tasting these beers and telling the brewers to release them to market?

Yeah have to really wonder about this. I'm very hesitant to try Irish beers these days.

Their brown ale I have enjoyed but did have two dud bottles out of the 10 or so I bought.

Pretty high percentage, don't think I'd ever buy from a brewery again with those odds


Haven't heard much great things bout Kenmare either

RayCon

This week I'm mostly drinking Franziskaner thanks to a Spar near my job clearing it at €1 per bottle ... not short dated either ! 08/15:eek:

Grayditch

Mace on South Circular Road is great for beer. Decent selection and cheaper than most places.

Celly Smunt

RayCon wrote: »

This week I'm mostly drinking Franziskaner thanks to a Spar near my job clearing it at €1 per bottle ... not short dated either ! 08/15:eek:

I'm hooked on Franziskaner,I can't find a Weiss over here to match it for the price,Schöfferhofer maybe. That American muck doesn't come close.

Grayditch

Summer Wine Brewing Co. - Maelstrom Double IPA. 9.0%

Very nice.

thesandeman

Grayditch wrote: »

Anyone had that Kenmare IPA? Or maybe it's a pale ale. I've seen it cheap enough in a lot of places, but never bothered with it.

It's alright for the price. Not a patch on the Independent Pale though which is usually only 50c extra.

murphyebass

Just bought a growler of white hag bog ale.

Hopefully it's as good as the Fleadh ale I had from them a few weeks ago

blueshed

Grayditch wrote: »

Anyone had that Kenmare IPA? Or maybe it's a pale ale. I've seen it cheap enough in a lot of places, but never bothered with it.

had both there IPA and red last wend and there just ok, wouldn't say there muck etc.

better off getting some other beers like Bru or O hara's and there same price or even cheaper in some places.

MentalMario

Had a few pints of Hop Head in the Porterhouse last night. Really enjoyed it.

It kind of tastes similar enough to Metalman and Mine Head from the Dungarvan Brewing Company. Not exactly the same but along those lines.

Any more suggestions along the same line?

Mine Head is my 'go to' beer now but it's hard enough to get.

xxyyzz

murphyebass wrote: »

Just bought a growler of white hag bog ale.

Hopefully it's as good as the Fleadh ale I had from them a few weeks ago

I tried their oktoberfest marzen over the weekend along with their pale ale and both were superb. They are probably my favourite irish brewery at the moment.

Grayditch

Founders' Dark Presence really is a special beer. Already one of my favourites after just one. Perfection.

murphyebass

xxyyzz wrote: »

I tried their oktoberfest marzen over the weekend along with their pale ale and both were superb. They are probably my favourite irish brewery at the moment.

Yeah the Fleadh ale was gorgeous. I had their ipa as well from bottle the other night which was lovely and this big ale is very like a begian ale. Superb stuff imo

Grayditch

Grayditch wrote: »

Founders' Dark Presence

Dark Penance!

Redsoxfan

Was delighted to find Franciscan Well Rebel Red and Chieftain IPA on draft in Bradys in Maynooth. Good to have any sort of craft available in the local pubs at last!

Hit up Aldi to take advantage of the Bru for EUR 2.49 a bottle but only managed to get 6 Rí but this was at 6pm yesterday mind you.

Ruben Remus

Ronan|Raven wrote: »

I guess it all boils down to the prices one pays for the majority of Irish craft. I want to support the local breweries and I appreciate the economies of scale but when you see the prices of some beers in off licences and pubs it makes me go nah, keep it.

At the end of the days ones pockets only run so deep with all the other bloody bills that need to be prioritised.

I've felt this way for a while. I try to support Irish craft breweries but usually can't afford to take a gamble on a €4 bottle of an unknown beer that might not be any good.

Markcheese

Ruben Remus wrote: »

I've felt this way for a while. I try to support Irish craft breweries but usually can't afford to take a gamble on a €4 bottle of an unknown beer that might not be any good.

How much of the uncertainty is down to small batch brewing ? There can be an awful lot of variability in little things than change the character/ Flavours in a beer-
Also how many offlicences are direct stocking local beers ? (Buying them direct from brewery as opposed to a distributor ? ). Could this help bring price down stocking a few local beers at a better price( my local offlicence has a good range of craft beer and seem very reasonable for Munster brewery stuff (youghals not far off )

Ruben Remus

Markcheese wrote: »

How much of the uncertainty is down to small batch brewing ? There can be an awful lot of variability in little things than change the character/ Flavours in a beer-
Also how many offlicences are direct stocking local beers ? (Buying them direct from brewery as opposed to a distributor ? ). Could this help bring price down stocking a few local beers at a better price( my local offlicence has a good range of craft beer and seem very reasonable for Munster brewery stuff (youghals not far off )

Good questions. I don't know the answers.

When I saw one bottle of Of Foam And Fury going for €7.15 in a Galway off licence, about a mile from the brewery, it seemed to mark the start of a shift in Irish craft beer pricing in general. Most bottles from the newer breweries seem pitched at around €3.95, which, for me, is too much of a gamble for an unknown product. If I hear great things about the beer I will pick up a bottle, but not before then.

Lovely Bloke

Yeah, I was so majorly disappointed with the Wicklow Wolf stuff at the weekend, which was exacerbated by the fact that I genuinely brewed at least three better beers myself in recent weeks.

I mean, if I can produce drinkable, taste filled beers in my back garden, why can these guys not do it on better kit, with better ingredients?

irish_goat

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

I mean, if I can produce drinkable, taste filled beers in my back garden, why can these guys not do it on better kit, with better ingredients?

To be fair, your ingredients are probably just as good (if not better).

BaZmO*

irish_goat wrote: »

To be fair, your ingredients are probably just as good (if not better).

I was just about to say that!

Lovely Bloke

I'm doing extract brews though!

murphyebass

Ruben Remus wrote: »

Good questions. I don't know the answers.

When I saw one bottle of Of Foam And Fury going for €7.15 in a Galway off licence, about a mile from the brewery, it seemed to mark the start of a shift in Irish craft beer pricing in general. Most bottles from the newer breweries seem pitched at around €3.95, which, for me, is too much of a gamble for an unknown product. If I hear great things about the beer I will pick up a bottle, but not before then.

Thats gas that ofaf is €7.15 in a Galway offi when its just over €6 in most of the ones I frequent.

That said I'd more than happily pay €7.15 for a bottle. Dont tell Galway Bay that though.

Theres a bit of bandwagoning going on in the "craft" scene though. The likes of the muck from Lidl recently. Is it called crafty beer made by the same people as the mcgargles rubbish?

I think you have to be picky. I've picked a few bottles off the recommendations on here and havent been let down yet.

The most recent being Founders Breakfast Stout.

If every recommendation can be as good as this one I'd appreciate it.

Lovely Bloke

Founders isn't Irish though.

murphyebass

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Founders isn't Irish though.

Very true but the same can be said for all craft beer imo

BaZmO*

murphyebass wrote: »

Very true but the same can be said for all craft beer imo

Eh, except for the Irish ones.

Lovely Bloke

Weird.

murphyebass

BaZmO* wrote: »

Eh, except for the Irish ones.

ok maybe I need another coffee.

I was trying, probably very poorly, to make the point that you need to be picky with all craft beer and not just Irish ones.

Its early and Monday so go easy lads.

jh79

Had Buxton's Double Axe DIPA 13.6%, great stuff follwed by a White Gypsy Porter on cask , very light mouth feel but once I got used to it very enjoyable and to finish a Founders Curmudgeon, a less sweet "Dirty Bastard" another great Founders beer.

blueshed

Just had a btl of the Brehon Brewhousr red ale, as red ales go it's not bad. much better than Mcgargles, Kenmare and Clew bay i have tasted lately.

Now having Jack Cody's amber ale, nice enough beer. not a style i would normally drink but this is better than the 12th Abbey i tried last week.

have the Cody's Pilsner to try next, again not a style i would drink to often but want to brew some soon so looking for inspiration.

Redsoxfan

Had some of the Jack Cody's Pilsner at the weekend. Liked it. Would like it a lot more on a hot day.

Agreed on 12 Abbey. Their pale ale is awful stuff. The amber/red is a bit better.

irish_goat

Saw 750ml bottles of Leffe Nectar in Tesco (£2.99). Anyone have anything nice to say about it? Sounds like it will be awfully sweet.

Karpackie

Was in O'Neill's of Suffolk Street on Saturday for the match. Not a place I'd normally frequent, but what a selection of Irish craft beers on tap.
Had a Galway Hooker Porter. Which I'd never heard of before. It was fairly decent. Nothing more than that though. Real bang of roasted coffee off it which isn't to my taste.

Went back to their pale ale. The success of Hooker means I can order it in pubs I'd never have believed would have tried something new. And selling like hot cakes in most of them by all accounts. So I wasn't been adventerous by ordering it. It's still my default session beer if I fancy a fair few.

WallsToTheBall

Long time reader, first time poster in this thread...thought I might try to keep better track of new beers I try rather than the current 'take-a-picture-of-it-with-phone-and-if-it-was-great-or-terrible-I-will-remember-it' approach!

Tonight I had a scrumptious Evil Twin Brewing 'Falco', decent IPA, strong enough at 7% but easy to drink, similar enough to BrewDog Hardcore Punk IPA but a little more lively, fresher and less alcohol taste, good mix of sweet like a pineapple thrown at a crate of citrus, masking a Geuze-ish sour! Will definitely try more of these so called Gypsy-brews from that company.

A Lomza Export Niefiltrowane next to clean out the palate so I could actually taste ANYTHING(!) after that sensory explosion... This beer seems to have horrid ratings on ratebeer but I like it quite a bit and drink it quite often, the other two Lomza offerings we get here are not great but this one has a nice subtle milky character, reminds me of a lot of Lithuanian farmhouse ales, very subtle, but very refreshing and a great beer to have after/between anything with a lot of flavour.

Next a Sierra Nevada 'Snow Wit' White IPA. I have yet to be disappointed by any SN beer I have ever tried and this just continues that...them guys sure know how to go from Micro to Macro without ruining the process with time/money savers like flavourings and are always releasing new delicious wonders *tips hat*. Nice blend of Belgian Wit, wheaty but CLEAN with a grapefruit hammering away on the front, very nice blend, seldom to come across an IPA you would consider 'clean' as they are nice and dirty by their very nature.