What beer are we drinking this week? Episode 3

Geuze

Wetherspoon Keaven's Port pub on Friday 1st November

Just one of six cask ales on - poor form!!

I never expect all six to be available, but just one……..

So after a while I switched to Worthington's Creamflow

I like the €2.60 price and the low ABV, but it's very watery, no bite to it, no mouthfeel.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122779814#Comment_122779814

Got a 2024 Pointy Shoes the other week, maybe it's my covid anosmia again but I didn't think it was much more than OK. 😯

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122841103#Comment_122841103

No, it’s dropped in quality the past couple of years I think. Contributing to why it’s around for so long on the shelves. I still got another one to have during Christmas week though.

Insect Overlord

Speaking of big annual stouts, it looks like this year's 200 Fathoms has quietly slipped into a few shelves this week.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122844111#Comment_122844111

My local has ran out already. I bought a couple of bottles to put away, then drank them, then got another one for my Christmas collection.

Another off licence I frequent had the previous one up until July this year, so I'm not too worried.

I noticed GBB have a few wild fermented ales available now too. Just had a quick look as I was in a rush.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122798224#Comment_122798224

Admittedly I've only ever been in there on a Friday evening (as if that's an excuse) but each time they only had one cask ale on, or none at all.

Hotblack Desiato

Rascals are discontinuing Wunderbar 😠 the trend towards ever blander, lower ABV craft beers continues.

Also I had two cans of Kinnegar Crossroads last night and both of them exploded when opened 🙄

accensi0n

Been drinking cans of Murphy's recently.

Had a pint for the first time today and it was almost fizzy. Smoother from the can.

Is it meant to be like that, or a keg/line setup issue?

irish_goat

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122846697#Comment_122846697

Disappointing, always enjoyed Wunderbar, albeit, never saw it up north so could rarely buy it.

Exploding Kinnegar can is very rare, especially for a beer like Crossroads. Drop them an email and they'll sort you out.

Citizen Six

Had a pint of Flaggy Shore earlier. Can't remember having had it before, but it wasn't great at all. Tasted like a shandy made with Islands Edge and Lucozade. Awful stuff.

Insect Overlord

The DOT Brew/Two Stacks collaboration from Aldi this week is very pleasant. The imperial stout comes in at 7.5% abv so it's much more drinkable than beasts like 200 Fathoms, The Morrigan, Narwhal, or Pointy Shoes. Glad I picked up two of them so I can enjoy another a little closer to Christmas, even if it is bizarre pouring spirits out of a little can!

Black Sheep

Bought a 4 pack of Cascade Ridge and also a Simcoe Smash, both Lough Gill, from Aldi yesterday.

The Cascade Ridge is probably one of the best West Coast style session beers I've had, from an Irish brewer. It pours orange and has that resiny hit that I crave. Like a baby Sierra Nevada Torpedo.

I was less keen on the Simcoe Smash, just not for me, but it was also well executed.

I have the DOT Brew / Two Stacks pack as well, and would consider grabbing a couple more as stocking fillers for friends. Very nice packaging from a gift POV.

Geuze

Does anybody know any shops that sell Weihenstephaner Vitus?

Outside Dublin, in west of Ireland, please.

Thanks.

BeerNut

Bradley's in Cork.

janiejones

I've seen it in a few o donovans in Cork too

Insect Overlord

Watched the second half of the Celtic match with my first 200 Fathoms of the season.

Has anyone spotted this year's barrel aged Leann Foláin anywhere in the Limerick area? Couple of shops online have it but I'd prefer to avoid delivery costs.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122876333#Comment_122876333

I found the BA Leann Folain a bit disappointing. But I wasn't a fan of the first version of it either.

The regular one is one of my favourite stouts though.

BeerNut

I had this year's on draught yesterday and was very impressed. I haven't liked every year's.

EthelMercaptan

Drinking Weihenstephaner Winterfestbier which is suspiciously similar to Weihenstephaner Festbier with additional snowflakes on the label.

Hotblack Desiato

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122877789#Comment_122877789

Really trying hard to resist opening before Xmas, but I am intrigued by Aldi's combination of whiskey barrel aged stout with stout barrel aged whiskey 😁 the diddy little 100mL can of whiskey is comical.

I bought two "tubes" and hid them away, I need to forget where they are now, and then suddenly remember in a month's time 😁

Pen Rua

Rascals' American IPA has added lemon & lime juice, but you wouldn't know unless you read the tiny ingredients listing.

Blacks of Kinsale's Tropical IPA mentions fruit on the label, but omitts them from the ingredients listing. The bottle also has no BB date. I emailed, and no reply.

Whiplash's Nice Mover was not of the standard I expect from Whiplash. A lot "meh" Untappd checkins of recent Whiplash beers, especially the Christmas IPAs.

Kinnegar's new core dark lager is excellent.

youcancallmeal

A silly thing to say but I feel like Whiplash have dropped off in quality since they changed their can artwork style 😂. Not sure if Sophie De Vere is no longer working with them or she is but changed the style

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122880439#Comment_122880439

I've been let down by Dot Brew's barrel aged stuff in the past, so I hope this one works out. Looking forward to having them both together. I'll have to get another BA Leann Folain though.

I have to put all my christmas selection well out of reach, to avoid temptation!

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122882023#Comment_122882023

I know there was another collage artist that's done some work for them recently.

Pen Rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122882023#Comment_122882023

LOL, I was thinking the same. I follow Sophie De Vere on Instagram, and she went silent for months. She has popped up recently looking to sell prints, etc. I did like the artwork she did for the cans even if they became a bit samey. I used to be very excited for Whiplash new releases, now I wouldn't rush to pick them up.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122882804#Comment_122882804

She was involved with one of the Whiplash guys I think, but isn't anymore. So that may be a reason she hasn't been doing stuff for them. Just speculation. I see her about from time to time, so might ask if I get a chance.

Black Sheep

I opened the DOT brew / Two Stacks collaboration pack from Aldi, and had it last weekend.

The imperial stout is choc forward and drinks a lot lighter than the ABV… Whoever said it wasn't as powerful as some other barrel aged offerings had it right. That might disappoint some people if they like real heavy hitters, but I would describe it as pleasant.

The Two Stacks can is well-executed but it's unremarkable triple distilled Irish whiskey, I don't know that there's a whole lot to be said about it.

Definitely ok value and overall a good gift pack for yourself or another.

Pen Rua

Garage have a stout out with Land & Labour. It was tremendous, in my view. It probably outshines some of the big, fancy barrel aged imperial stouts I've had of late (maybe looking at you, 200 Fathoms…)

phelixoflaherty

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122858431#Comment_122858431

Try McCambridges on shop st. Galway

Macy0161

Had the Wicklow Wolf Bread Forty Wolf pastry stout in Underdog at the weekend. Deeply regretted not getting a taster first, as it would've been a sink pour at home. The first ever "miss" I remember me having from them to be honest.

Black Sheep

In a similar vein, what about Kinnegar Winterland… A salted chocolate stout? Anyone tried it?

I tend to steer clear of flavoured stouts ever since White Hag's pastry stout series a few years ago, I just went off them.

BeerNut

I liked it. It wasn't anything as sweet as I thought it would be.

Insect Overlord

I had it last night. Didn't realize it was supposed to be flavored! Enjoyed it very much.

Tonight's treat is beer number 1 from the Mother Mac's advent calendar. An absolute cracker to kick off the month.

Citizen Six

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122913948#Comment_122913948

I was looking for this last night in Martins, but it was buried in the stock room. Hoping to pick it up tonight.

I used to enjoy the odd pastry stout, but just found the stuff from White Hag to be absolutely putrid.

Black Sheep

I used to love the Porterhouse Chocolate Truffle Stout… Is it no more?

BeerNut

I think it was around last year, but that was the end of it. The head brewer disliked it, and that's never a good sign when a brewery is cutting back its range.

Geuze

Has anybody had this?

BeerNut

Yes. It's OK but nowhere near worth what they're charging for it. It's a blend of beers which are nicer to drink separately.

Pen Rua

Seconded. Absolutely not worth the premium price.

Black Sheep

Another canning failure? Totally flat, even with a dramatic pour. Tasted flat as a pancake, poured it away.

This one was fine though. Or at least, better.

Both Polish I think.

janiejones

Having the lough gill Tara. Feels like I'm drinking a px sherry

Sebastian Dangerfield

I really liked Hope's winter seasonal porter last year. This years export Stout is very nice too, though it packs a bit too much of a punch for me at 7.5%. Lovely in front of the fire on a Winter sunday

Hotblack Desiato

Anyone else get an email this morning from White Hag saying that "your" Hoppy Christmas Beer Box will be dispatched shortly?

It looks like they sent it to everyone on their mailing list… at least I don't remember ordering one 😯

Gone off ordering beer by mail as if the stuff is discounted it's usually for a reason, and the other half is not a fan of boxes of beer turning up on the doorstep. I have a decent Molloys a few mins walk away and a couple of supermarkets a few mins more, and can pick and choose exactly what I want. There's always something disappointing in these "special" Christmas boxes

Insect Overlord

Apologies for replying without an answer to your White Hag question, but I had a different query of my own! Anyone know if Wicklow Brewery are doing a 12-12-24 stout this year?

Tonight's treat at home is the Holy Molé stout, a collaboration between Rascals and To Øl. Best chilli stout I've ever had.

Insect Overlord

Really enjoying my Advent calendar this year. The lads in Mother Mac's are brilliant at what they do. Today's bottle was Spéartha Dorcha, an Oyster stout from Mescan that I thought I'd never be able to get my hands on.

Followed it up with Tara from Lough Gill's range of barrel aged imperial stouts. 14.8% and aged in a Pedro Ximénez barrel from Boann distillery.

adaminho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122950592#Comment_122950592

The Holy Molé is on Draught at the moment if in during the week.

Insect Overlord

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122960688#Comment_122960688

Hoping to get in for half an hour on Tuesday night. Must sample the new drop from JJ Corry as well. 👍

youcancallmeal

Got around to trying the Changing Times hazy pale ale. Not awful but clearly something made on a budget. Reminds me of the stuff Lough Gill/Obrother brew for Aldi which is perfectly fine at around 2euro a can but this pint cost over 8euro. Speaking of which I got the receipt and it was €7.80 NOT including 23% vat. I don't think I've ever seen that in a pub, is this something that pubs are doing now or just what some of the more heavily touristed pubs in Dublin do?

Black Sheep

Had a few Mo Chara stouts from Aldi again. This is a very 'chocolate-y' stout, and tastes more full-bodied than you'd expect, for 5% abv.

I think I just prefer the O Brother Eachtra, also Aldi, just a little drier and more sessionable.

Lewis_Benson

Good old fashioned Guinness draught cans.