A brief visit to the Tom Crean brewery in Kenmare
plus….review of their St Brigid’s Lager
In those early days, Bill delivered the beers around the town with a handcart. Now that they have expanded a bit, they have a low-emission jeep for that job. They use shutters (French style) to help regulate the temperature in the building and also have solar panels on the roof. Their motto is "to make a beer that won't cost the earth."
When I called on a recent visit, they were working hard on a double brew. Aileen had to break away for a spell as some of her piglets had escaped at their nearby house! Despite the amount of time spent in the shop and brewery, they have found time to help organise what looks like a superb Tom Crean Festival to honour the famous explorer. Details here.
The hard work is paying off, and Aileen said that every year is busier than the one before. There is always something new happening in Creans, and soon you’ll be able to buy what promises to be an interesting alcohol-free beer called Last Man Standing, also a Gluten free beer. In May, they’ll be opening their taproom on Fridays and Saturdays (5.00 to 7.00 pm). Get all the latest on their Instagram here. If you are a beer lover, put Kenmare on your travel list this year!
For a recent post on the brewery please click here.
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| Local support for the Tom Crean beers! |
Also on this trip: One delightful summery day in Kenmare, KIllarney
Tom Crean Family St Brigid’s Lager, 4.5% ABV
This well-judged mix of German malts and Slovenian hops works very indeed, and the lager, with citrus notes, is further enhanced by being allowed six weeks, to bring it to perfection. Classic ingredients and a classic crisp and refreshing finish, with more depth than many lagers. Colour is a rich gold/ amber, with a lovely soft head. It comes in a 500ml bottle and we bought ours at the local O’Donovan’s Off-Licence
It is named after St Brigid, Ireland’s number one female saint, whose reputation seems to be growing after the relatively recently established Bank Holiday (an unexpected bonus courtesy of Covid) in her honour. She was also, believe it or not, a master brewer, and as an abbess, she could read and write.
We are told that her “wish was to create a lake of beer for the Almighty and all the heavenly hosts for all eternity.” Not too sure of the descriptive word that should be applied to Brigid and this aspect of her career, aside from miracle worker. Had she been married and lived in England in later centuries, she would have been called an alewife.
Sheppard also had a bit of general background on women brewing: “…quite a lot of the early brewers were women and the church wasn’t very happy with that situation. The brewers wore a special hat for the trade and kept a cat (to protect the grain from mice) and that eventually led to some of them being called witches with dire consequences.”
Long before Brigid, we had Goibhniu. His main occupation was as the ancient Celtic smith god, one of a trio of divine craftsmen. He also allegedly brewed the special ale thought to confer immortality on those who drank it. Looks like Bill Sheppard will have to up his game!
Brewer Bill has his own more modest methods - go to Kenmare and take the tour - and this is a very satisfying lager indeed that reminds me of the traditional Central European style. Like their stout, this has been awarded at the annual Blas in Dingle and is Very Highly Recommended.
Beer or wine, back in the day
MALT LIQUOR, OR CHEAP FRENCH WINES?
We should drink no ale or beer, said Gladstone,
"because they stupefy and dull our brains".
But sour French wine, as other people think,
Our English stomachs often sorely pains.
The question then is which we most should dread,
An aching belly or an aching head?
From John Bickerdyke’s entertaining The Curiosities of Ale & Beer https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/55602
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