A Quart of Ale± #113. Going for a Paddle on a Rough Wave to The Other Side. Lough Gill at Aldi

 A Quart of Ale± #113

On the craft journey with Lough Gill at Aldi

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Going for a Paddle on a Rough Wave to The Other Side.

In the local Aldi recently and I picked up three beers: Going for a Paddle, Rough Wave and On The Other Side. The info on the can label is sparse to say the least but all three are by Lough Gill Brewery in Sligo.

On the same shelf, there were beers (in the Brown Bear and Roadworks series) by the Pearse Lyons Brewery and O’Shea’s by Carlow Brewing Company. Oddly enough, these Aldi beers aren’t even mentioned on the Lough Gill and Carlow websites.

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Lough Gill Rough Wave New England Session IPA 3.8%, 440ml can Aldi (Mayfield)

Started my session on the water (sorry beer!) with this session New England IPA. It pours an opaque lemon colour with a bubbly white head that sinks quickly enough. Hops come through on the citrusy aromas. Citrus too on the flavours, not really bitter, not overly assertive, just modest. Modest refreshment also. Pleasant enough to drink and should pass the session test, though maybe not the New England one. Well ahead of the mainstream though and probably a good starter for a craft newbie.

Lough Gill On The Other Side East Coast IPA 4.6%, 440ml can Aldi (Mayfield)

Colour of this IPA is closer to orange than lemon, still hazy (opaque again) with a pillowy white top that is slow enough to sink. Aromas more tropical than citrus. Flavours of orange and mango get through, slightly more bitter, dry rather than juicy. Fairly refreshing and easy-drinking. Nice one for a hour or two in the back garden if that feckin’ sun ever shows up again this summer.

Lough Gill Paddle Citra Single Hop IPA 4.7%, 440ml can Aldi (Mayfield)

Orange is the colour, a little cloudy, nowhere near as hazy as the others. Head goes quickly enough. Aromas are, as you would expect, citrusy, nothing overly assertive. Citrus too on the palate and the bitterness factor is higher. Doesn’t quite reach the heights but not bad at all. Would be fine with a decent sandwich or a bag (sorry carton, nowadays) of fish and chips, sitting on a low wall on a hot summer’s night. Could be easier though to get your your hands on the beer than the hot summer’s night.

The Citra characteristics - Citrus, Mango, Melon - are here. If you want a more advanced example or even a comparison, try the Citra Single Hop by Eight Degrees (5.7ABV). Seeing that Aldi’s prices are about half what you’d pay for regular craft beer, this Lough Gill trio, which all have relatively low ABVs, would all serve well as a stepping stone on the craft trail.

* The three labels list the same ingredients: Malted Barley, Oats, Hops, Yeast, Lough Gill Water.