On the craft trail with Galway Bay, Outer Place and O'Hara's. A handy line-up for a session!

On the craft trail with Galway Bay, Outer Place and O'Hara's

A handy line-up for a session!

Galway Bay Brewery Althea Hazy Pale Ale, 4.8% ABV, 500 ml bottle, Dunnes Stores

Unlike many pale ales, Althea is low on bitterness yet massively hoppy in aroma. The brewery tells us it is named “after one of our head brewer’s favourite Grateful Dead songs.” Highly Recommended.

The colour is light gold, hazy, of course, though you can track all

those bubbles rising to the soft white head. Tropical fruits, such as peach, mango, and papaya, appear in the aromas, as you might expect from the hops employed. Much the same tropical notes appear on the palate but, as they indicate, very little bitterness.

By the way, bitterness is measured at 48 IBUs. That number confirms the dominance of hops and the downplaying of the malt, fairly typical of the modern American Pale Ale style. However, as with all beer styles, there are many variations. Nothing stands still as innovative brewers keep your taste buds on full alert.

Geek Bits

Speciality Malts: Golden Promise, Vienna, Melanoidin
Hops: Citra, Amarillo, Simcoe
Bitterness: 48 IBUs

Food pairings: Chicken, lamb, and other light meats.

**************

Outer Place Sun Spots West Coast Pilsner, 5.2% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

a crisp, refreshing, hop-forward West Coast Pilsner

This “West Coast” hybrid Pilsner has vibrant aromas and flavours of mixed tropical fruits and fresh citrus zest. Most of which come from the posse of hops - all American West Coast - deployed. Quite crisp and certainly refreshing. Highly Recommended.

Here, Craft Beer and Brewing give their “definition” of a West Coast Pilsner: “Generally, the profile of the beer is described as having the initial strong taste and smell of a modern IPA, which quickly gives way to the crisp, malty, freshness of a Pilsner. For many American brewers, “West Coast” refers to the use of American hops instead of the more traditional European noble hops”. And it looks and tastes as if our Outer Place meets the requirements!

Outer Place is a new Irish Craft brewery in Kildare for fans of hoppy beers and who aren't afraid to admit it! The story of Outer Place begins at the home of Mark Clarke and Vivien Lough. Mark has home-brewed for years as a hobby and has always dreamed of opening a brewery to satisfy his desire for hoppy beer. Now is the time!

Geek Bits

Style: West Coast Pilsner

ABV: 5.2%

IBU: 34-ish

Hops: Citra Cryo, Idaho 7 Cryo and Mosaic

*****************

O’Hara’s White Haze IPA, 5.0% ABV, 500 ml bottle, Supervalu Mayfield

Pour this Highly Recommended IPA a little vigorously and you’ll get a biggish white head over a yellow/gold hazy body and see quite an amount of bubble activity going on through the haze. Aromas are citrusy and tropical and quite strong. A soft, smooth mouthfeel is followed by refreshing tropical fruit flavours from the addition of Citra, Amarillo and Mosaic hops.

This Carlow IPA delivers, quite smoothly too. The balance is good, the beer flavoursome and refreshing with a moderately bitter finish. All good.

They say: It’s great to be able to produce an unfiltered beer that can be enjoyed and taste as good in a bottle or keg as it did in the tanks at the brewery. It is not all about the generously applied hops. There is plenty of balance thanks to the addition of oats and caramalt. The aroma and taste will stay with you all the way through. Makes an excellent pairing for spicy dishes such as Thai green curry, steak, crisp chicken salads and blue cheese.

Geek Bits

Style- Hazy IPA 

ABV- 5.0%

Plato- 13.0°

IBU- 25

Serving Temperature- 8°C