On the craft trail - with Lineman, Western Herd and Lough Gill

On the craft trail - with Lineman, Western Herd and Lough Gill 

Lineman Reflector Pils 4.2% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

Lineman resurrected their Reflector Pils recently. “And why not?”, they ask: “We absolutely love this stuff, and it seems you do too, because you voted it #1 in style in 2023 on untappd.”

It certainly looks the part in the glass. That golden colour you'd expect

from a pils and a soft white head (not that the head stays around for long). And it is indeed brimming with flavour as they've promised. The zesty New Zealand hop, Motueka, and the ever-reliable Bohemian Pilsner malt have played a blinder here, including coming up with a very refreshing finish. Very Highly Recommended.

Lineman has worked hard on this Czech-style pale lager, balanced by a good dose of hops in the kettle for bitterness and flavour. “Finally, a little dry-hop before we lager it for 65 days for incomparable smoothness, that's the icing on the cake.”

Western Herd Loop Head Pilsner, 4.5% ABV, 440 ml can Matsons

Three years back or so, I had one of these Loop Head Pilsners. It was supposed to be crystal clear. It wasn’t. This one is. It was as clear as it could be, with many little bubbles streaming to the short-lived white head. Highly Recommended.

Yeast and malt are on the slightly sour nose, for sure. Clean mouthfeel and malt forward with a slightly fruity and dry finish. The anticipated crisp, clean Pilsner style comes through, and we’ve got a central European lager to enjoy from the west coast of Ireland. That was the plan, as they confirmed: “We brewed it with a single malt and simple hop bill to let the crisp, clean Pilsner style shine through.”

Geek Bits

Style
Pilsner

Colour/Appearance
Straw colour and crystal clear.

Aroma
Yeast and malt on the nose

Flavour
Clean mouthfeel and malt forward with a slightly fruity and dry finish.

Hops
Saaz, Perle

Malts
Pilsner malt

Yeast
Lager

After enjoying this beer or any of the well-made brews from Western Herd, you may like to take up their invitation: “Come and visit us in Flanagan’s Bar and Restaurant in the world-famous town of Lahinch in Co Clare.”

Lough Gill Shaka Session IPA, 3.8% ABV, 440 ml can Matsons

This light gold-coloured IPA comes from the excellent Lough Gill Brewery in Sligo. It is hazy. Look hard, and you’ll note fountains of bubbles rising up to the soft white head. At 3.8% ABV, it fits comfortably under the session bar. Aromas are moderate, tropical, and very pleasant. 

It continues smoothly on the palate with more tropical notes, some citrus, and an almost creamy mouthfeel that “has been amped up with the addition of Oats and Dextrin malts.” 

Shaka is brewed with Amarillo and Vic Secret Hops. These add tropical aromas and fruit flavours; the Australian Vic Secret is noted for its Passion Fruit, resinous and Pineapple characteristics, and the Amarillo for grapefruit and peach and is also resinous.  And they both deliver here. Aside from the aromatics and flavours, Shaka has quite a firm backbone for a 3.8 percenter. Overall, it punches above its weight and is Highly Recommended.

It is often touted as ideal for the BBQ but will also fit in very well at your Christmas party. Enjoy!