On the craft trail with 9 White Deer and Whiplash

On the craft trail with 9 White Deer and Whiplash 

9 White Deer Stag Stout 4.2% ABV, Bradleys

 

“remember how creamy the pints used to be”

This gluten-free Stag Stout, from Ballyvourney’s 9 White Deer, weighs in at 4.2% ABV. It is a glossy black colour with a soft tan head. Aromas are rich and rammed with chocolate promise, which is fully delivered in the mouth. Here, the chocolate and Madagascan vanilla (each listed in the ingredients) play the most pleasing duet as the rich and smooth beer finds its way around. The chocolate is never over the top though and the stout is distinctive and delicious. Smooth and creamy, all without any nitro! And it is also gluten-free.

They say: Stag Stout is a medium-bodied traditional dry Irish stout at 4.2 % ABV. It is designed to appeal primarily to traditional stout drinkers, who remember how creamy the pints used to be. The complex recipe we developed brings back to life characteristics that are long forgotten. However, this stout is like no other; Stag Stout also happens to be gluten-free, the first of its kind anywhere in the world.

The combination of the medium body, low carbonation and low hop bitterness makes Stag Stout a dangerously drinkable stout that tastes every bit as gorgeous as it looks. The promise from 9 White Deer is that as you enjoy a pint of Stag Stout, you will agree with them in their assertion that it is the “Smoothest Stout in Ireland”.  It certainly is a good one!

Whiplash Blue Ghosts Pils 5.2% ABV, 330 ml can, Bradleys 

 

Mid gold is the colour of this German Pils from Whiplash. It is a clear beer with plenty of bubbles in view. The hops, Saaz and Hersbrucker, also bring something to the party, and you’ll notice herbal hints, even grassy notes, along with a hint of Bergamot in both the aroma and palate. 

They didn’t spare the hops using 10g/l of Saaz and Hersbrucker and say it is unique in that it is heavily whirlpool hopped, not dry hopped. Perfect for outdoors in the sun, but not bad by the fireside either.

The Blue Ghosts are given some corporal heft by the hops. By the way, that yeast strain, WLP833, is regarded as ideal for German-style lagers, and that certainly seems to be the case here with yet another well-executed beer, one of a series of excellent lagers from the busy Whiplash team. The other styles that they focus on are big stouts, IPAs and porters.