On the Craft Trail with 9 White Deer and Wicklow Wolf. A couple of cracking lagers.

On the Craft Trail with 9 White Deer and Wicklow Wolf. 

A couple of cracking lagers.

Wicklow Wolf Hideaway Helles Lager, 4.0% ABV, 440 ml can, Bradleys

Escape the noise. Savour the peace!

This new Helles Lager from Wicklow Wolf comes in a mid-gold colour. Aromas and floral are a little on the delicate side before this well-balanced Helles comes into its own on the palate, where you'll find it malt-forward, refreshing, flavourful and quickly drunk.

By the way, I wondered if Helles Lager involves a bit of tautology. Apparently not. The term "Helles" refers to a specific style of pale lager originating from Germany, mainly from Munich. "Lager" is a type of beer that is fermented and conditioned at low temperatures, describing the brewing process. So Helles is one type of lager, as is pils, the word itself coming from the German word for "bright" or “pale”. Or maybe from Helios, the Greek word for the sun god - just showing off there!

Away from tautology now and on to the philosophical motivation that Wicklow Wolf deployed as they launched this Helles, a beer they are obviously (and rightly) proud of. “This is your ticket to a moment of calm and clarity. Hideaway is the perfect companion to transport you to your sacred space – your hideaway. Escape the noise, savour the simplicity, and let this clean, balanced lager be your moment of zen.… Whether you're unwinding after a long day or taking a quiet moment for yourself, Hideaway is the perfect escape.”

Back to earth now, though. This is an excellent smooth beer. It is Very Highly Recommended. Enjoy a couple of bevvies for casual drinking or pairing with various foods. If you’re a Jack Grealish fan you might skip the alcohol and go for a couple of bovvies* instead.

* Bovril, a favourite of Jack’s, as he revealed on the Netflix series on Man City.

9 White Deer Stag Kölsch Lager, 4.2% ABV, 500 ml bottle, O’Donovan’s Off Licence

Extended lagering time allows this beer to develop fully.

Kölsch is a style of beer, of the lager family, originating in Cologne, Germany. In appearance, this 9 White Deer produced example is bright and clear with a gold/amber colour. And a soft white head.

The Stag Kolsch, with its high carbonation level and gentle hop character, is palate-friendly with an almost creamy feel. Easy to quaff and easy to see how this refreshing gluten-free and flavoursome beer (more malty than hoppy) has become quite a seller, widely available in both bottle and draught.

The team in 9 White Deer have certainly cracked the style here. They have brewed with German Nobel Hops, Premium Irish and German Malt and German Yeast. Stag Kolsch gets “an extended lagering time where it can develop and mature into a classic premium European style beer”. 

9 White Deer had some help from the soft local water and a famous German brewmaster. Soft is the operative word here as the water, from the Cork and Kerry mountains, is really soft, just perfect for lager-style beers. And the guidance they got from Roland, then brewmaster of the well known Munich brewery Augustiner and still a friend of the Ballyvourney brewery, could not have been bettered. Kolsch and 9 White Deer were on their way.

The Hideaway may be a bit smoother but the Stag has a slight edge in aroma and flavour, a little more brio. Each is Very Highly Recommended.