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.

On the craft trail with Whiplash, Brehon and Hopfully

On the craft trail with Whiplash, Brehon and Hopfully

Whiplash Body Riddle Pale Ale 4.5% ABV, 330 ml can

“light on malts… plenty of hops”

Absolutely enjoyable, from start to finalé. Not too much more to say about this gem but, with me, that’s often a good sign. I’ve made up my mind early and the verdict is a major thumbs up for the little can. Best of goods in small parcels.

It is a vibrant gold beer, hazy with a foamy white crown. The aroma is a mix of citrus fruits, with lemon, grapefruit, and orange leading the way. The flavour is even more citrus-forward than the aroma, with citrus again prominent. There is also a touch of sweetness, from the malt, which helps balance the bitterness from the hops. The finish is dry and refreshing, with a lingering citrusy flavour

Very Highly Recommended. Good for a session too! 

Brehon Bech Bretha Braggot 9.0% ABV, 500 ml bottle Bradleys

This “hybrid”, somewhere between ale and mead, looks like a red ale in the glass with a slim off-white head and tastes somewhat like a barrel-aged beer. Aromas speak of the malt rather than the sweetness of the honey (by the way, not all mead is sweet, even if the drink is made by fermenting the sugars in honey!). And, yes, honey is included in the list of ingredients.

The palate here is very pleasant, packed with flavour and gentle caramel notes, and the malt sweetness seeps through. This trans-Atlantic collaboration between Brehon and Gulf Stream Brewing (from the US) is Highly Recommended.

What is a Braggot?  You may well ask. Brehon explains: “Well, in simple terms, it's a cross between a mead and an ale. We've brewed it with grains, hops, and heaps of honey. Some historic references suggest braggot is a Celtic drink dating back to at least the 12th century.”

“If you were making honey in 7th Century Ireland, your bees were protected by a set of laws known as the Bechbretha, just like precious cattle. You yourself were required to offer your kin a ‘tairgille’; an item of personal significance as a pledge of your good bee-keeping behaviour. So here’s an offering of our own; a fitting tribute to the wisdom of

Brehon Law.” Those ancient Brehon Laws were loaded with more common sense than much modern legislation.

With its high abv and strong flavours, pairing the Braggot with strong cheeses, sweet chocolates, and caramel desserts makes sense.

Pioneering Cork meadery, Kinsale Mead, talking about their own mead, says fruit with a tart element, can be a good choice. “So is dark chocolate, especially if it's got a touch of sea salt. Salted nuts also do well.” 

Hopfully Legswap Raspberry & Lime Sour, 5.0% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

This “perfect summer drink” fell behind in the queue and that means I’m drinking it in mid-winter. I also drank it away back in 2021, and the brewers have recently revived it (with quite a different line-up) and are “thrilled to have this one back in stock!” It is inspired by the Raspberry-Lime Rickey cocktail and has fizzy and tart characteristics.

It comes with a gorgeous red hue in the glass, and there’s even a pink tinge in the soft white head. Crisp and refreshing on the palate with a burst of fruit and a zesty tang of citrus and a lip-smacking finish. This easy-drinking sour is probably best in the summertime, but I enjoyed this can in winter.

Malts used are IPA, Pale Ale, Wheat, Oats, Vienna and Carapils while the hop is Azaka. So, all change there from 2021, but Raspberries and Lime Juice are still included in the ingredients list, and you’ll definitely note them as players on the palate. Artwork by Stasele Jakunskaite

Highly Recommended.

Straight-up modern American IPA. Whiplash Bone Machine is Beer of the Week.

 Whiplash Bone Machine IPA, 6.2%. Beer of the week

“Straight-up modern American IPA”

Bone Machine IPA promises much at first glance with its hazy light gold body and an attractive big bubbly head. And this 6.2 percenter from Whiplash does not flatter to deceive. It is Loaded with hops and you get a posse of tropical aromas. And that translates to the taste buds as well, packed with papaya and pineapple flavours and another reminder from the hops as the finalé approaches. Very Highly Recommended and Beer of the Week.

The newish BRU -1 hop delivers aromas of freshly cut pineapples and green fruits when used as a whirlpool or dry hop addition. The other hops here are El Dorado (well known for its tropical fruit flavours reminiscent of pineapple and mango),  Ekuanot (known for citrus and tropical, think papaya, characteristics), while Cascade is regarded as the definitive hop, “the hop that made hops famous” and has been well regarded in ales since its 1971 introduction.

Whiplash are very happy with Bone Machine: “Straight-up modern American IPA. 100% Whirlpool hopped with Cascade and double dry hopped with Ekuanot and BRU-1, it brings candied lemon, papaya, and pineapple to the flavour”.

Geek Bits

Malts: Maris Otter, Oat Malt, Wheat Malt 

Hops: BRU-1, Ekuanot, Cascade, El Dorado.

Whiplash Reckoner Strata IPA. Beer of the Week. A hop lover’s dream come true

Whiplash Reckoner Strata IPA, 6.3% ABV, 440 ml can 

A strataspheric beer that is a hop lover’s dream come true

The colour is a light to mid-gold. The hazy beer has a good mix of tropical fruit aromas with dank notes. Fruit flavours (Pineapple and Passionfruit) are outstanding on the palate. Whiplash certainly hit the bullseye here as they so often do and have come up with yet another beautifully balanced beer and a terrific example of an IPA, our Beer of the Week.

The only hops used are Strata, which account for the bold and complex flavours. Whiplash claims that the stratospheric beer “is a hop lover’s dream come true.”

Sure is, and it is Very Highly Recommended.

Founded in 2016, the Dublin-based Whiplash draws inspiration from the best traditional and modern beers to craft an impressive range that has earned it quite a following.

Geek Bits:

Malts - Maris Otter, Wheat Malt, Oat Malt, Carapils.

Hops: Strata

UK Units: 2.8

See the fully updated Beer of the Week listings here.

Hop, hop, hurray! At last, a superb non-alcoholic ale! On the craft trail with Wicklow Wolf, West Kerry and Whiplash.

On the craft trail with a super non-alcoholic IPA from Wicklow Wolf, a dark West Kerry Ale and a lighter one from Whiplash. 

Wicklow Wolf 0.5 ABV Non-Alcoholic IPA, 330 ml can

Hop, hop, hurray! At last, a superb non-alcoholic ale!

Light gold and hazy in the glass, this new non-alcoholic IPA from Wicklow Wolf has a soft white head that doesn’t hang about. Aromas are citrusy, but the hoppy palate gives us hope that we have found the long-awaited good Irish-made non-alcoholic beer. So, I have a warm welcome for this one and am happy to give a big thumbs up. Serve at eight degrees and enjoy!

They say:  “Our brewers have been working on this recipe for over a year, trialling and perfecting it. The result? An unbelievably flavourful non-alcoholic beer that’s brewed without compromise, using speciality malts and juicy hops. Say hello..”

So, if my wish for a decent Irish non-alcoholic beer has been granted, what do I want next? Just put it in a bigger can, lads!

Geek Bits

Hops: Bravo, Citra, Idaho 7.

Malts: Pale, Cara Blond, Carapils

West Kerry Cúl Dorcha Dark Ale, 5.0% ABV, 500 ml bottle, Bradleys

a delicious and well-made beer.

The colour of this West Kerry Ale, a traditional dark ale from the Dingle Penisula, is a deep ruby red with an off-white head that stays around. There are roasted malts on the nose and hints of smoke. The malt runs deep in the complex palate, caramel and, towards the end, chocolate. English hops are used “for an easy drinking beer with a slightly spiced hop note to finish”.

It is indeed a distinctive beer, as we’ve come to expect from West Kerry, where sculptor Adrienne is also the owner and brewer at Tig Bhric, the public house where the West Kerry brewery is based. Very Highly Recommended

Tour the brewhouse and enjoy a tasting in the pub afterwards, or take a technical tour where you get to pick the brains of one of the brewers. Check details on the website here. 

Whiplash Body Riddle Pale Ale 4.5% ABV, 330 ml can 

“light on malts… plenty of hops”

The Whiplash Body Riddle Pale Ale is a vibrant gold beer, hazy with a foamy white head. By the way, keep a small bit in the can. When the head slips down, pour in the balance at a good rate, and that will revive the white crown. The aroma is a mix of citrus fruits, with lemon, grapefruit, and orange leading the way. There are also hints of pine and herbs, which add a touch of complexity.

The flavour is even more citrus-forward than the aroma, with lemon and grapefruit dominating. There is also a touch of sweetness, from the malt, which helps balance the bitterness from the hops. The finish is dry and refreshing, with a lingering citrusy flavour.

The Body Riddle Pale Ale is brewed with a blend of Lemondrop, Galaxy, Simcoe, and Ekuanot hops. These hops all contribute to the beer's citrusy flavour profile. But don't worry. There’s more than citrus here, with the other hops all getting into the action and the malts doing their bit.

This beer is perfect for a session with friends. It's also a great beer to pair with food, as the citrus flavours can complement a variety of dishes. Good for a session too!

Very Highly Recommended. 

On the Craft Trail. Session time with Whiplash, Wicklow Wolf, Boundary, and Lough Gill

On the Craft Trail.

Session Time with 

Whiplash, Wicklow Wolf, 

Boundary, and Lough Gill

Whiplash Rollover Session IPA, 3.8% ABV, 330 ml can 

“Hoppy little short-arsed banger rocking the Citra, Mosaic, Simcoe, Ekuanot hops”

I'm not too sure about the short-arsed bit, but it does come in a short can and packs quite an IPA despite being short on ABV. It is ideal in a session, though, where it is Very Highly Recommended.

For a decent session, this Whiplash Rollover is my go-to choice. Murky orange is the colour - no way you’re going to see through this haze! This was our session beer of 2020 and this most recent tasting confirmed it’s as likeable as ever.

Pale yellow colour with a short-lived white head over a hazy body. Citrus fronts the aromatics. And the quartet of hops dominate the palate. Amazing that this has so much hops and still weighs in at less than 4.00% ABV. Quite a concentration of hops then, before a lip-smacking finalé.

They say: Same hop rate as our DIPA’s, less than half the alcohol. A very heavily hopped Session IPA: this comes at you with buckets of Simcoe, Ekuanot, Citra and Mosaic hops with a light touch of malts and an easy crushable body. Unfiltered, hazy, hoppy and juicy – Rollover is a New England inspired IPA without the heavy alcohol in tow.

Wicklow Wolf Elevation Pale Ale 4.8% ABV, 440 ml can 

“An independent pale ale for independent minds.”

This light gold, slightly hazy beer pours with a mild hoppy aroma. The first sip reveals juicy pineapple flavours that lead to a moderate yet noticeable hop bitterness. The bitterness is balanced by the sweetness of the pineapple, making for a very refreshing and easy-drinking beer.

This beer is a sessionable crowd-pleaser, and it's no wonder that it's the brewery's best-seller. You'll have no trouble finding a can of this beer, and it's easy to find on draught in its home county.

This beer is perfect for any occasion. It's light enough to enjoy on a hot day and flavourful enough to pair with a meal. Whether you're having a barbecue with friends or just relaxing at home, it is a banker.

This refreshing and flavourful beer is Very Highly Recommended.

The Wolf speaks: “We have reached a new level with Elevation Pale ale. An incredibly drinkable Pale ale bursting with juicy fruits of pineapple and grapefruit from an abundance of hop additions. Refreshing with a savage finish. An independent pale ale for independent minds.”

Boundary Camper Session IPA, 4.8%, 440 ml can Bradleys

This Camper Session IPA has an almost clear gold colour and a bubbly white head. Its aromas are citrus and pine. On the palate, it packs quite a citrus punch with a marmalade knuckle, and it has a refreshing finish.

The brewers say Camper was inspired “by our time on the West Coast of America.” It comfortably fits into the session category and is Recommended.

Lough Gill Cutback IPA, 4.5% ABV, 440 ml can Matsons

light in body and pale in colour, bountiful fruit

“If you can’t visit Sligo, let us bring Sligo to you!” That was how Lough Gill introduced their Cutback New England IPA.

Brewed with Comet, Azacca, and El Dorado hops to just 4.5% ABV, this NEIPA tempts with distinct tropical aromas and a fruity, hoppy flavour. Hazy and aromatic, those tropical fruit flavours dance easily on the palate. 

This is another very drinkable NEIPA from the Sligo brewery and, with an ABV of 4.5%, a very sessional one as well. Highly Recommended

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