The Secret 'BEER' Garden 2013

Yes, it's back...!!
Our 5th year and shaping up to be the best yet -

Deveney's of Dundrum presents 
The Secret 'BEER' Garden 2013

On this announcement, those that have frequented the event on previous years will now be experiencing feelings of extreme 'Christmas eve' excitement.
For the novice, reading this notification, clear your diary, get your ticket and line-up your mother-in-law... you need a babysitter!
Diary entry as follows...

Deveney's of Dundrum, The Secret 'BEER' Garden 2013
WHEN: Saturday, May 25th 2013
WHERE: The Secret 'BEER' Garden @Pembroke District, Dundrum Town Centre.
TIME: 2.20pm - 10pm.
TICKETS: €20.00 PER PERSON. (TICKET ONLY EVENT)
Ticket price includes access all areas, Official Festival Tankard, 3 x complimentary Beer Dollars, all day entertainment.

What's available on tasting...?
Brewdog - Rogue - Brooklyn - Schneider - Hirsch - Kentucky Bourbon - Erdinger - Samuel Adam - Porterhouse - Flying Dog - Widmer Bros. - Red Hook - Duvel - 5Lamps - J.W Sweetman - MacIvor's - Youngs - Well's - Innis & Gunn - Dungarvan Brewing Co. - White Gypsy - Shepherd Neame - Blue Moon - Franciscan Wells - Tempted Ciders. & Many many many more!!!
Keep an eye on our website for updates.

Tickets available on line through: www.beerfestival.ie 
or pick them up at your local Independent Specialist Off Licence:
Deveney's of Dundrum, Baggot Street wines, Redmond's of Ranelagh, Jus de Vin Portmarnock, McHughs, Deveney's of Rathmines, The Vintry Rathgar.
Contact Deveney's of Dundrum for further details on: 01-2984288

Looking forward to seeing you all here!
It'll be the beer event of the year, guaranteed!!!

Ruthxx

The Secret 'BEER' Garden 2012

It's happening... Fast!! So fast it's nearly upon us!




Deveney's Lughnasa Beer Festival has had an overhaul; it's been nicked; tucked; rehoused and given a new name but it's looking good...

----- So; introducing the new and fabulous -------










Deveney's of Dundrum presents:
The Secret 'BEER' Garden Festival 2012

Where?? ''The Beer Garden marquee'' @ Pembroke District; Dundrum Town Centre.
When??? Saturday; September 15th 2012 - 2.30pm to 10pm.
What???? A craft bottled beer festival with 100's of craft beers from around the world; live music; great food and an incredible atmosphere! All housed under the garden marquee. Taste the world of beers; meet brewers and beers specialists; eat your weight in great food and enjoy the Secret 'BEER' garden festivities!!!!

Tickets €20.00 pp. 
(Ticket price includes: Access all areas; the official festival tankard; 3 x complimentary beer tokens; Official festival booklet and live entertainment)
* Over 18's ONLY event; ID may be required on entry if under 25yrs*

Tickets available through:
- www.beerfestival.ie
- Deveney's of Dundrum; 31 Main Street Dundrum.
Ticket agents:
Redmonds of Ranelagh
Deveney's of Rathmines
Jus de Vin Portmarnock
Martin's of Fairview
McHugh's Malahide Road

Don't forget this is a ticket ONLY event; leave no room for disappointment!

Hope to see you all here...
Ruth.

Tucher Bajuvator Doppel

Myself and my good pal Jimmy Redmond took a trip to Galway on a quest for some new beers recently.

The Tucher Brewery was one of many that made the cut.
What appealed to me most about the Tucher range was the consistency between nose and palate; I often find with some of the German beers available on the Irish market; they seem to either have one or the other
- a mouthwatering nose with a flavourless palate or vice versa.

Tucher is from Nuremberg; Germany and was established in 1672. The brewery has had a chequered history of complicated name changes; in the form of  ''The Wheat Beer Brewery'' - direct translation and then becoming ''The Royal Wheat Beer Brewery''. Finally it was purchased in the mid 19th century by the Tucher family; they still make a mean Weiss beer and well worth trying.

The Dopplebock; Bajuvator; comes in at 7.5% abv. As a fan of the German strong beers; this; for me is a perfect example of a well balanced; creamy; one beer wonder; although the German cartoon Fraulein carrying at least 6 steins; on the label indicates a session beer...

It smells like sweet caramel and I get desiccated coconut; vanilla; mashed bananas with a milkiness. In the glass it's a rich dark brown colour with reddy; golden flecks and a brown creamy head.
The palate is slightly perfumed initially which gives way to the caramel creaminess of the nose; ripe banana and this lovely balanced sweetness that you'd expect from the 7.5% abv. The sweetness is by no mead clawing and falls away to a milky banana flavour on the finish.

We also have Tucher Pilsener; Dunkel and Weiss... Take your pick!
Ruth.

Henneys‚ Henry Weston‚ Bretons‚ Stonewell‚ Madden's - Ciders for Summer 2012

In true Irish form‚ warm weather optimism has infected me yet again!

The belief in a decent-long-short wearing-water conserving- sunscreen necessity-summer has crept into my bones‚ I hear myself spouting involuntarily ''I think we're in for a heat wave this summer!!'' complete with an excited lilt...
 Apart from having no met-Eireann experience and the solid fact that every single year I have been known to forecast a similar climate change‚ without success.

So‚ I have taken a new approach for 2012...
I am referring to it as the 'Sun-mer intervention'‚ to you guys it's a huge range of new ciders!
The seance appears in the form of 36 new varieties -
Henney's - Westons original - Henry Westons - Stonewell - Madden's - Breton's - Golden Goblet - Wychwood - Aspall and the list goes on...


Get in here and will our weather!
Ruthxx

Westvleteren 12... Oh yes you can!!!

For those of you familiar with the hidden Trappist beer; it needs no introduction. I had heard rumours about this rare and challenging acquisition and knew it only as the unattainable but great Trappist.
I had heard of the great lengths people would go to to get their hands on a couple of bottles and the even greater lengths the Trappist monks would go to; to keep the availability to a tight minimum. They will sell to a maximum of 60 people per day and only to those that have phoned and pre booked in advance.

So why is this beer available in Deveney's; I hear you ask??

The answer is not that I have strong connections with the Holy cloth...
The lads just need the money! The monastery needs a refurb. and what better way to raise some cash than to sell it to the degenerates of the World; the ones that might be refused at the Monastery gates; you and I!! They have released 70000 of these gift packs World wide and we've got some!!.

It's a 6 pack with 2 tasting glasses wrapped up in a cardboard brick. The idea being that you buy a brick and help rebuild the Monastery (if that doesn't tug on the heart strings!!)
This is a one off however; so; buy it and drink it; buy it and store it and drink it or buy it and sell it on e-bay! But buy it!
Westvleteren 12 has a 10.2% ABV. It's a dark; malty beer with a big complex palate; a fruity almost wine nose and a warming alcohol; malty body.
Westvleteren 12 Gift pack on sale in Deveney's €50.00; Limited stock available!!!

Ruth xx

Valentines Day 2012...

A gift that definitely beats a cuddly toy...
Deveney's of Dundrum is here again; offering the answer to any Valentines conundrums. Be it under guise of a secret admirer or one-Valentine-shared-too-many; we're on it. Beer is our game and discreetness comes a close second (along with delivery nationwide and good card writing skills!)

The Valentine Beer Box contains...
A mix of  12 obscure and unusual beers;
Our beer tankard and some chocolate aphrodisiacs.
Delivered to your/their door; Nationwide for €50.00.
If this sounds like a useful; easy gift. Get in touch.
Phone: 01-2984288
or Order on line via:
http://www.beerbox.ie

Remember this simple equation:
***Love = a box of beer***


Ruth xx

Brooklyn Winter Ale 2012.

Brooklyn Winter Ale has arrived in Deveney's; albeit at the tail end of the winter beer flurry but like all of Brooklyn's seasonal's; it's well worth the experiment; especially for the €2.59 price tag.
This pours an amber colour; veering on a brown ale with some reddish tones. It has a nice thin creamy head.
It smells quite soapy; almost like talcum powder with a creaminess and some orangey notes.
Thankfully though; there's no Johnson's baby talc evident on the palate; there's some nice fruit but this gives way to a slightly meaty; savoury flavour not unlike Pennant ale. The carbonation is lively and it leaves a nice prickly sensation on the tongue which results in a really refreshing beverage experience; this almost flies in the face of everything that reminds me of a winter beer... It's good though; really good.
Ruthxx

Yule Ol

So I'm back...
Although the Yule tide has been and past; I know there are some of you hoarding a couple of stray bottles from your Beer Box. If you are lucky enough to have a Yule Ol stashed in your beer closet; under the stairs or in that fridge drawer that my mother informed me; is to store vegetables; not beer. Today is your lucky Saturday.
However; if you tore open the box/ bag and devoured every bottle before Stephen's day; I can't sell you any more... So don't torture yourselves by reading on. This was a Christmas surprise; a really good one; not an Aunty Ann stripy sock special.

I tasted this with my non-craft-beer-drinking sister; Clare. Clare sells wine for a living; her preference being white without food and always red on a Thursday night with cheese and Sunday with a roast; drinks Corona in her spare suburban time and is a fan of a rum and ginger when frequenting the city centre.
This is the first time I've seen her really impressed by a craft beer and here's why...

It pours a deep amber colour with a nice thin frothy head. The kinda beer that you'd like to have a bath in. It looks luxurious and delicious.
Immediately; the nose exudes notes of Toffee apple; burnt sugar and loads of lavender. Salivation begins.
When it hits your mouth; there's a prickle of carbonation teamed with burnt sugar/ toffee and floral flavours but surprisingly enough; they marry really well. There's a hint of sweetness and this gives way to hop acidity and this lovely long finish of lavender and toffee. Really good beer...
It's gone though!
White Gypsy; if you come across this blog post; we; at Deveney's loved your beer!! We'd stick it into the top 7 Christmas beers available this year.
Irish Craft beer at it's best.
Ruthxx

Trouble Brewing Or.

Happy New Year!!

A ridiculously overdue post! Apologies to all followers; without getting into detail; Deveney's has been subject to a couple of ill wind adventures and this has led to a shortfall in blog activity.; in fact; any kind of activity; be it work or extra curricular...
We have been tied to a flooded cellar and stock inventories; damaged ancient Cote Rotie and Chateau Margaux along with a 'dungeon' full of vintage; rare and unusuals... destroyed! If I was an advocate of  those smiley faces; I would use the non smiley one in abundance here; maybe even the crying one!

So...In honour of our misfortune; it feels quite apt to review...

Trouble Brewing; Or.

For any of our non native tongue readers (I'm not far behind you); Or means golden. This is an Irish Golden/ blonde beer... Surprisingly enough!
It hails from the Kildare region and they've featured on the Irish craft circuit for some time now; draught first and due to popular demand they got bottling.
I really like their labels; quirky cool and very unleprechaun-ish (a new word for the Oxford).
This pours a slightly darker golden colour; reddish hues. The nose is D-elicious! Fresh pineapple and mango; almost like an exotic fruit sorbet.
The palate didn't reflect the nose though. Fresh and zesty; nice carbonation but very secondary. Disappointingly for me; I couldn't find a trace of the exotic fruits found in the nose; anywhere on the palate. However; I will say; for all those looking to experiment in a local craft beer fridge; this is a definite 'gateway' beer. It'll lure you in with it's siren nose; purposefully quench a desert thirst and leave any appreciative beer palate without surprise...
It's a great start up beer and it's from the motherland.
Ruthxx

BeerBox 2011 and our new edition...

Yes; it's true...
Back by popular demand ''The Beer Box''


For those that have been doing without; ''The Beer Box'' is our 12 bottle seasonal selection of rare and unusual craft beers from all over the World; a beer snack and Glass; delivered ANYWHERE in Ireland for the nominal fee of €50.00.
Buy on line www.beerbox.ie or pick up the phone 01-2984288


And presenting.....

Our Brand New Beer Gift 2011:
''The Beer Bag''
Our branded beer bag contains 5 rare and unusual seasonal beers;
a beer glass and snack for €20.00 (collection ONLY)

*The selection varies week to week; seasonal beers are available in limited quantity.
Selection contains only Craft Beers
Delivery takes 2 working days within Dublin and 3 working days Nationwide (ROI)*
Order on Line or visit us in Dundrum; we'd love to see you!!
Ruthxx

Delirium Christmas 2011.

Nothing says Christmas like the arrival of the iconic Christmas beers...
I'm still awaiting the American greats but the Belgian lovelies are in; with a new edition to my favourite collection; Delirium Christmas!!!!!! Apart from the the excitement of the pink elephant  (Deliriums mascot) fashioning a Santa hat whilst ice-skating! The beer is; dare I say it; better than Nocturnum! My all time favourite. Is this a case of blatant fickle behaviour or a side effect of Michael Buble flicking the switch on Dublin's Christmas lights?? I'll let you be the judge of that...

Delirium Christmas pours a deep honey colour with flecks of treacle and a slightly pink hue. The nose is like a Christmas pudding - orange peel; clove and cinnamon with some raisined fruit. The palate is almost better; if you can believe it... honey fruit flavours; orange and cinnamon; a sweet mouthful that finishes with a clean flavour that's reminiscent of starfruit. It cuts through the finishes with a sharp balanced acidity. This is a 10%er!! but the alcohol is hidden and it all comes together like Christmas eve.
Try this as an alternative to Port; in multiple quantity it could act as a flu deterrent but if it's too late to deter; a great get-well-soon gift with elephant powers!!!
I love you  Delirium Christmas!!!!
Get it quick; in the fridge now and open for tasting.
Ruthxx

Thornbridge Raven Black I.P.A

Since Thornbridge arrived on our shelves we have tasted the reason they warrant a higher price tag. The Kipling and Jaipur came in as quick as they went out and in true craft beer brilliance created their own supply and demand craze. With the new shipment comes a couple of new innovative styles including ''Versa'' weisse beer and; on tasting this evening; ''Raven'' Black I.P.A...
This is a 6.6% dark; porter style beer but... it's an I.P.A! Initially getting my head around it was comparable to ordering a gherkin and Nutella toasted sandwich...
It pours like a porter with a creamy coffee head. The nose is quite subtle to start and then it breaks into a floral chocolatey coffee liquid; with some medicinal notes thrown in for good measure.
The palate is even further from unusual than initially anticipated. It starts off sweet and almost
lemonadey; pleasant and easy drinking; this rapidly evolves into black instant coffee; hospital disinfectant  with a texture of antiseptic cream; all joking aside; it has a flavour and oiliness that's reminiscent of an accidental tongue brush with ''Savlon''. The finish has a hairspray chalkiness and some intense hop flavours.
I know this all sounds very negative and being true to my word; it's not my kinda beer; however I seem to be the only disappointed fan.
If you've tried it; please post a tasting note... Dying to know what you think!
It's available currently if you're prepared to risk it!
Also in stock; Jaipur; The Kipling; Versa and Wild Swan; which are as good as the price indicates.
Ruth xx
   

Rogue Dead Guy Ale.

Rogue Beers have arrived!!!
One of the most popular breweries on tasting at
''Deveney's Lughnasa Beer Festival 2011'' but due to high winds; Tornadoes and Hurricane Irene; the stock was a little late. How and never; it's here; refrigerated and ready to be tasted... The Thursday Beer tastings resume; after a long pre-festival break.

Dead Guy Ale; with what I thought was a small child skeleton with a Pope's hat and a tankard of beer on the label; initailly; had to be first up for tasting. However; thankfully; it's apparently not a small child; it's just a skeleton wearing a beehive hat; so you can drink easy my friends!!...
The image on the label is to honour the Mayan Day of The Dead (kinda like our Halloween); this is the closest we'll come to a Autumn Seasonal Beer this year.
*Possible Trivia Pursuit interest* and for those of us that aren't familiar with The Mayan Day of the Dead; me included until I did my research. It's the celebration of the Monarch Butterflies that return to Mexico each year; around the end of October; they're believed to bring the spirits of the dead home.  These spirits are honoured during  ''Los Dias de los Muertos'' - Days of the Dead. This tradition dates back to 1800 BC.
The beer pours a dark golden amber ale colour with a red hue just under the head. The head is thin and slightly fizzy on the palate.
The nose has loads of vanilla; caramel; fresh coffee bean and candy floss. The palate is sweet to start and really candied but finishes with a bitter hop oiliness that gets more intense as the sweetness fades.
Really unusual and I'd imagine; the reference to waking the dead is in relation to the hop content on the finish; it's about as unexpected as finding a chewing gum ball at the end of your plastic ice-cream container... pleasant surprise for most but shock for those with bubblegum allergies.
Fortunately; I love both.
Ruth xx
*Rogue varieties available to purchase in Deveney's...
-Hazelnut Brown
-Shakespeare Oatmeal Stout
-St Rogue Red Ale
-American Amber Ale
-Mocha Porter
-Juniper Pale Ale
-Dead Guy Ale.


 

Lindeman's Framboise

I've been very quiet; not quiet enough to abstain from a few beers but just too busy to post. The festival is pending; lists are long; fear is high; nerves are simmering but today; the weather intervened... A lull in footfall; a break from email and the realisation that the summer is happening - cue: Lindemans Framboise Lambic.
For all those that have not read previous posts; I'm a Fruit beer lover and not afraid to admit it (very uncool; apparently).
I believe that Fruit beer; to the beer lover is what ''MMMbop'' is to the discerning music collector... Outward loathing (over-acted); inward incessant humming.
I; on the hand; fly the flag proudly for this delicious beer beverage.
Lindemans is no different.
I opened the crown cap and went to get a glass from the other side of the shop. By the time I got half way back to where the open bottle sat; the smell of fresh raspberry had dispersed; it's pretty impressive for a 250ml bottle of liquid; against an open door on a busy main street and a large commercial dairy fridge to contend with.
As you can see from the picture; it's a deep raspberry colour with a light frothy head. It looks like a melted Mr.Freeze.
The nose is fresh raspberry with a greenness; you can almost smell the acidity.
The palate is big fresh raspberry flavours; with a crushed raspberry tartness and the oily acidity from the raspberry pips is evident on the finish.
Try it really chilled in a glass from your freezer or add a drop to a glass of prosecco....
I also have it in cherry and peach.
I don't condone the consumption of mass alcohol units but it's a very nice mixer with vodka or gin to make a fruit martini...
Enjoy the nice weather;
Ruthxx

Alice Porter - Brewdog Seasonal.

Porter...
The most popular beer question of all time; porter Vs. Stout... What exactly sets them apart?.
Porter still remains the one style of beer that; when researched; all dates and origins differ. Is it Irish; British or German?; Was the style created pre 1700's or somewhere between 1735 and 1739. I can't answer any of them with confidence. Most accounts of British Brewing in the 1700's say that Porter was a ready made blend of 3 different styles previously available - ''ale''; ''beer'' and ''twopenny'' and because it was a combination of all 3; it was known as ''entire'' (I love this)... When doing my research; it became evident that the style 'Porter' evolved due to economic circumstances and not as a result of the romantic elusive myths... I'm going to ignore that though and continue with conjured thought of cobble stoned Dickens streets; shoves of mist and secret beer recipes brewed under cloak.
Alice Porter; named after 'Alice' the Lewis character; is a traditional Porter with the Brewdog twist. It's a 6.2% dark porter.
The nose is complex and really unusual. I get medicinal elements; like a tonic with eucalyptus; orange and malt. The palate displays malt; coffee and quinine with a really nice balanced sweetness to counteract the oiliness and acidity of the quinine flavours.
It's a tough one to match with food because although the flavours I'm describing are quite brash; it has this elegant lightness. I reckon this is a beer for game meat. If you're out hunting pheasants in your tweed over the weekend; stop by for a couple of bottles... Far more economical that a 1st growth Bordeaux.
Good job lads; again.
Another great Brewdog varietal to add to your list.
Ruthxx.

Macs Great White.

The lack of posting is purely Festival related; new beers are in abundance; time on the other hand is not.
The Mac's range arrived in a week ago - Hop Rocker; Great White; Black Mac and Isaac's Cider along with a fridge full of new gear... I'm sorry for neglecting to inform you all.

Mac's Great White was our Thursday choice.
I've always been an advocate of New Zealand beers. I spent a financially challenged week in a grim hostel in Auckland about 8 years ago. The purpose of my stay was purely Visa related; unfortunately. My bank balance didn't stretch any further than the local bottle shop and an unhealthy obsession with the 'Pokies'; which resulted in a loss far greater than a weeks spend; travelling around the North Island.
I lived on spreadable cheese sandwiches and Speights; Steinlager and Mac's original. The beers were great; the cheez; not so...

This is a beer for the Hoegaarden/ St.Bernardus/ White Hawk lover.
It pours like a cloudy apple juice; lemon coloured white beer.
The nose is really fresh; Jif lemon; Yankee Candle Clean cotton aromas with Vanilla.
The carbonation is lively; far more prominent than any of the beers mentioned as similar. It tastes like a vailla milkshake. Creamy with lemon and citrus flavours. Although the mouthfeel is fat; the flavours are not heavy; it's definitely a beer that you could drink a 6 pack of; easily.
It's a 5% summer salad beer or try it with meaty fish on the barbecue.
Good to see you again Mac's; I'm pretty happy it's under more favourable living conditions though.
Ruthxx

''Deveney's of Dundrum; Lughnasa Beer Festival 2011''

Rumours are true; it is happening again; whether you think this is a good thing or not!!

We've expanded the venue; streamlined the beers; bought new tablecloths and given ourselves a facelift...

This is THE craft beer festival
''Deveney's of Dundrum; Lughnasa Beer Festival 2011''
Friday; August 19th; 2011
*Ticket ONLY event*


*Tickets to go on sales from May 25th 2011*
Ticket price: €20.00 (includes your own festival tankard; 3 complimentary beer serves; access all area; wrist band provided on arrival)



Entertainment by:
http://thecujofamily.bandcamp.com/album/the-cujo-family?permalink 

 

http://www.audionetworks.ie/bands/folksmen/ 

Food Vendors on site; all artisan; all hand-picked by Deveney's of Dundrum.

The reviews are true... This is an event not to be missed.

Purchase your tickets through:

- www.beerfestival.ie

- Deveney's of Dundrum

- Eventelephant.com

*From May 25th 2011*

 

Updates via Facebook; and Twitter.

Look forward to seeing you all;

Ruthxx

Gardener's Tipple by Hog's Back Brewery.

The new Surrey Brewery in our ever growing U.K section is Hog's Back.
They make a range of Ales and Blondes of which I took 2.
The Gardener's Tipple and Tea.
The Gardener's Tipple is the beer on tasting this evening. We chose it because it's a day that I'd romantically envision myself  doing my garden. In reality though; even if I was off enjoying the summer spurt; I definitely wouldn't be spending it with a secateurs... I don't even know what they look like and if you saw my garden you'd understand why.
The beer isn't as great as the weather; unfortunately.
The label is quite retro in a Southern- English- Mid- Summer -Murders kinda way.
It's an amber ale; nice head and lively effervescence in the glass.
The nose is promising. I get banana; Honey and herbal notes. Eoin reckons it has a spiciness; I don't detect this but he doesn't get banana so we could be both wrong.
The palate isn't awful but slightly disappointing and a little boring. It has a heavy mouth-feel but it's light on flavours. I can't find any honey or fruit; it's quite herbal and grassy with high acidity and malt on the finish.
It's refreshing but so is Cadet orange; on a sunny day... That comparison says it all.
Fingers crossed for the Tea Varietal; I'll keep you posted.
Enjoy the sunshine;
Ruthxx

Raging Bitch by Flying Dog.

Raging Bitch!!!...
I find it pretty difficult to write those 2 words; knowing the end result is the ''publish me'' button.
Admittedly my initial purchasing decision was down to 2 things; 1) previous beers tasted by this brewery and; 2) (far less professional) The name sealed the order deal.
I currently have 3 other; relatively expensive Belgian style American beers in stock; as a result of this; Tom questioned whether we needed to stock another?... Valid point. Although; in true Ruth Deveney style; I didn't admit it. I was thinking; I'm going to have to push this on newly separated men or Wiley hen party participants; on namesake alone; if it's not a beer I'd happily endorse.
I'm writing about it whilst drinking it.
This is an official I-doubted-you-apology; to the great people at Flying Dog. It's amazing.
It pours like a golden-amber ale with a pinkish hue.
The nose is so impressive. Peach; banana with some grassy notes; fresh lime skin and some mint. I could go on but I'll let you experience it yourselves.
The palate is heavily hopped with citrus and banana flavours and finishing with pink grapefruit and pine. The background is slightly sweet which balances the sharpness of the hop.
This ''Raging Bitch'' is a keeper!!

Happy Easter;
Ruthxx

Unertl Ursud.

Apart from really liking what these guys do; which I do. I will also admit to ordering this beer due to it's physical appearance;  I hear you sigh; the sigh of shallow Deveney. The label gives me label lust and the bottle is equally as lovely. Now; the important bit; the beer is delicious.
It pours like a rich; slightly viscous Dunkel; with a head that's reminiscent of sea foam from Dun Laoghaire pier; appealing or not; that's what it looks like.
The nose is premium weisse. Buttery with banana; malt and mocha notes.
The palate is equally as delicious. Lot's of flavours. Caramelised sugar; banana; coffee; malt and some chocolate flavours.
All who tried loved and also asked for seconds.
In Deveney's; limited supply; definitely try.
Ruthxx

Thornbridge Kipling S.P.P.A.

Thornbridge beers have arrived in Ireland!!
A little pricier than other great U.K breweries but this is definitely a ''get what you pay for'' scenario.
It's been a while since an English beer has left me thinking that if I never got the opportunity to consume another beer again; I'd be happy with this as my last.
Thornbridge Kipling; I can safely say; is my new beer love.

It pours the colour of a good bottled lager; lemon and honey with a thin white head.
The nose can only be described as having breakfast with the man from Del Monte . White grapefruit is really prominent with some ripe mango. In fact; if you were to smell this blind folded; I'm not sure if you'd guess immediately that it was a beer. I don't want to put you off though; there's nothing sweet or synthetic about the nose.
The palate is identical to the nose. It has the clean acidity of a sugar-less grapefruit; complete with that tingly feeling you pick up on the side of your tongue. The flavours are white grapefruit and white grapefruit and surprisingly; white grapefruit. I don't detect any mango or warm tropical fruit. The smooth; crisp beer flavour kicks in on the other side of the fruit and compliments the consumption process to the limit.
The carbonation is evident but nicely integrated.
This beer is definitely a constant reminder of longer days and warm evenings.
Thorbridge Jaipur and Imperial Russian Stout available also. notes on these to follow but by all accounts; best newcomer award pending.
Ruthxx

Frankenheim AltBier.

We tasted Frankenheim AltBier this evening.
Alt is the German word for old; you can't classify a bottle of Miller found in the back of your granny's drinks cabinet dated 01/99 as an Alt; it's a style; using warm top fermented yeast; overtime the temperature is adjusted and the beer is stored (lagered) for long periods of time after fermentation.
This is a golden brown beer; looks similar to an aged rum with a thin white head
The nose smells like an average beer - nothing unusual; malt and hop elements.
The palate has metallic and mineral flavours with hops and a rustic finish. It's clean and fresh and has enough acidity on the finish to give you a shivery spine.
Try this with a baked ham; cold or hot. Salads and vintage cheddar.
Available in Deveney's of Dundrum
Ruthxx

Metalman Pale Ale... launched.

The Bull and Castle; Beer Hall was heaving last night. The newest editions to the Irish brewing scene - Grainne and Tim; were showcasing their 'baby'- ''Metalman Pale Ale. Bloggers; brewers; beer enthusiasts; retailers and wholesalers all turned out for the gig.

I am a massive fan of The Bull and Castle and I also have a serious soft spot for Irish craft beers so there was no question about my attendance.
On arrival; David thrust a cold; condensation clad beer into my hand and immediately it felt like a Saturday night. Unfortunately it wasn't and I did have to return to Dundrum; to close up the shop but for those few minutes the weekend hysteria crept in - Great boozer with potentially great beer in hand...

I am massively impressed with this Pale Ale. I had done a little bit of internet research on other Metalman reviews and some said it was very similar to other Irish Pales on the market. I do admit that when drinking beer I really only consume bottle format but I can confirm that this is like no other Irish Pale I have tried.
It's a lovely golden nectar colour with a thin white head. The palate is really clean with very strong flavours of grapefruit and fresh lemon peel and it finishes with a slightly metallic flavour  It has a fine effervescence; not overly carbonated. Really refreshing and tastes exactly like an ideal summer beer- garden brew.
Congratulations to Grainne and Tim.
Another great Irish beer and living the dream - Best of Luck!
Ruthxx
Available by glass or pint in:
The Bull and Castle; Christchurch
Mulligans; Stoneybatter
Against The Grain; Camden Street.
Selected establishments in Waterford.
Bottling with any luck this year!

Orval Trappist and the great story.

Never let the truth stand in the way of a good story... I happen to love a good story.

The history of Orval is definitely worth telling and drinking simultaneously.








So; The legend surrounding the ancient monastery of Orval involves the stunningly beautiful Countess Mathilda of Tuscany.
Whilst visiting the area almost 1000 years ago; she was looking into a small pond; admiring her reflection!!! When she dropped her golden ring into the water.
The ring disappeared into the muck at the bottom of the pond. The Countess was devastated and prayed to God to return her precious belonging and in return she promised to declare the land sacred and build a monastery. With that a fish surfaced with a ring in it's mouth - hence the label design.
She stayed true to her promise and still to this day the pond is enclosed behind the monastery walls. The monks claim that this is the exact site where the beautiful Countess met the holy fish.
Apart from this being a great story; the beer is equally as impressive.
It pours a caramel colour with a coffee coloured head.
The nose smells like clove; aniseed and toffee. You expect a mouthful of creamy luscious fruit as a result of this but it's a polar opposite beer.
The palate is like fresh lemons and orange flavours with some clean acidity on the finish.
This is a beer for a pastrami sandwich or salads.
It's an original old-skool ale and deserves it's iconic reputation.
You won't be disappointed.
Ruthxx

Old Fog Horn; Anchor Brewing Co.

Old Fog Horn by Anchor Steam Brewery. San Francisco CA.
This is a beer for the Wednesday blues; possibly I'm the only one who suffers from these. I have consulted some of my office pals and they all concur that their mid-week slump lands on a Tuesday. Whatever day you feel the urge to wrap your jacket around your waist and sprint to Cobh with no intention of returning; this is a far more reasonable vent and if you can hold off till after 6pm; you'll manage to keep your job also... Everyone's a winner.
This pours like a traditional English ale; dark golden with some red flecks. It looks like beer-ified  Autumn. A thin white head tops it.
The nose; like The Humming Ale by these guys; has strong peach notes with some burnt sugar and malt.
The palate has sweet fruit flavours; brown bread; malt and maple syrup. It's got some sugar evident on the palate but that's to be expected; it's 8.8% alc.
Don't let the Barley Wine style put you off...
Drink it now with goats cheese or a bar of Alpine milk Chocolate. If you're the patient type; cellar for up to 8 years and let us know what it's like...
Enjoy
Ruthxx