Desperado Red, Cachaca, Gurana & Red Fruits Beer, 6%

I must be desperate to reach for Desperado Red again – but the labelling has changed.

Gone is the ‘Tequila’ of previous bottles – & in is ‘Cachaca’.

Confusingly the white neck label states ‘Cachaca Tequila’ & as one is made from sugarcane juice & the other blue agave – I’m not sure what’s actually in this concoction.

I do remember the Mexican Tequila authorities were taking Desperado owners Heineken to court over the use of ‘Tequila’ in the beer.

It appears they have won!

Old label

Desperado Red meanwhile – to me at least – remains like a heavily flavoured alcoholic lemonade.

But as it’s always on the shelves of my local stores – I notice these things.

Sláinte

My original Desperado Red blog here.

Tequila CRT take Heineken to court here.

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Innis & Gunn, Caribbean Rum Cask, Scottish Red Beer, 6.8%

Innis & Gunn were one of the first beer companies I encountered using barrel ageing to give additional flavours to their brews.

This Caribbean Rum Cask is the latest I picked up in a local Co-op on my Scottish travels.

It’s slightly unusual in using Red Beer as the donor brew rather than the commoner stouts normally found.

I do like the neck collar motif proudly displaying ‘Aged 51 Days‘.

There’s a lovely foamy head on pouring.

I’m getting a dark, rich malty aroma.

The palate is almost luxurious – sweet & heavy.

Suits my tastes.

Another nice one from Innis & Gunn!

Innis & Gunn website here.

All images authors own.

Founders Brewing, KBS Flavoured Stout, 12%

Well it sure is dark!

Flavoured – well Founders are American – with coffee & chocolate in the brewing process & then aged in ex-bourbon barrels.

The coffee comes through on the nose.

Almost treacly on the palate, with just enough carbonation to give it a surprisingly light feel for such a heavy stout.

Rather short on the finish for me & was left expecting a bit more oomph.

A bit too easy going for 12%!

All images authors own.

Dead Centre, Que Chido, Tequila & Lime Gose, 5.5%

I gotta hand it to Dead Centre Brewing – they sure know how to brew up some tasty beers for special occasions.

Image courtesy Dead Centre Brewing

This Tequila & Lime Gose was for Cinco De Mayo.

I popped down on a sunny Friday afternoon for a quick one – & was very pleased I did.

Quite light, very refreshing, with subtle hints of earthy agave complimented by a tart sourness.

A lovely sup by the Shannon!

Sláinte

OBrother, Opus One, Imperial Stout Aged In Fercullen Whiskey Barrels, 12.5%

OBrother Brewing have tied in with Powerscourt Distillery to use their Fercullen Whiskey Barrels to age this Imperial Stout.

It’s rare you get told the actual barrels used – Fercullen 18 Year Old Single Malt & Fercullen 8 Year Old Single Grain in this instance.

So how does it taste?

Rich, malty nose. Veering to chocolatey & coffee notes.

A wholesome solid drinking experience full of body & flavour.

Sweet rich coffee notes follow up on the finish.

A lovely collaborative brew.

Sláinte

All images authors own.

8 Degrees Brewing, Irish Oak Aged Barleywine, 12.2%

Well this is a first – barleywine aged in Irish Oak casks – along with some original Irish artwork too!

A deep rich sweet aroma greets the nose.

The sweetness is complimented by a touch of woody tannic spice on the palate which gently fades away on the long finish.

Pushing the boundaries of barleywine.

8 Degrees Brewing collaboration with Midleton Distillery has delivered some wonderful beer!

Sláinte

All images authors own.

The Crafty Brewing Co, Cognac Barrel Stout, 6.5%

Whiskey can come in a number of growing ‘finishies‘ these days.

So can beer.

This one is a first for me – cognac barrel finished stout.

Pours a bit lively – but settles down into a rich & sweet style.

Fairly light on the palate, hints of coffee, slight burnt notes & suggestions of sweet fruity cognac.

An entertaining brew!

Sláinte

All images authors own.

Rye River, The Herd, Bourbon Barrel Aged Quadrupel, 13%

This is the kind of beer best drunk with friends.

Coming in a 750ml bottle like a whiskey – but unlike whiskey in that when opened it has to be downed in one session!

I found a rich maltiness on the nose.

A lovely dark cherry fruitiness to the palate with a carbonation that doesn’t overpower.

Unlike a whiskey however – the finish is over all too quickly.

A heavy style of ale usually found for sale around the festive season.

Sláinte

All photos authors own.

Galway Bay, Counting Off The Days, Barrel Aged Imperial Stout, 13.6%

Well I was in Galway – the county at least.

And I did have a couple of Galway Bay beers to share.

So the evening started off with an enjoyable dark lager – Tmavy Lezak at 5% – which is always a favourite style of mine.

Having first encountered a black lager at a shopping centre in Potsdam, Germany – visually appearing as stout yet tasting like a slightly burnt fresh lager gave an entertaining experience – I seek out these enjoyable beers & Galway Bay’s offering didn’t disappoint.

The main event however was a stonking 13.6% Barrel Aged Imperial Stout by the name of Counting Off The Days.

Rich dark & chocolatey – & that’s just the nose!

The palate was so rich & dense with flavour you could chew on it.

Yet there was a lively fresh vanilla from the barrel ageing too.

Top stuff!

We had a whiskey chaser on standby for afterwards – but I’m afraid Counting Off The Days counted us out & we were unable for additional alcohol.

One to drink & enjoy with friends.

Sláinte

All images authors own.

Galway Bay Brewery website here.

Rince Cochon Biere, 7.5% to 8.5%, Belgium

Belgium is a beer lovers paradise.

The sheer variety of styles on offer & – from my limited experience – high quality results are a delight to explore.

So when some buddies suggest bringing a few back to Ireland – you don’t refuse.

The garishly coloured yet striking selection pack from Difcom – a beer distributer based in France – were unknown territory for me but did include a Biere Whisky – so a few were opened.

Rince Cochon Biere Blonde, 8.5%

The Rince Cochon range sport a cheeky pig – in a variety of colours – and are all high strength offerings.

Biere Blonde displayed a lovely rich malty nose, deeply flavoured palate yet still ‘lagery’ attitude in an eminently quaffable easily over drunk 8.5% ABV.

Nice!

Rince Cochon Biere Whisky, 8.5%

Light golden brown – like whisky with bubbles!

The nose offered soft sweet notes of treacle.

The carbonation on tasting proved too much for me & blew away the rather muted flavours within. Even leaving it stand for a short while didn’t improve matters.

A tad disappointing.

Rince Cochon Biere Rouge, 7.5%

Ribena red! Wasn’t expecting that.

Fruity & very sweet nose flowed into a drinking experience I can only liken to imbibing a liquid pack of fruit pastilles.

Now this style is popular in Belgium – but plainly doesn’t work for me.

Thoughts

Only Biere Blonde pleased me.

On closer – geeky – inspection a few things emerged.

The use of sugar – to boost ABV – & natural flavouring rather than allow taste to emanate from the raw ingredients took these beers in a direction both my palate & ethos didn’t particularly enjoy.

It’s fun to experiment however & I’m glad of the opportunity to taste far & wide.

Even if only to confirm my palate preferences!

Sláinte

All images authors own.