Looking for a lower ABV alternative you can’t go far wrong with a Radler.
This Austrian brewed Radler from Stiegl sports a cloudy yellow hue.
It appears to have a Pan-European distribution with all the different languages on the back label.
Refreshingly fruity on the nose.
The vibrant fizz is augmented by a gently tart & softly sour element provided by that grapefruit component.
A tasty summers evening tipple!
Sláinte
Stiegl products webpage here.
Now that the irrepressible social connector @SimonSaysBeer is off to pastures new I thought an homage to his former employers with this Resin & Rye American Barleywine was overdue.
That bready rye nose is evident on the frothy top.
For a barleywine – at least the ones I’m used to – its quite light on the palate.
I can get the old school hops – which pleases me – & makes me want to put some old skool bangin’ beats on the stereo.
Resin & Rye does get heavier on the finish.
It reminds me of flavours I used to enjoy when old skool music was current.
It wasn’t Simon says back then,
What Charly says went!
Sláinte
Galway Bay Brewery website here.
Simon has moved onto Four Corners here.
It wasn’t just Grappa I indulged in while in Italy – I also partook of a spot of beer drinking.
Beer drinking – specifically craft beer – is a minority pastime in Italy where the drink of choice is usually wine. However, there is a craft brewery operating in Lucca by the name of Brúton & a cafe in the central square happened to serve Stoner – their strong golden ale – or ‘double malt’ as the waiter said.
It was grand sitting there watching the world go by on a sunny afternoon enjoying the brew – but it didn’t win me over. Perhaps I’ve just been spoilt with all the great beers near to me in the Heart of Ireland?
Undeterred a daytrip to Pisa to climb the tower – well I had to do something touristy – found us later savouring a very tasty meal washed down by a rather unusually named lager from Sardinia.
Turns out Ichnusa is part of the Heineken group but possessed a more malty taste than their self-titled lager.
There is an Italian Craft Beer hostelry in Lucca by the name of De Cervesia & we ended up in one of their 2 establishments later that evening.
I did try their interpretation of a Scotch Ale called Momus – but it didn’t bring back memories of imbibing 70 Shillings in Edinburgh all those years ago.
At De Cervesia’s other venue a Real Lager was tried.
Followed by a Gose from Rome which certainly hit the spot!
A fresh sourness interspersed with soft tingling spice.
Lovely!
De Cervesia have around 300 different Italian beers in stock & this one just hit my sweet spot!
A trip to the windy beach in Viareggio offered up a rather generic lager by the name of Menabrea.
And a cafe stop had the intriguingly named Ceres Strong Ale which tasted fine – but is actually a Danish offering!
My last beer in Lucca happened to be Brúton’s Golden Ale.
Which went down very well on out last afternoon of the trip.
Salut!
Report into alcohol consumption in Italy here.
De Cervasia Lucca website here.
Birra Brúton website here.
Ritual Lab Gose website here.
Bundaberg are an Australian brand.
I’ve previously encountered their Ginger Beer – which I enjoyed – but hadn’t tried this Root Beer before so was tempted on spotting it in my local supermarket.
There’s a lot of ingredients on the back label – so how does it taste?
The colour looks like a dark stout – courtesy added caramel.
The nose – to me anyway – is quite artificial.
Light carbonation with a sweet dark cherry thing going on. A bit unusual to my tastes.
Makes for an alternative style of soft drink – despite it being labelled a beer – but I think I’ll stick to the ginger variety myself.
Sláinte
Bundaberg Brewed Drinks website here.
There’s also a Bundaberg Rum site here.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a ginger beer – especially an alcoholic one – so spotting this Dublin brewed offering had me hooked.
Very pale in colour – the label boasts natural ingredients & botanicals.
That ginger tang is evident on the nose.
Quite light & very refreshing on the palate. The ginger is more muted & balanced providing a pleasant spicy zing.
Makes for an entertaining alternative & attractive summer drinking experience.
Sláinte
It’s nearly the end of 2021 – and what a year it’s been!
A little reflection of the previous 12 months is in order.
The blogs below are my readers favourites for 2021.
1) Proper Twelve V’s Jameson, Dec 18.
Proper 12 must be the most divisive Irish Whiskey ever – yet it’s already outselling Bushmills 400 years of heritage in the American market after only 4 years. Go figure!
2) Kyasuku World Whisky, Oct 21.
Rising to 2nd spot in only a couple of months is a remarkable achievement for this Aldi brand from Japan.
3) Dundalgan Single Malt IPA Cask, Nov 20.
This popular range of whiskey continues to be an attractive & affordable purchase.
4) Irish Whiskey Distilleries, Dec 21.
The only page to make the list! My constantly updating list of Irish Whiskey Distilleries!
5) Púca Blend, Nov 20.
These mischievous spirits make a welcome return to the Top 10 – as well as Aldi shelves!
6) Ron Rumbero Miniature Pack, Dec 19.
The 1st of a number of rum entries into the list – and a great introduction to the category.
7) Liberté Rum, May 20.
This affordable white rum charmed me with it’s attractive range of flavours.
8) Black & Blue Whisky, Jan 19.
This Nigerian Whisky brand made in India with UK connections demonstrates the global reach of whisky.
9) El Bandido Beer, July 20.
While I can’t say I love this beer – there’s clearly a lotta love for it out there!
10) Ardfallen Whiskey, Jun 19.
A no nonsense Irish Whiskey blend at an affordable price.
A big thanks to all my readers – without you I’d be drinking on my own!
Sláinte
By pressing on the links you’ll be directed to the original blogs.
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.
Wetherspoons divide opinion.
When they first appeared in North London back in the 1980’s – I was there.
One of their earliest bars – The Rochester Castle – became a frequent haunt of mine – & I’ve been in many since.
The Wetherspoon model – which is still in use today – was relatively radical at the time.
No piped music.
No TV screens.
No slot machines.
No smoking areas.
Food served all day.
Free refills of tea & coffee.
Varying taps of ‘real ale’ offered at decent prices.
Little did I know nearly 40 years later I’d be looking forward to a weekend away with herself staying in the newly opened €33 million Keavin’s Port Hotel & Bar to enjoy that very same model!
Most of those monies were spent on the careful & detailed restoration of the 8 Georgian Town Houses – plus 1 Chapel – the premises now occupy.
Pictures, memorabilia & artifacts recalling the former uses of the buildings now adorn the space. From specially commissioned stained glass work of church providers Early & Company to the marvelous inclusion of the former Chapel into a dining area.
The modern hotel is discretely added on at the back & boasts sleekly designed contemporary rooms with all the expected mod cons – plus the lovely touch of artwork from local schools commissioned by Wetherspoons.
The bar areas include a stunning 12 metre high glass atrium, 2 beer gardens & cosy snugs within the old Georgian building.
Prices are very keen – Top Brands – Sensible Prices is the tag line – although I was a tad disappointed at the lack of an Irish flavour.
Opting for a Kenyan Tusker Lager – whose malty body provided a pleasing flavour profile – herself enjoyed a Gunpowder G’n’T from Drumshanbo.
Wetherspoon stalwarts of Hobgoblin, Ringwood & Abbot were on tap – no Irish representation here yet – although Beamish & Franciscan Well are available in pint & cans.
Despite being open for less than a week – with a few minor teething problems – the hotel & bar were packed. At one point the very friendly, helpful & courteous staff informed us they had to turn folks away to keep the numbers manageable!
A convivial & jovial atmosphere ensured a mighty evening – whether it was because of the All Ireland Final the following day or folks out for the first time post easing of COVID restrictions remains unknowable.
The controversial & outspoken head of Wetherspoon, Tim Martin, may continue to outrage – though the model of affordable drinking & dining in a bright, architecturally attractive, friendly & comfortably atmospheric space continues to pull in the punters.
Would you choose to drink at Wetherspoons?
Sláinte
Hey!
Let’s deliver some beer to our buddies!
Sounds like a good plan.
There’s just the minor inconvenience of these buddies fighting a war in Vietnam – but the plan hatched in a New York bar grows legs.
The Greatest Beer Run Ever is a mad cap adventure only the young or foolish would contemplate.
Written years after the event it’ s full of humanity – both brutal and kind – as well as reflections of a life well lived.
Sit back, pour yourself a beer & enjoy the ride!
Sláinte
I’m smitten with Märzen.
The smoky BBQ flavours just win me over.
Using barley dried over a beechwood log fire – the richness, depth & above all – smokiness – of this traditional German style screams out YES to my palate.
I’ve moved over to the Rauchbier side!
Prost!
Warning: content might leak!
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