A Quart of Ale± #30
Moving on over to craft with Hopfully.
Of Art And Brewing. Five Little Cans Of Hopfully.
Inside Out, Kneesocks, Legswap, Graciosa, Shinebright.
Based in Ireland, Hopfully are what's called a gypsy or contract brewery. They may be gypsy brewers but they're not too hard to find. Metalman in Waterford have been engaged a few times.
"Each one of our labels is designed by different illustrators to complement the uniqueness we aim to bring to every brew. I hope you enjoy drinking our beers as much as we enjoy brewing them." They are doing well and have lots of friends online. Below are a few quotes.
"Great and unique beers. I love all the art involved in the brand! Highly recommend it!"
"They've an insanely tasty selection of beers. The beet juice was a personal favourite. I get excited every time they announce something new and also for the artwork hugging the can."
"This is a poetry dressed up as a beer. Quenching the thirsty of our soul! It's beautiful sensation to look at the design of the cans then drink the tasteful and enchanted liquid in it!"
Hopfully was founded in 2017 by three friends with a shared love for beer, art, and food. Hopfully Brewing aims to bring it all together to the public in innovative ways. The company combines modern brewing and blending with visual arts. Passionate about working with vibrant fresh talents in Ireland, the brewery works directly with up-and-coming artists.
"We founded Hopfully with the mission to create a series of beers that would introduce distinctive flavors and would give emerging local artists a platform to showcase their work. We want to inspire collaboration among a wide variety of talented people, primarily to promote who they are and what they do, helping to facilitate the dawn of a new connected and innovative creative community. Not only does Hopfully aim to promote the work of individual artists, but we are also committed to building an interdisciplinary network of creative people.
Are you an artist? Get in touch!"
Hopfully “Insideout” Pale Ale, 5.0%, 300ml can via Bradley’s
Pull the tab on this artfully decorated can and a burst of piney hops jumps out. Colour is lemon, hazy with a white head that soon settles down to a thin lacy disc. And that hoppy backbone - a king’s ransom of Mosaic and Simcoe have been utilised here - continues all the way through to the finish. The hops also contribute concentrated and “lovely notes of bright juicy tangerine, citrus, ..”
They say: Mosaic to the whirlpool and double dry-hopped with some more Mosaic and Simcoe, Insideout is silky, with a smooth mouthfeel, low bitterness, and finishes slightly sweet.
I say: More or less perfect
Details:
Malts: Maris Otter, Flaked Oats, Wheat, Vienna, and Dextrin
Hops: Mosaic and Simcoe
ABV – 5%
Hopfully Brewing’s “Graciosa” Tropical IPA 5.3%, 300 and 400ml can, via Bradley’s
Colour is close to a Citron Pressé, cloudy. Soft white head sticks around. Citrus and more exotic too in the aromas. The beer has been dry-hopped with Citra and Chinook. And the hops are prominent yet the beer itself is very well balanced. Overall, a very pleasant and a satisfying mouthful, full of flavour and refreshing. Thumbs up for this lip-smacking beer.
They say: Brewed in Waterford by Metalman for Hopfully. The label warns: drink fresh, do not age! It is unfiltered and unpasteurised. Indiscreetly charming and full of character.
Dublin based Hopfully match art with the beer and the colourful cartoon on the can is by Albert Terre.
Hopfully “Shinebright” IPA 6.0%, 300ml can Bradley’s
Colour of this IPA is a light gold, hazy. Head soon reduces to flimsy proportions. Aromas speak of the tropics or at least of the fruit from thereabouts. This juicy IPA, flying “off the shelves”, has smoothness to go with the flavour yet there’s tartiness enough to get it all in balance. Skilfully executed and one to enjoy. Just a word of warning on the label: drink fresh, do not age. No danger, I reckon, of this beauty growing old.
They say: Based in Ireland, we're what's called gypsy or contract brewery. Each one of our labels is designed by different illustrators to complement the uniqueness we aim to bring to every brew. I hope you enjoy drinking our beers as much as we enjoy brewing them.
This label also features artwork by Staselle Mutabor. The illustration is part of her SWAP project in which "parts of common images or situations are swapped with each other creating new somehow unusual and surprising senses and ideas." Have a think about that when you’re sipping!
Hopfully “Legswap” Raspberry & Lime Sour 5.0% (4% on the website), via Bradley’s
This comes with a gorgeous red hue in the glass. 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. Just wondering about the ABV as they say 5.0% on the can, 4% on the website. Artwork also by Stasele Mutabor.
Malts used are Wheat, Pilsner, and Dextrin while the hops is Sorachi Ace. Raspberries and Lime Juice are also included in the ingredients list and you’ll definitely note them as players on the palate. Hopfully’s recommended food pairings are Raw Oysters, Mussels, and Thai Curry.
Hopfully “Kneesocks” Mango IPA 7.0%, 330 can via Bradley’s
Colour is a lemon/yellow with a soft white head sitting on top of a very hazy body and content to stay there for a spell. Mango is the assertive leader both in the aromas and on the palate. It is quite a juicy one in the mouth, with tropical and citrus notes following from the mix of Azacca and Idaho 7 hops. So Mango all the way and a lip-smacking finish in an excellent high-quality beer.
Think this may also be brewed by Metalman in Waterford but not certain as there is no info on this on the website. In fact, Kneesocks doesn’t even get a mention on their site.
And the label is minimalist also. It does say the artwork is by the talented @ruan_van_vliet, that it is an unfiltered, unpasteurised natural beer and, yes, that it is brewed in Metalman (so not as minimalist as I first thought). Mango, by the way, is listed as an ingredient. And there’s a warning to drink it fresh - do not age!
