Brewers Chat About Hops and IPA on Beoirfest

Brewers Chat About Hops and IPA on Beoirfest

Cris (left) and Will

Ronan Russell of Blacks Kinsale, Cris Gasporoti of Hopfully and Brian Kelly of Wicklow Brewery had a great chat, moderated by host Brian O’Connell, on a recent Beoirfest edition where the subject was IPA and hops. And a further distinctive flavour was added to the conversation when hop expert Will Avery joined in as guest.

Will: “I don’t claim to be an expert but I like hops and have acquired a lot of knowledge over 15 years in the business. There is a historical conundrum in that a secondary aspect of hops, its disinfectant properties, brought it fame. But there has to be something to balance the sweetness in beer and hops did the trick, before that there were herbs. That the alpha acid of hops was a deterrent to various bugs was an extra bonus.”

Ronan Russell took on a request from host Brian to explain IPA, a task getting more difficult by the day with so much variation around. “The term has been expanded away from the original meaning over the past 10 to 15 years. IPAs are not what they used to be and now there are many sub-categories not focused on the bitterness. But IPA should be a juicy smooth ale that lets the hops shine through the malt, more than is the case in stout for example. You can write IPA on virtually any can or bottle these days, some do it so the punter will pick it off the shelf.”

Home on the range. Ronan relaxes (for a mo) in Blacks. Pic by Blacks

Cris said there are different styles such as West Coast and New England and craft drinkers know what to expect. “There are lots of choices but it is good to be aware of the styles.. and the label should mean something.”

Ronan agreed that the label should be accurate, “should point you in a certain direction. The front of the can just wants to grab you but there should be a few hints on the back.” He grew up in Belgian - “lots of sweet beer there”. Now he likes the hazy beers, which Kinsale do well. “Lots of malted wheat and oats.. a richer mouthfeel…juicy and full-bodied… aromatic including floral.”

Hops

Not too sure Will would fully agree! Later in the discussion, he said he was tired of drinking beers with Citrus and Mosaic “…. A lot of New England IPA are just sweet,.,. start well but finish flat… You gotta have contrast (Amarillo or Comet). If all you get is juice, you don’t really appreciate it, you gotta have contrast to lift it!”

And there is no shortage of hops. Will said there are dozens of well-known ones but hundreds of others “you’ve never heard of”. Like Comet (which Cris uses well in his beers, eg Quicksand and Shinebright); this is an old-school hop that can provide a lot of flavour and can complement the likes of Citra.

Cris agreed but there is much to understand, the amount of oils and what they do in the brew. “I have done a lot of pilots but there is a bundle of complex stuff that is important to understand.. a lot to learn ...”

Will emphasised that farmers “will plant what they can sell” and will quickly shift to what is in demand. And that could mean certain old-school hops, even more recent ones, could fall out of favour (for instance, you get 8 bales an acre from Citra, 13 to 16 from Cascade or Centennial). Prices could rise for the popular ones and the less popular ones would be even harder to get. And so he underlined the importance of brewers continuing to use a range of hops.

Ronan confirmed the trend towards newer hops.”New varieties, eg Strata, are very popular and it is hard to look past them.” But he agreed that “old” varieties must not be neglected. And Cris nodded: “our job is to use old-school hops.” Hopfully, by the way, have all their beers produced by Waterford’s Metalman. They earn great praise (I’ve enjoyed them here in the Quart of Ale series), not least from fellow panel-members at BeoirFest.

After messing up the home kitchen more than once, Brian Kelly  “jumped at the chance” when the opportunity came up to work in Wicklow Brewery in early 2016. “I quit my job and, I have never been more excited to clean floors in my life. Eventually I began brewing and my passion became a job. In May 2017 I became Head Brewer and I oversee all operations from grain to glass.”

Brian was comparing making beers with fruit additions with the others brewers with Will warning that “doing Mango is not for the faint-hearted!”

Wicklow make a full range including a WB-40 Dank IPA that sounds more or less West Coast to me. Don’t think I’ve had one of their beers since a visit to Brooklodge in 2015!  Haven’t seen their bottles in this neck of the woods, must keep an eye out.

The next Beoirfest presentation is down for 3.00pm on April 3rd and will feature Craft Cider with Stonewell, Tempted and Legacy providing the speakers. Put that in your diary!

Cheers on beer, whiskey and wine. With O'Briens Wine, Franciscan Well, Waterford Distillery, Wines of the World, JJ Corry, Blackwater.

Cheers on beer, whiskey and wine. #212702.

With O'Briens Wine, Hopfully, Treaty City, Franciscan Well, Waterford Distillery, Wines of the World, JJ Corry, Blackwater Distillery.

NEW CRAFT BEER RELEASES At O'BRIENS WINES

This week Paul Barry takes a look at some new craft beer additions to our fridges in O'Briens. We have some great new beers to liven up dreary February with two Irish breweries joining our range this month. Each bringing a line-up of great core range beers, not just great beers for February but all year round!

Hopfully Brewing

 

Hopfully are a Dublin based gypsy brewer, meaning they contract brew in other breweries, that was set up in 2017. All their craft beer cans feature artwork from up-and-coming artists. Their mission as they see it is to “create a series of craft beers that introduce distinctive flavours and give emerging artists a platform to showcase their work.”

Treaty City began in the spare room of a two-bedroom apartment in Vancouver, Canada. Here, husband and wife team Stephen and Treasa perfected some of their recipes on a home brewing kit before deciding to make the move back home and set up a full-scale brewery in Limerick city. This month Treaty City launched a new craft beer can range.

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 Franciscan Well Bar's Online Easter Beer Fest

Online Event

Apr 2 at 3 PM UTC+01 – Apr 3 at 9 PM UTC+01

Price: Free · Duration: 1 day

Public  · Anyone on or off Facebook

"We couldn’t not run our Easter Beer Fest two years in a row....so we've moved it online....all information to be announced soon! #WatchThisSpace"

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TERROIR-DRIVEN: THE WATERFORD WHISKY PODCAST We have been accused of many things, but being short of insightful content is not one of them. When we say we bring the same intellectual drive, methodology and rigour as the great French winemakers to single malt whisky, what does that actually mean? In our new podcast series, award-winning whisky communicator Barry Chandler has unfettered access to the Facilitator and our people, as well as those behind our landmark peer-reviewed study on terroir in whisky. In addition, Barry interviews a number of people from around the whisky community to get their insights on the processes and perceptions of terroir in the wider world. He breaks down each step of the production process from growing the barley to bottling the whisky so that you, the curious whisky connoisseur, can see what the possibilities are when a distillery chooses to obsessively explore that prime raw ingredient of single malt whisky: barley. Subscribe now on your preferred platform of choice to follow all episodes. SUBSCRIBE ON SPOTIFY SUBSCRIBE ON APPLE PODCASTS

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Wines Of The World Exquitite Mixed Cases

Are you more of a white wine lover or red wine lover?

 

Did you know we have mixed cases of our top selling white and red grape varieties?

 

Checkout out below our top 3 whites - Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Grigio and Chardonnay and the top 3 reds Merlot, Malbec and Cabernet Sauvignon.
 

Each case an exquisite mix from Around the World!

Check Them Out Here

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Behind The Gates: J.J. Corry St. Patricks Day Live Virtual Tour 🍀

This year, we wish to invite you behind the gates of the J.J. Corry Farm for a LIVE virtual tour on Sunday 14th March at 8PM GMT / 3PM EST. Guided by our Founder and Whiskey Bonder, Louise McGuane, we will take you through our library of whiskey flavours in our Rackhouse, a detailed behind the scenes look into our Bonder's Blending Room (the room where the magic happens), followed by a live Q&A session with Louise in our 17th Century Barn and Tasting Room. Tickets available now. Places are limited. Sláinte!

Buy Now ************ Blackwater Distillery are proud to support the Virgin Media Dublin International Film Festival for the third year in a row and are very excited at this year's line up of films. To celebrate we have a fantastic prize to giveaway which includes an online festival pass to over 60 films and a Blackwater goodie bag which includes a bottle of our Blackwater No.5 and Wexford Strawberry Gin along with 2 highball glasses. Details on their Facebook page here

Of Art And Brewing. Five Little Cans Of Hopfully. Inside Out, Kneesocks, Legswap, Graciosa, Shinebright.

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!

Cheers 200412. The Drinks Digest. Red Nose Wine. Hopfully. Wines of the World. O'Briens Wine. Rascals.

Cheers 200412

Red Nose Wine Partners With Enrico Fantasia!

The new wines keep on coming and we have partnered with Enrico Fantasia to bring in more hand made wines, many of which are organic and biodynamic. Enrico is from Venice and is almost as famous a fisherman as he is a wine expert. He works with all of the top restaurants around the country and is a co-owner in Piglet, a traditional trattoria style wine bar in Temple Bar. This is where the wine importers bring their winemakers when they want to show off - a phenomenal wine list and a great night out ( whenever we get out again ). See more details here.

Who else loves the Hopfully Beers?

It's starting to feel like our favorite time of the year, it's almost Christmas time! We've got a brand new webpage with some exclusive items, including this beautiful Gift Box, the perfect gift for someone special. Click on the link below to place your order, make sure to use this promo-code HOP100 to get a 10% discount on your purchase. The promo-code will expire on the 4th of December. More details here

The gift box includes: 1 Graciosa Tropical IPA 5.3% 1 Insideout New England Pale Ale 5% 1 Legswap Raspberry & Lime Sour 4% 1 Shinebright New England IPA 6% 1 Insideout Glass 40cl

MULLED WINE

Wines Of The World 

have tips on mulled wine, the traditional winter warmer...

A Traditional Winter favourite, Winter Warmer Mulled Wine blends the finest ingredients to give a character of subtle cinnamon, clove spices and zesty citrus fruits. Making your life easy – simply garnish with cinnamon sticks and an orange slice. More here

Paul Barry advises to check

O'Briens Whiskey Offer, including Teelings.

Irish whiskey is experiencing a renaissance with many new distilleries setting up, showcasing the diverse range of whiskey now produced on the island. Teeling Whiskey, winners of over 60 international awards over the last few years, are placing themselves at the forefront of this movement. Their goal is to produce a collection of whiskeys that illustrate the breadth of choice and the different styles and flavours that Irish whiskey has to offer. With this in mind I have picked out three whiskeys that show case the versatility of their range.

Whichever you choose we have plenty on offer in our Irish Whiskey Sale, with 10% off a selection of great Teeling whiskeys.

The Rascal's Question: Fancy a case of Happy Days?

We’ve more news than you can shake a stick at. First up, our new off-licence is open for business. Now you can bring home your favourite Rascals beers, and a few fancy guest beers, from Rascals HQ Inchicore. We’re exclusively selling mini kegs of our Pilot Kit Series as well. Don't forget your shopping bag! Opening times for the off-licence are the same as our restaurant: from 4pm Wed – Sun, from 1pm Sat and Sun. More here