On the craft trail with Mescan and Wide Street. A couple of very enjoyable saisons

On the craft trail with Mescan and Wide Street 

A couple of very enjoyable saisons. 

Saison: a brief overview

Saison is a traditional farmhouse style from Wallonia, a French-speaking region in the South of Belgium. It was originally brewed in the winter to be enjoyed by the farmhands during the hot sunny months. We don’t get much of either saison or sun here! 

Wide Street say theirs is a classic representation of the Belgian Saison style while Mescan founder Bart is a Belgian national.

Mescan Westport Saison 5.8% ABV, 330 ml bottle Bradleys

full of concentrated flavour and refreshing

Beautiful gold colour, soft white head, clear body and crowds of bubbles. Aromas include clove and citrus notes. There is immediate engagement on the palate. It is dry and light, effervescent and full of concentrated flavour. It is refreshing, and also very well balanced, with the New World hops matched by the earthy spicy yeast flavours. 

Not just an excellent saison but also yet another superb beer from Westport's Mescan and Very Highly Recommended. It is the kind of beer that, once it hits the palate, makes you take notice. You may also want to note that it has an ABV of 5.8%.

With its slightly bitter finish, Saison goes well with spicy dishes such as curries or chicken wings. "Our Saison is a real thirst quencher!”, say Mescan. For more pairing ideas check their Food Pairing Wheel here. 

* If you'd like to visit Mescan at their brewery between Westport and Louisburg, they are open to visitors most Friday afternoons through the summer - online booking is required here.

Wide Street House Saison 5.5% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys

Their yeast plays a key role in this Highly Recommended beer.

Light orange, quite hazy, with a soft white head that sinks slowly. Aromas include clove and citrus notes. It is dry and light on the palate, effervescent, full of concentrated flavour and with a touch of pepper. It is refreshing and also very well balanced. Highly Recommended 

Their yeast plays quite a role in the two-month fermentation, and it is the Saccharomyces cerevisiae var diastaticus saison strain (don't know of any abbreviation!). They have also employed their favourite hop, Saaz, in the process, and that provides a medium bitterness backed up with the citrus and clove.  The punters obviously like this one, and it has been “promoted” to their core range.

Where do you find Wide Street? They are based in Ballymahon, Co. Longford, on the edge of the Royal Canal Greenway. “If you are cycling around or holidaying in the area, please drop us a message and we would be delighted to show you around the brewery.” If you come by car, you should easily find parking. It is a wide street. Really!

On the craft trail with Whitefield and Mescan. A couple of excellent lagers. Supporting craft brewers every week!

 On the craft trail with Whitefield and Mescan.

A couple of excellent lagers.

Supporting craft brewers every week!

Whitefield Oldtown Czech Style Pilsner, 5.4% ABV, 

500 ml bottle Bradleys

Another high quality beer from leading Tipperary brewery

This Tipperary Czech-style lager is an attractive golden colour with a soft, creamy white head. The clear liquid is well-populated by a multitude of bubbles rising to the top. Low to medium hop elements are noted in the aromas. There is no shortage of flavour, including bready notes, as the beer refreshes the palate and beyond. Ready for another sip! Very Highly Recommended.

Water from their well is used in the Whitefield Brewery and in this beer.. Otherwise, the Pilsner is brewed using all Czech ingredients, including floor-malted Bohemian Barley and Saaz hops, known for their low bittering quality and serving as a traditional and key part of Pilsners, resulting in a smooth beer with a slightly spicy aftertaste.

Whitefield Brewery is well-known for consistently hitting the high-quality mark with its lagers, wheat beers, and ales. Founder Cuilan Loughnane explains: "Our brewhouse was commissioned initially by Pauliner, so it was designed as a wheat beer brewery. The fermentation tanks are low, wide and flat-bottomed to help maintain a consistent flavour profile while using a volatile yeast. It comes as no surprise that our best-selling beers in both draft and bottle are Weiss beers. This makes it challenging to brew drier, hoppy beers, so we focus on malty beer styles with plenty of sweetness. Our core beers are traditional, southern-style German Wheat and lager beers." 

German-style pilsners versus Czech-style pilsners.

German-style pilsners present a pale yellow colour and are frequently unfiltered, resulting in a hazy appearance. The bittering characteristics are more pronounced due to the use of German hops in their production. These pilsners also conclude with a crisp taste, accompanied by a lingering bitterness.

Conversely,  Czech-style pilsners are characterised by a pale gold hue and remarkable clarity. These beers typically exhibit a lower hop profile, relying predominantly on the indigenous Czech Saaz hop, which imparts a distinctive spiciness to the overall flavour profile. Additionally, they are often slightly more malt-forward, providing a crisp and refreshing finish.

Mescan Seven Virtues Lager, 4.8% ABV, 

330 ml bottle, Bradleys

thirst-quenching and ideal to enjoy on its own

Our Mayo-produced lager has a nice typical golden lager colour and billions of bubbles rising to a soft, white head. A bit of citrus and grass (not that grass!) in the aromas. On the palate, it is a bit more than your usual lager. It is crisp and refreshing, making it an easy-drinking beverage. Well worth a try! Very Highly Recommended.

A high-quality lager, then. So what are Mescan doing differently? This may be the answer. Owner-Brewer Cillian explained that his beers take a minimum of 4 months, with the heavy ones getting 6-8 months, whereas your normal craft beer takes just a few weeks from start to counter (can vary from brewer to brewer). While the extra time makes the Mescan more expensive, Cillian believes it is crucial for the quality of the beer.

He also pointed to another, local, advantage. Their water comes from deep underneath Croagh Patrick via a spring well on the farm. The water is soft, which suits the beer styles they brew. “We filter it manually to remove some manganese from the raw water. It’s a physical process – we don’t use any chemicals. “

“Virtues lager was the first in a series of one-off brews. Crisp and slightly dry hopped, a nod in the direction of both tradition and innovation.  Serving Temp 2 - 4 °C.” 

Note that the serving temperature is somewhat lower than usual.

It makes a great aperitif and pairs well with a steak or a bowl of fresh Irish mussels served Belgian-style with chips; it also pairs well with smoked cheese. Did you know that Mescan has a Food Wheel drawn up? Check it out on their website here. 

You too can brew … on a Mescan Brewery brew course

 You too can brew … on a Mescan Brewery brew course

Limited places available for Saturday 22 nd March

The fascination with beer and brewing is rooted deep in our culture and Mescan Brewery

opens their doors to fledgling brewers with occasional brew courses. A few places are still

left on the next’ Learn How to Brew a Belgian Beer’ course taking place on Saturday 22 nd

March 2025 in their brewery near Westport. Led by Cillian Ó’Moráin (pictured), the in-depth course

covers all aspects of brewing from ingredient selection to packaging the finished beer.

It's a hands-on practical course where attendees brew a commercial batch of the flagship

Mescan Blond beer in the brewery as well as covering all the theory. This comprises

Beer of the Week Mescan Gold /Óir Ale 5.7% ABV, 330 ml bottle. Mescan celebrate 10th anniversary in style.

Beer of the Week

Mescan Gold /Óir Ale 5.7% ABV, 330 ml bottle, Bradleys 

Mescan celebrates 10th anniversary in style

This new Mescan ale, brewed to celebrate their recent 10th birthday, has a stunning gold colour and a soft foamy head; it is hazy. Aromas, herbal and spice, are quite intense and not unlike what you might get from a wheat beer. And that impression continues on the palate. Complex yet easily drunk, it feels quite creamy in the mouth on the way to a refreshing and lingering finish. Serving temperature: 4-6 °C

Another outstanding Belgian-style ale from the slopes of Croagh Patrick and one that is Very Highly Recommended and Beer of the Week. Barley, wheat, and spices are listed in the ingredients, plus the basic water, hops and yeast, plus coriander and bitter orange peel.

Mescan’s Cillian says this ale, a limited edition, is very accessible and approachable. It can be drunk on its own as an aperitif or paired with a creamy shellfish dish or cheeses. Enjoy.

The Mescan brewers are a patient lot, and they allow their beers all the time they need. All beers undergo a secondary fermentation in the bottle. To enjoy this beer clear, store the bottle upright and pour the beer into the glass in one go, leaving any sediment in the bottle.

The water for Mescan's beers comes from deep underneath Croagh Patrick via a spring at the brewery. The bulk of the grain used in the recipes is Irish grown and malted, with speciality malts and yeast strains coming from Belgium. Most of the hops come from the Czech Republic. No finings or chemicals are used in the beers, which are unfiltered and unpasteurised. They all contain live yeast.  

Check the 2024/25 Beer of the Week listings here.

Infused with fresh oysters from Clew Bay. Mescan Spéartha Dorcha Oyster Stout. Beer of the Week:

Mescan Spéartha Dorcha Oyster Stout, 4.7% ABV, 330 ml bottle, Bradleys 

infused with fresh oysters from Clew Bay

Black as a dark sky when the stars stay home, this Mescan oyster-infused stout looks great. It smells pretty good, too, and, most importantly, tastes amazing with malty notes of chocolate and coffee and a mineral hint of the sea, thanks (probably) to the Clew Bay oysters!

It was brewed with water from Mescan’s own spring on the slopes of Croagh Patrick, using traditional stout malts, restrained hopping, and Pádraic Gannon’s locally grown oysters in the boil, and then fermented with Belgian yeast. This is quite the experience and Very Highly Recommended. Recommended serving temperature is 4-6 °C 

The name Spéartha Dorcha came about because Mescan supports the Mayo Dark Skies project. “Naturally, dark skies promote better ecosystems for our life and well-being. This beer was matured for months under skies free from light pollution and infused with fresh oysters..”

Mescan Brewery began as an idea in 2010 following a conversation between the founders, Irishman Cillian Ó Móráin and Belgian Bart Adons, about the strain of out-of-hours veterinary work. This led to a mid-life career change and new lives as brewers. They sold their first beer in 2014.

This stout was launched in Newport (Co.Mayo) last October, and the event included tastings of Spéartha Dorcha Oyster Stout and Croagh Patrick Seafood oysters. 

Clew Bay

On the craft trail with Mescan, Western Herd and Bullhouse.

On the craft trail with Mescan, Western Herd and Bullhouse

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Western Herd Blue Jumper IPA, 6.2% ABV, 440 ml can

The bright amber colour and all those little bubbles of this Western Herd IPA is quite a come-on. The beer’s name is apparently a Father Ted reference: “Do you remember when you were drinking Blue Jumper?”

There’s a citrus and tropical fruit presence in the aromatics, plus a hint of pine and resin, even a little dankness as well. And that vibrant hoppy edge continues all the way. After all, as the brewery indicates, India Pale Ale, or IPA is a bigger, hoppier version of a pale ale. 

This one certainly

Beer of the Week. Mescan Westport Saison, enhanced by longer ageing.

Beer of the Week

Enhanced by longer ageing.

Mescan Westport Saison, 5.8% ABV, 330ml bottle No 21 Coburg Street

The colour of this Mescan is mid-gold, slightly hazy with a soft white head that sinks slowly. Aromas include clove and citrus notes. It is dry and light on the palate, effervescent and refreshing, full of concentrated flavour. It is refreshing, and also very well balanced, with the New World hops matched by the earthy spicy yeast flavours, and you don't really notice the highish alcohol. But do sip rather than gulp!

Not just an excellent saison but also another superb beer from Westport's Mescan and Very Highly Recommended. It is the kind of beer that, once it hits the palate, makes you take notice. You may also want to note that it has an ABV of 5.8%.

There is something different, something more wide-ranging about this Mescan saison. Flavours are more concentrated, longer lasting, and the experience more satisfactory. More than likely it comes from longer ageing (a brewery policy). 

On my 2023 visit to the rural brewery in Mayo, brewer and co-founder Cillian Ó'Móráin explained that Mescan beers take a minimum of 4 months with the heavier ones getting 6-8 months. In contrast, your normal craft beer takes just a few weeks from start to shop (can vary from brewer to brewer). While the extra time makes the Mescan more expensive, Cillian reckons it is crucial for the quality of the beer. And it is indeed a premium product, illustrated well by this superb saison. 

CorkBillyBeers #37 Stronger Craft Beers with Mescan and Hope

CorkBillyBeers #37 

Stronger Craft Beers with Mescan and Hope

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Mescan Westport Extra, 8.5% ABV, 330 ml bottle

Mescan Westport Extra has an attractive golden colour with a white head and no shortage of bubbles rising. Spicy yeast notes and fruity esters are prominent. 

The first impression from the palate is sweet malt but soon the promised hop bitterness is confirmed and becomes even more pronounced as the first sip flows fully and gently across the mouth on the way to a long lingering finish. A superbly balanced beer, the high alcohol is smoothly controlled.

Very Highly Recommended. Exceptional.

A Belgian-style beer from Westport and well up there with the best of the Trappists. One of the best of the style and consistently one of the best brews in this country.

A lot of work and time goes into the production of this beauty. It takes almost a year from when it is brewed before this strong, well-carbonated golden ale will be ready for punters to sip and savour. 

Indeed, Mescan take their time with all their beers. Co-founder and brewer Cillian Ó Móráin: ”Our outstanding USP, which is genuinely unique to Mescan, is the long maturation process with a minimum of 3 months (up to 9 months with the stronger beers), between brewing and packaging. This unhurried process allows time for the flavours to develop, much like maturing a wine. These long conditioning times make the beers more expensive to produce but add greatly to the quality. The resulting depth and range of flavour make them particularly well suited to pairing with food."

“Enjoy with white meats or seafood,  and fruity, nutty desserts.” This robust beer is a real treat, and its warming alcohol is the perfect antidote to a bad weather day! Just musing on it there and am beginning to think this strong, dry, well-carbonated golden ale would be perfect with rabbit. Serving temperature: 3-6 °C 

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Mescan Special Reserve Dark Beer, 8.4% ABV, 330 ml bottle

Colour of this Mescan Special Reserve is dark, not deep black, but a deep ruby with some flashes of red in its depths. The aromatics feature caramel, mostly. And the palate is a five-star show of fruitiness (dates, figs), the malt still in evidence as this Mayo star maintains its amazing experience right to the finalé.

The Mescan website says this is a robust beer and I’d be loath to disagree. For me, despite the high ABV, this is smooth and quite accessible and well worth seeking out. I took my own advice here, sip not gulp, and my "patience" was amply rewarded.

A complex beer yet the ingredients list is simple enough: Spring water, barley, wheat, hops, yeast. Very Highly Recommended.

This full-bodied beer pairs beautifully with stews and game. Surprisingly, it complements chillies and spicy dishes. Also delicious with chocolate desserts or cheese. Full Mescan food wheel here 

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Mescan Westport Red Tripel, 8.0% ABV, 330 ml bottle

During a recent visit to Mescan, outside of Westport, they told us their well-known “secret”: ”Our outstanding USP*, which is genuinely unique to Mescan, is the long maturation process with a minimum of 3 months (up to 9 months with the stronger beers), between brewing and packaging. This unhurried process allows time for the flavours to develop, much like maturing a wine. These long conditioning times make the beers more expensive to produce but add significantly to the quality. The resulting depth and range of flavour make them particularly well suited to pairing with food."

  

"During our long conditioning process, the yeast settles out naturally, with no need to use finings for clarifying, and making the beers suitable for vegans. Simple, natural ingredients are used to create Mescan beers: spring water, barley, wheat, hops, yeast, spices and nothing else. Our beers are almost exclusively brewed in Belgian styles."

Red is the colour, of course. There’s not that much of a head but it does hang about a bit. Aromas are malty, fruity, nutty. It is smooth and complex on the palate and you know, if you didn’t already, that this is one to sip and savour. To gulp would be greedy, barbaric, showing a lack of respect for the maestros of Mescan.

So, tóg go bog é (take it easy) and enjoy the remarkable nutty and caramel flavours, the warming beer, its malty and fruity qualities, its complex and full-bodied experience on the palate and let it slowly take you to a rewarding finalé.

Very Highly Recommended.

They detail the route to perfection on their website. “This is our take on the strong beers pioneered by the Belgian Trappist monastery breweries. Tripels are strong, complex beers and are traditionally golden in colour. We decided to make ours red and the malts used to achieve this add even more complexity to the flavours on the palate.”

 

And a few more tips.

Serve 7-10 degrees.

See food pairing here https://www.mescanbrewery.com/food-pairing-for-our-beers 

Bottle conditioned in the Belgian style beer.

To enjoy the beer clear, store upright and pour into a glass, leaving the yeast sediment in bottle.

* USP - unique selling point.

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Hope West Coast IPA 7.4% ABV, 440 ml can Carry Out Killarney

“A classic West Coast IPA, this beer is a nod to the iconic beer style that helped launch the craft beer revolution. It’s brewed with four of the classic “C” hops: Cascade (grapefruit. Floral, Pine), Columbus (Dank, Pepper, PungenT), Centennial  (Blossom, Orange, Resionous) and Chinook (Grapefruit, Pine, Spice). The use of these US hops provides the style-defining flavours of citrus, pine, and resin.”

Hope are obviously happy that they’ve cracked it here!

Hops are used liberally in the kettle and in dry hop additions, giving the beer a robust bitterness and an intense hop aroma and finish. The malt bill is relatively simple. It is designed to balance the bitterness, while also allowing the hop flavours to shine through. This limited edition beer is no. 30 in the series.

The colour is golden/amber with hoppy aromas, citrus, pine and floral amongst them. And the all-American hop line-up, owns the palate, pungent with citrus and pine and a hint of dankness, on the way to a very fine lip-smacking finish. Quite intense, start to finish, yet the relatively simple malt bill has done the business here and the expected bitterness is well balanced, making this quite a beer with barely a hint of the high ABV.

Very Highly Recommended. 

Geek Bits

Hops: Cascade, Columbus, Centennial, Chinook

IBU 75;

Food Pairing: Burger, Tacos, Pizza

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