A couple of excellent lagers.
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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.