Just a few hints of Autumn as October begins in Blarney Castle Gardens
(pics 2nd Oct '23)
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| Pips of the robust thorny Rosa Moyesi (I think!!!) |
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| Much of this tree is still green. |
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| Rhus leaves turning |
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| Blooming time for these Cyclamen, hidden away in a shady corner. |
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| Indian Pokeweed in the Poison Garden. More on its dangers here via Mt Sinai Hospital |
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| All together now, munch! |
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| In the Carnivorous garden. |
CorkBillyBeers #48
Craft with Bullhouse, Rascals, Lough Gill and Wicklow Wolf.
Nothing over 5% ABV in this foursome
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Bullhouse Frank The Tank Hazy IPA, 5.0% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
Mosaic makes the difference!
“The Fruity Hop That Changed Craft Beer.”
Colour of this Belfast-brewed IPA is pale, more or less lemon, and it is indeed hazy, like a foggy night on the docks. Frank seems quite the character and is not shy about promoting itself: "Once it hits your lips, it's so good!” It is that extra pale base “to showcase the aromatic, tropical and stonefruit flavours of our Mosaic DDH”.
No kidding with Frank. It is indeed pretty damn good, packed with just the one hop Mosaic and giving up slightly sweet flavours of tropical fruit and a whole lot of hoppy backbone in a complex mouthfeel. Good refreshing finish also.
Bullhouse is emerging, in this house at least, as a brewery to note and Frank the Tank’s IPA is Very Highly Recommended.
California-based Kegerator, well known in home brewing in the US, say their aim is “To provide beer aficionados with the best selection of dispensers, brewing supplies, and home bar accessories.”
They know their hops. The Mosaic hops that Bullhouse have used here - it is just over 10 years old - is highlighted by Kegerator who call it “The Fruity Hop Variety That Changed Craft Beer.”
“The hop variety was an instant hit and, according to For the Love of Hops by Stan Hieronymus, the variety gained a reputation even before it was named or fully released onto the craft brewing scene in 2012.
The name Mosaic was given to the variety because of the complex and broad aromas it imparts. This complex profile is backed by a clean bittering, which makes it especially remarkable in single hop ales.”
They confirm that it is as versatile as Bullhouse indicate: “Mosaic hops cover all three corners of hop usage pretty well. A fact that becomes obvious when you see the amount of single-hopped IPAs being churned out with this variety. It could also be used in the aroma and flavour department backed by a clean bittering hop like Magnum or Galena. Because of its fruitiness, Mosaic plays well with other fruity or citrusy hops.”
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Rascals Session IPA, 4.4%% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
This Session IPA is one of the brewery’s Outbreak Series, one of “three seriously classy IPAs, each with a particular inspiration”..…
And this is “blissfully citrus and delightfully tropical”. “At 4.4% we're making it an easy-going beer to be sipped, shared and ideal for any bag-of-cans enthusiast: spruce up your sesh with our Session IPA!”
The colour is pale, more or less lemon, with a slight haze. Sweet tropical fruits (mango, lychee, passion fruit) in the aromas. Flavours are quite complex, a blend of floral, tropical, fruity, and earthy characteristics. But it never gets to cross to the sweet side, the balance provided by the hops’ bittering qualities.
A small ABV yes but a serious session contender. Nice bit of work from the Rascal brewers.
And they know it! “This beer really benefits from the flavour and aroma intensity of using hop oils in the brew. There’s an instant ‘wow factor’ the minute you get a nose – and mouth – full of what’s on offer. There’s a crisp green grape and ripe lime finish, making our Session IPA a proper hoppy belter.”
Can’t argue with that. Very Highly Recommended.
Hops used were Citra T90, Galaxy and Mosaic.
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This lemon-coloured IPA comes from the excellent Lough Gill Brewery in Sligo. It is murky, with a soft white head and, at 3.8% ABV, slips comfortably under the session bar. Aromas are moderate, are of the tropical kind and very pleasant. And so it continues on the palate with a smooth citrus flavour and a mouthfeel that “has been amped up with the addition of oats and Dextrin malts”.
Another well-balanced beer with a refreshing finish and well suited to a session.
Highly Recommended.
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Wicklow Wolf Raindrop, 0.5% ABV, 330 ml can No 21 Midleton
“Introducing 'Raindrop 0.5', number 39 in our Endangered Species series. A beer inspired by our Mixed Berry Sour, Raindrop - our brewers were excited to brew a non-alcoholic version of our favourite sour.”
This 0.5% Raindrop comes in an unmissable vibrant red colour. Aromas are fruity, sweetly so. No lessening of the fruit on the palate but here there’s a sour backbone. But it is very refreshing indeed, this mix of jam-packed flavours of raspberries, blackberries and blueberries.
One of the more interesting non-alcoholic beers on the market and that includes the imports. But, there’s always a but, this is a limited edition, one of Wicklow’s endangered species. Worth a try if you can get your hands on one, or more than one.
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| Jean's everyday wine! |
Just ask Jean Trimbach!
Trimbach Pinot Gris Réserve Alsace (AC) 2017, 14% ABV
(c. €27.00)
For 13 generations, beginning in 1626, Maison Trimbach in Ribeauvillé, in the heart of Alsace, has devoted all its resources to producing great Alsace wines. This is one of them based on one of their remarkable Alsace grape varieties, the Pinot Gris. Delicious when young, these reach their finest expressions after some years of ageing.
It has a beautiful light gold colour. Aromas are gentle, a mix of floral and fruit (peaches, pears) and flowers. It is full-bodied with a gorgeous fruity palate, subtle spices, and a long finish. A generous wine, an ideal partner at the table. Suggested pairings include terrines, shellfish, oily fish, smoked fish, in sauce and raw, sushi, white meats, sweetbreads, mushrooms, spicy and aromatic dishes, Asian cuisine … Versatile, isn’t it?
Very Highly Recommended.
At a Kinsale tasting this year, Jean Trimbach (right) started with the 2018 vintage of this Pinot Gris Reserve. He was at pains to emphasise that this is a French grape, distinct from Pinot Grigio!
The grape now known in Alsace as Pinot Gris is thought to have originated in the Burgundy region of France. It is a colour mutation of Pinot Noir, and has been known since the Middle Ages. For centuries, it was called Tokay d’Alsace In Alsace until in relatively recent times, Hungary and the EU put an end to that.
Grapes & Wines indicates that Pinot Gris can produce really good wines in many countries “but I still go back to Alsace to see what makes it tick” and points the finger at the climate. in Alsace where “long hang times are possible; you can pick late for dry or off-dry, and even later for sweet ones.”
In Germany, Pinot Gris is known as Grauburgunder. It is a popular grape in the Baden region and, just like Alsace, is used to make a variety of wines, from dry to sweet.
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Check my growing list of top wines for 2023
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Check out my Good Value Wine List here
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Jean Trimbach’s remarks on his Pinot Gris being a French grape rather than an Italian one is made with a smile but the popularity of the Italian wine must still be irksome to some degree.
Jean is rarely slow to push the cause of Alsace in the wider world. And he also had a crack at Burgundy in Kinsale. Jean, who has been in this sales/marketing role since 1985, is always quick to point to the advantages that Alsace has, particularly when it comes to the more famous French region. “We have more Grand Cru wines than Burgundy because they have no granite, no volcanic, no slate… We have them all!” That big smile followed!
Trimbach wines are widely available in Ireland. I don't have a list of stockists for this but Dublin's 64 Wine has it.
press release
The MICHELIN Guide celebrates the most remarkable hotels in the world, by creating a special distinction:
The MICHELIN Key
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| The MICHELIN Guide will be awarding exceptional hotels with the MICHELIN Key in future |
As it does for restaurants, The MICHELIN Guide intends on independently recommending hotels that constitute true destinations. After four years of work, The MICHELIN Guide now proposes a new selection of more than 5,000 remarkable hotels in 120 countries.
In an industry saturated with questionably trustworthy endorsements, the MICHELIN Guide offers its expertise to travellers to guide them towards only the very best experiences. In response to today’s hyper-standardisation of accommodation (in terms of design, interior decoration, special touches, and so on), The MICHELIN Guide will appeal to travellers’ emotions by orienting them towards bold establishments that excel in every way: architectural approaches, professional know-how, and the existence of a true, identifiable personality.
The new MICHELIN Guide selection recommends more than 5,000 hotels throughout 120 countries in a broad range of prices and styles. The selection is based on five criteria:
1. A destination unto itself: the hotel contributes to the local experience;
2. Excellence in interior design and architecture;
3. Individuality, reflecting personality and authenticity;
4. Quality and consistency in service, comfort and maintenance;
5. Consistency between the level of experience and the price paid.
Determined independently from all existing labels and free of any pre-established quotas, this hotel selection addresses those travellers who already trust The MICHELIN Guide and all those who seek verified, well-informed advice.
With this new approach to hotels, The MICHELIN Guide has three objectives:
Exploring the MICHELIN Guide website and mobile application is easy and intuitive from planning to booking. Clients may take inspiration from the magazine section, choose between accommodations using a filtering search engine, reserve a room, pay online, and provide feedback or share their experiences. The platform is ad-free for more fluid browsing, and future travellers can also enjoy a customer service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, as well as the assistance of a team of travel experts who specialise in offering tailored guidance.
The MICHELIN Key, a new MICHELIN Guide distinction
In this new selection, The MICHELIN Guide teams seek to highlight the establishments that raise hospitality to an art form, forging absolutely unique experiences for travellers.
Gwendal Poullennec, International Director of The MICHELIN Guides, states: “The MICHELIN Key is a clear, reliable indication for travellers. Just as the MICHELIN Star distinguishes those restaurants that are at the peak of their art, the MICHELIN Key recognises the most exceptional hotels throughout the world. It is also an acknowledgment of the teamwork of committed enthusiastic hospitality professionals.”
Each year, the MICHELIN Key will distinguish exceptional establishments led by teams with unique forms of knowledge. The MICHELIN Key will be awarded following one or several stays conducted anonymously by The MICHELIN Guide selection teams.
The MICHELIN Guide teams are currently in the field and will reveal the first MICHELIN Key selection in the first half of 2024.
CorkBillyBeers #47
Craft with White Hag, Wicklow Wolf, Lacada (with Brehon) and Hofbräuhaus Traunstein.
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All Good Here!
The White Hag Ninth Wave New World Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV, 330 ml can Bradleys
Hard to believe that the IBU number here is 15 IBU, a lager like reading while, by the way, that of the well-known and loved Sierra Nevada Pale Ale equivalent is 38.
Colour is a mid-amber, cloudy, and topped with a short-lived white head. Aromatics are mild also, apricot, mango and citrus, all from the hops, in there. No sparing the hops that are added at various stages in the production of the brew creating some really bright tropical fruit flavours but always with a strong undercurrent of hops.
Quite a greeting on the palate, creamy feel and insistently fruity (citrus to the fore) from the American hops, but all is kept in check as this balanced effort makes its way towards a very satisfactory finalé indeed. Lively, flavourful and very drinkable. Another for that second glass, or should that be second can, designation!
Easy drinking, refreshing and thirst-quenching. And Very Highly Recommended.
They say: “We are a modern independent craft brewery from Sligo, on Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way. We brew innovative and groundbreaking beers, inspired by ancient and classic styles.”
They brew a lot of them! The able and masterly brewers here ensure they are good.
The White Hag are deep into their myths and this New World Pale Ale is named after the “Ninth Wave” that formed a formidable barrier for anyone wishing to cross over to New York and Boston.
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Wicklow Wolf Raindrop Mixed Berry Sour, 4.2% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
This summer’s “extension” provided some extra time for sours and our Raindrop from Wicklow Wolf was one. “A lip-smacking sour” according to the message from the Den. “A refreshing sour ale that will leave you wanting more.”
You can't miss it, this melange of raspberry, blackberry and blueberry, in its vibrant red colour and ripe fruit aromas. And those fruits also appear on the palate, as part of a crisp and refreshing tartness. A sour yes, but not one of the extreme ones.
I picked this up in error as I meant to try their Raindrop 0.5%, the non-alcoholic version. But no big deal, this is very drinkable, lip-smacking as they say, and Highly Recommended. Will just have to call again to Bradleys and pick the correct one!
Geek Bits
IBU: 10
Hops: Bravo
Malts: Pilsner, Chateau, Flaked Oats, Carapils
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Lacada (with Brehon) Dunseverick West Coast IPA, 5.5% ABV, 440 ml can Bradleys
Lacada is a community-owned Co-Operative brewery based on the world-famous North Coast of Ireland. That’s also where you’ll find Dunseverick Castle, after which this West Coast IPA is named.
Dunseverick, the beer that is, has a gold/amber colour and a soft white head that has a fair bit of longevity to it. Gave it the old finger-dip test and got a bit of resin back. The aromas also have hints of pine. There’s an impressive trio of hops lurking here and you get the robust results on the palate, deep and bitter, but there is also a good balance present.
That is key and I give it a big thumbs up. Very Highly Recommended.
Lacada Brewery has its origins in a love of beer and brewing, a love of place, and a love of people. It began with a father and son brewing together and grew to become a group of co-operative minded, good beer-loving aficionados.
Both Lacada and their collaborators on Dunseverick, the Brehon Brewhouse from County Monaghan, are happy with the results. As it is a limited edition, you may find it difficult to get your hands on a can or a keg.
The castle by the way is just east of The Giant's Causeway which dates back to the 5th Century. One of the five great royal ancient highways of Ireland, Slige Midluachra, had its Northern terminal point at Dunseverick Castle.
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HB Bayerisches Pils, 5.1% ABV, 500 ml bottle Bradleys
Looks so inviting in the tall glass. A light golden colour with battalions of bubbles streaming upwards into a soft foamy white head of medium longevity. You can smell the hops, Even get an early fresh and bitter taste by dipping your finger in the foam and taking a little suck. Or just dive straight in, and enjoy the dry and refreshing palate, the light sparkling body and that hoppy finish.
Many German brewers followed the example of Pilsner pioneer master brewer Josef Groll who, in 1842, developed the beer in Pilsen, Czech Republic, a beer that would gain popularity across the world. But, the brewers say, this Bavarian Pilsner by Hofbräuhaus Traunstein is milder, more balanced and easier to drink.
They say: “We have set up our own storage cellar for our Pils, tailored precisely to its needs, where it can ferment in peace until it is perfect - elegant and bright, with a subtle malt body….. a taste experience for connoisseurs who love a balanced hop note.”
This bottom-fermented beer from Traunstein (Bavaria) comes in a brown bottle with an IBU number of 28. Carbonation has been analysed as high and it is regarded as mild, balanced, tasty, balanced hoppy, elegant, subtly malty, fresh, sparkling, .… Pretty much your go-to everyday beer.
Greenes Restaurant Celebrates Peruvian Cuisine this week with
Guest Chef Jonathan Ordoñez
Nicolas Alegre (left) of Greenes Restaurant, Cork; Jonathan Ordoñez of Paschi Cocina Peruana, Madrid.
Jonathan Ordoñez will travel from Madrid and join the Executive Head Chef of Greenes Restaurant, Nicolas Alegre, for an evening of Peruvian cuisine on Thursday 12th October.
In Nicolas Alegre's first year at the helm of the team in Greenes kitchen, he has developed the menu to include a Latin American influence paired with the classic dishes the restaurant is known for. This Thursday, 12th October, Nicolas will welcome guests for an evening of food and drinks celebrating Peruvian food.
Peruvian Jonathan Ordoñez is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu Peru, he worked in a number of prestigious restaurants in his home country before travelling to Madrid to share the flavours and culture of Peru in his restaurant Paschi Cocina Peruana. Paschi Cocina Peruana is described in the Michelin Guide 2023 as ‘Paschi opens tastebuds to the flavours of Peruvian cuisine, with the occasional nod to Chinese and Japanese cooking’.
The event takes place on Thursday the 12th of October, with limited spaces available. The price is €75 for the tasting menu with an option of wine pairing for €42.50. To reserve your table book via greenesrestaurant.com.
For more information, see the website www.greenesrestaurant.com
