A Quart of Ale± #8. Moving on over to craft. Kinnegar, To Øl City, West Cork Brewery, O'Hara's, Pale Ales.

A Quart of Ale± #8

Moving on over to craft with four very interesting ales

Kinnegar “Limeburner” Pale Ale, 4.7%, 440ml can, Bradley's of Cork

Lovely light gold colour on this one; a fair bit of haze but you do see the bubbles rising. It is floral and hoppy on the nose. Crisp and refreshing in the mouth with a pleasant hoppy finalé. Not at all overly hoppy and a beer that could well prove a “gateway” beer on the way from mass beers to craft. Easy to quaff and one to note if you haven’t already. One of their first beers and still going strong as part of their core range.

It is unfiltered, naturally carbonated. When pouring leave any natural sediments (I didn’t see any) at the bottom. Well balanced and easy to enjoy this one! By the way, if you moving into craft, try this as one of your early steps! I did, and it’s never too far away from my mind when I enter a bar.

The story.  A bright white light from Fanad Head once illuminated the Limeburner (a 40m high hidden sea pinnacle where Lough Swilly meets the Atlantic), guiding passing ships away from danger. “Phew,” said the skipper when they left that pinnacle behind. “Pass me a Kinnegar there boy.”

To Øl City “House of Pale” Pale Ale 5.5%, 44cl can, Bradley's of Cork

A slight step up in alcohol for the Danish Pale Ale (compared to the Kinnegar) but the colour and the head is much the same as their Session. A little more hop in the aromas. More flavour and less crisp but, as they say themselves, come here to “get your full-bodied juicy fix”.  That smoothness shows a lot of malt but the hops is not shy either and that juicy stuff is a treat. Put this on your short list for sure.

They say: House Of Pale is one of the recipes we’ve taken from our beloved mad laboratory (brewpub!) in Copenhagen, BRUS. It’s seen many changes and tweaks over this year, experimenting with hop doses and overall ‘crispiness’ - and now we’re pretty sure we’ve got exactly what we’ve been looking for. 

Hops in the ale are Mosaic and Simcoe while the long line of malts consist of Chit Malt, Flaked Oats, Golden Naked Oats, Melanoidin, and Pilsner.

West Cork “Sherkin Lass” Pale Ale 4.4%, 500ml bottle, Bradley’s of Cork

Mid amber is the colour of this cloudy pale ale by the West Cork Brewery in Baltimore. The head barely outlasts the pour. They use their own well water here and the beer is obviously unfiltered.

Citrus in the aromas. Makes quite an immediate impression on the palate, fresh and lively, sharp citrus notes again, pineapple and passionfruit too, more malt than hops, just lightly, but noticeably, bitter, almost halfway to a sour. Quite a distinctive mouthful. Refreshing and quite a thirst quencher.

Hops used are: Columbus, Centennial, Galaxy, and Liberty. It is unfiltered, unpasteurised and vegan friendly as only whirlfloc (Carrageen moss) is used to aid the clarification.

O’Hara’s Irish Pale Ale (Dry hopped IPA) 5.2%, 50cl bottle SuperValu.

Mid amber is the colour of this well-made Irish Pale Ale. IPA all over the labels; nowhere is the word Indian mentioned, but I still wonder is it Irish Pale or Indian. Anyhow we’ll be soon going on to the IPAs. Quite often, it is hard enough to classify some beers. I’ve even got one here at the moment labelled an Indian Pale Lager!

Aromas are definitely hoppy, Indian Pale Ale hoppy. The head by the way starts frothy and large enough but soon gets down to barely a white disc. Actually, I’m nowadays inclined to dispense with the 45 degree angle when pouring and lash it in, the reward being more a substantial head that, in this case at least, gives you the pleasure, just visual, of a longer stay.

On the palate though, this one makes you sit up and take notice with the fruit and floral notes of the hops plus the zesty lasting bitterness. Lip-smacking, for sure.

They say: “A Contemporary style IPA with an Irish twist. Combining the balance of European IPAs with the generous dry hopping of American pale ales (APAs), this beer is everything an IPA should be and more.”

Brewery Food Tips: works incredibly well alongside the BBQ, with spicy food and shellfish. Serve at 6-8 degrees.

Next session: American Pale Ales, including the Sierra Nevada, the original gateway beer for drinkers seeking to access craft

DESIGN POP FESTIVAL 2020 CANCELLED

STATEMENT FROM DESIGN POP FESTIVAL 2020

PLANNED FOR 28-30 AUGUST

After much deliberation, following the recent government restrictions around COVID19, it is with a heavy heart that Cork’s Design and Food Festival, Design POP, has made the decision to cancel this year’s event, which was scheduled to take place next week from August 28th to August 30th.

The 3-day event, which had carefully planned social distancing guidelines in place based on the previous government guidelines, would have injected creativity and colour across the city, with 3 pop-up pavilions supporting Designers and local food producers, an Irish Design Shop, exhibition, a furniture-designer showcase, and discussions from special guests MASER, WhyDesign Founder Kim Mackenzie-Doyle, plus over 16 free talks and workshops.

Festival Director Amy McKeogh commented:

“Design POP is about creativity, interaction, and brings joy to the public realm and under the current government restrictions, we would not be able to do so. With the confusion, and conflicting information from the Government, and the fact that the festival HQ, Thompson House, is not deemed to be a gallery, theatre, or cinema, we have come to the really difficult decision to cancel the event.

The outdoor pavilions are about fun, engagement and design, and with the number of people reduced to 15 people, I feel it becomes more about restrictions and less about the intentions of the festival.

I would like to extend a huge thank you to all designers, food producers, sponsors, speakers and makers who have already invested so much of their time and energy in the making of this event over the past few months. All ticket holders will be refunded their money in the coming days.

The Design POP team is already making plans and gearing up to make our 2021 festival bigger and better. We thank everyone for all the support over the past year. Take care and stay safe.”

Two Very Highly Recommended Wines from the North of Italy

Two Very Highly Recommended Wines from the North of Italy

GD Vajra Nebbiolo Langhe (DOC) 2018, 14.5%, €29.99

Searsons Wine Merchants, Baggot Street Wines, The Corkscrew, Clontarf Wines, Sweeneys D3, Ely Wine Store Maynooth, 

Mid ruby is the colour of this Langhe Nebbiolo. Vibrant aromas, fragrantly fruity and floral, invite you to explore further. The flavours are pristine, elegant dark and handsome fruit, cut with sweet spices and minerality, silky tannins, and there’s no shortage of acidity to make it a welcome guest at the table. The label promises elegance, pleasure and refinement; the contents deliver, in the most harmonious way. Very Highly Recommended.

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They say: Whenever possible, we pick this fruit in the early hours of each day. Maceration is long and very gentle, so to retain lift and energy to this wine. Variety is 100% Nebbiolo from young estate vineyards, ranging from 7 to 25 years of age.  Our Langhe DOC Nebbiolo ages for 8 to 14 months on average. It is a wide range, in order to respect the uniqueness of each vintage and patiently await for the optimal bottling time. Most of the ageing is carried in stainless-steel vats, with a minor fraction of the wine being in neutral oak only when needed.

GD Vajra have been farming organically since 1971 but they didn’t get off to the best of starts. Giuseppe, during an April online masterclass, said he was dragged away from his soccer games (he was playing too much of it - well he was just 15) to plant his first vineyard. 

He and his current team are still youthful and he is proud of their work. “We hope we get wiser as we go on. We started organically and our first vintage in 1972 was not a good one, not worth ageing!” The whole extended family are at work here in this “multicultural team” near the village of Barolo. Perhaps, that first vintage was a disappointment but there have been many good ones since including this 2018.

As you know, Nebbiolo is the grape from which the famous Barolo is made and GD Vajra have some gems, quite a few available via Liberty Wines (who supply the stockists listed above). During the masterclass on the outstanding 2016 vintage, Giuseppe spoke eloquently. 

Then a tough question: “Which is your best cru from 2016?” Very hard for Giuseppe to answer as they had invested so much hard work into each. He didn’t really want to pick one but, under gentle pressure, went for the Barolo Bricco delle Viole for “its flair and elegance”. So there’s a nice tip for you. And I’d safely say the 2016 vintage of our Nebbiolo Langhe would also be one to snap up if you come across it.

The Langhe is a hilly subregion in the province of Piemonte.

Pieropan Soave (DOC) Classico 2019, 12%, €16.99

Jus de Vine, Grapevine, James Redmond and Sons Ltd, Kelly`s Off Licence, 

McHughs Off Licence - Kilbarrack Rd, Martins Off Licence, 64 Wine, C Morton & Son Ltd, Clontarf Wines, Ely Wine Store, Maynooth, The Corkscrew

In the 1960s, Soave wine came from the Classico region. But the economic boom of the 70s, saw Soave (like Chianti) expand beyond the original area. And it proved a disaster. 

During a recent Liberty Wines organised online masterclass, Andrea Pieropan explained: “The DO expanded into the flat area where the yields were higher, the season shorter and there was less personality in the wines.” He explained that no area in Italy has such a difference between the Classico and the surrounds.

So, quantity reigned and quality was hard to find. Soave became something of a dirty word. Many avoided the wine but, according to Vino Italiano, that meant “missing out on the elegant floral whites of Leonildo Pieropan whose Soaves show off the plump mouth-filling character of ripe Garganega.”

Today’s Soave is usually fresh and expressive and that is certainly the case with this Classico, the freshest youngest wine in the Pieropan family range. It is 85% Garganega with Trebbiano contributing the balance.

The nose is delicate and elegant, with pleasant floral notes. Plump and mouth-filling certainly, terrific depth of fruit and a lively acidity, persistent finish. Excellent and Very Highly Recommended.

Suggested pairings include soups, starters, especially vegetable based such as asparagus, peas, courgette, egg-based dishes or seafood and fresh water fish dishes. It is an excellent aperitif, especially when served with simple canapés. Serve at 12°C.

Soave is perhaps the most famous Italian white wine DOC. You'll find it in the Veneto wine region of northeastern Italy.

Blackwater Tasters Club, Paddy Borthwick Collection, White Hag, Graham Norton and more on wine, beer and spirits in Cheers #17

Blackwater Tasters Club, the Paddy Borthwick Collection, White Hag, Graham Norton's 10m bottles and more on wine, beer and spirits in Cheers #17. Even a recipe! The Blackwater Distillery Tasters Club Launches "We are thrilled to launch Blackwater Tasters Club, Ireland's first craft distillery subscription club, and you are one of the first to know. This month's box containing a Jaffa Cake Gin & lip-smacking Limoncello - fresh from our stills! Subscribe and you will receive two of these experimental, once off and utterly delicious gins or other spirits delivered straight from our distillery to your door every 2 months. All the info here. Paddy Borthwick Collection! Wines Direct are pleased to present to you an exceptional case featuring the best of New Zealand's Paddy Borthwick. Paddy Borthwick is a regular visitor to Ireland, and a firm favourite with Wines Direct customers and staff for two reasons: his wines are excellent, and he is a charming, easy-going guy who is great company. Paddy is a maverick whose experience in the vineyards of France and Switzerland has made him into one of New Zealand's most talented winemakers. More here. The White Hag Offers Fresh Beer (& Face masks)

Some new mixes up on the store including our Craft Range Sample #1 mix, IPA Range Sample mix. A fresh batch of Bran & Sceolan - Irish IPA is also just off the line and ready to fill your fridge! A limited stock of our face-masks are also back in stock and can be purchased along with your beer order! More info here.

GRAHAM NORTON ANNOUNCES 10 MILLION BOTTLES!

• Graham Norton’s wine and spirits range celebrates landmark year with ten million bottles

• Graham Norton’s Own Sauvignon Blanc and Prosecco are now amongst the top three selling wines in their respective categories in Ireland.

18,311 kilometers apart and an 11-hour time difference - watch as Graham Norton and Invivo & Co make their new wine virtually! Over a two hour video call, the business partners made their new wine and you can check out the highlights here.

WATCH GRAHAM MAKE HIS NEW SAUVIGNON BLANC VIRTUALLY NOW here

The new blend of Sauvignon Blanc is out in September

Spanish Wine and Tapas:

Manchego Cheese with Red Wine & Honey Glazed Chorizo. 

An easy recipe to enliven your staycation!

Many of you would be living the Tapas life as we speak, but because of the current situation, we find ourselves recreating holidays at home. Our contribution to your staycation is A Ticket to Spain case and a tasty (and easy) Tapas recipe for Manchego Cheese with Red Wine & Honey Glazed Chorizo. See the recipe here.

A Quart of Ale± #7. Moving on over to craft with a classy quartet

A Quart of Ale± #7

Moving on over to craft with a classy quartet.

Here, and in #8, we'll be trying a few pale ales that could well help a beer drinker make the move from mass produced stuff to a really good beer. As it happens, the quartet are Irish, and each is very approachable indeed. If you're a bit unsure as to where to start, why not try the Ambush and then move on back up to the Howling Gale (my favourite of the four).

Eight Degrees Howling Gale Pale Ale 4.5%, 440ml can, Bradley’s of Cork

With its familiar label statement of Fresh Citrus and Grapefruit, Howling Gale blew into our lives about nine years ago. We’ve changed a lot since then but not this superb ale, one they got more or less correct from the off, and is still their most popular beer.

You get a smack around the gills, they say, when you sup this refreshing ale. But nothing fishy about this Ballyhoura hero, perfectly formed from day one. Pleasant citrus aroma from the Cascade and Simcoe Hops, these hops and sweet malt harmonious on the palate and the bittering hops are waiting for you at the finalé. No shortage of carbonation in this mid-amber ale and no regrets when you pull that tab and pour. Enjoy - you’re in good company.

They say: This Irish Pale Ale delivers a refreshing crisp smack around the gills. With a pleasant grapefruit citrus aroma from Cascade and Simcoe hops, it has a biscuit malt sweetness, followed by an attractive bitter finish.

Style: Irish Pale Ale
Malt: Irish pale malt, Carapils, Munich, Cara
Hops: Nugget, Cascade, Simcoe
Strength: 4.5% ABV
Bitterness: 38 IBUs

As always, Eight Degrees come up with Food Pairings:  Pale Ales are traditionally seen a great foil for spicy food – there’s a little bit of sweetness there that will cut the chilli burn – but don’t miss the chance to have Howling Gale with fish and chips (or in the batter for the fish!). It’s well worth trying with a Cashel Blue and Broccoli Gratin, the bright citrus notes act like a squeeze of lemon with smoked salmon or pair it with semi-soft, washed rind cheeses like Milleens, Durrus and Gubbeen.

12 Acres Pale Ale 4.6abv, 500ml bottle, SuperValu

This golden Pale Ale is the flagship beer from the 12 Acres Brewery in County Laois. Our Land to Your Glass is the logo here, based on the fact that all of the water used and some of the barley comes from the family farm.

Mid-amber is the colour, slightly hazy and not that much carbonation going on. The white head stays for a while but soon contracts to a thin disc. Aromas are modest. 

Their own plus “a small quantity of three other European speciality malts” add texture and a sweet caramel flavour on the palate before the three American hops (Cascade, Willamette and Citra) get their say towards the end.

They say the beer has more emphasis on the malt flavour than a traditional APA, has a distinctive American Pale Ale bitterness and citrus flavour. “Our pale ale is also dry hopped to give a lovely tropical fruit aroma to the finished beer. Best served 6-8 degrees. It goes great with spicy foods!”

Wicklow Wolf Elevation Pale Ale 4.8%, 440ml can Bradley’s of Cork

Nice bright amber colour with bubbles rushing to the white head that soon fades away. A mildly hoppy aroma. The hops edge it on the palate, good flavour overall and a very easy-drinking beer, welcome as a once off or for a session. Another excellent effort, a more or less perfect Pale Ale, from the Wolf.

They say: An incredibly drinkable Pale Ale bursting with juicy fruits of pineapple and grapefruit from an abundance of hop additions. Refreshing.

Food pairings: roasted or grilled meat.

Cheese Mild or medium cheddar.

Serve at 8 degrees. It is unfiltered, unpasteurised and the IBU is 40.

Hops: Mosaic, Mandarina Bavaria, Calypso

Malt: Pale, Cara Ruby, Melano, Wheat.

Trouble Brewing Ambush Juicy Pale Ale, 5.0%, 440ml can, Bradley's of Cork

This is a hazy beer (little evidence of carbonation) with a light straw colour, and a soft white head that slowly sinks. Exotic fruit aromas, mango and pineapple, hops too, in the mix. And then much the same fruits combining delightfully on the palate, this juicy pale ale, with its moderately hoppy backbone, makes you stop and take notice. 

You’ve been ambushed. So, sit back and relax with each silky juicy mouthful (make that each sip - you’ll want to let the magic linger), as you’ve got one of the best of class in your hand.

Malts used are Irish Pale, Oats (credited with imparting the smoothness), Carapils and Crystal while hops are Mosaic, El Dorado and Citra. 

They say: Trouble Brewing is a craft brewery based in Kill, Co. Kildare, set up in 2009 by three close friends Paul, Thomas and Stephen. Trouble Brewing is one of a small number of Irish breweries producing quality craft beer in order to offer people an alternative to the large multinationals, that spend more money on advertising than on ingredients, and specialise in bland.

Café Bar Opportunity at Triskel

Café Bar Opportunity at Triskel 

Triskel are inviting tenders from professional hospitality contractors to run their popular and vibrant Café Bar (previously Scrypt Café Bar). The Facility encompasses the café and external courtyard and is intended to provide catering services to patrons, artists and tenants as well as servicing cinema, concerts, meetings etc.

Rose McKenna, who created Scrypt Café in 2017, said, “My time with Scrypt gave me the chance to showcase the creativity around food in Cork and opened up so many other opportunities for me with the creative community in Cork. My favourite initiative was the night markets which I have managed since the summer of 2018. I enjoyed that part so much that I have decided to focus on craft markets and currently run the market at the Old Blarney Post Office Café on Saturdays. So now there is an opportunity for someone new to make the café at Triskel their own, just like I did.”

“The Café Bar at Triskel is an atmospheric casual dining and coffee space with great potential,” said Tony Sheehan, Artistic Director at Triskel. “The whole South Main Street area, where Triskel is located, including the City Park, is undergoing major re-development and presents great opportunities for all businesses in the area, including Triskel Arts Centre, despite the current challenges of COVID-19.”

Expressions of interest should be emailed to tenders@triskelartscentre.ie by 5pm on Friday 4^th September, 2020. Operators should have a proven track record in the professional hospitality field, and will be required to produce a valid Tax Clearance Certificate and evidence of adequate insurance cover.

* Triskel Arts Centre is a vibrant cultural HUB in the heart of Cork City and has been in operation for 42 years. The main auditorium, Triskel Christchurch, is a multidisciplinary space housed in a fully refurbished neoclassical Georgian Church. This state of the art venue which launched in 2011 is programmed with a rich bill of live music – with a focus on Classical and Jazz concerts, cultural cinema and literary events. Triskel runs a second contemporary art room Triskel Gallery Space. Unique in Ireland, Theatre Development Centre is the only fulltime operation dedicated to the development of theatre, this is managed by Corcadorca Theatre Company. Cork Traveller Women’s Network relocated their Headquarters to Triskel in 2018 and yoga and dance studio The Collective Cork took up residence in May 2019.

Time to try the Chambord Royale!

Time to try the Chambord Royale!

Chambord, Black Raspberry Liqueur Royale de France, 16.5% abv, Bradley's of Cork.

Aldi Exquisite Collection Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore (DOCG) NV, 11%, €12.99.

From the heart of the Prosecco area, from the steep hillsides of Valdobbiadene, comes this DOCG Prosecco. It is exquisitely light and refreshing with pleasing bubbles, attractive autumn fruit flavours and  floral touches. Have to say quite an amazing Prosecco for an amazing price.

I had popped into the local Aldi in search of a Crémant de Jura but that was out of stock. I happened to spot this, including the DOCG, and took a gamble. 

I had most of a bottle of Chambord left since earlier in the summer and was keen to try it out as a part of The Chambord Royale. I’m sure they’d have preferred a Champagne or Cremant, although, in fairness, the recipe also mentions Cava or Prosecco. 

The recipe is simple: six parts of Prosecco to one of Chambord. Must say, I’ve was very happy with my Chambord Royale, excellent fruit from the French liqueur and a fine dry finish from the Prosecco. A step up on the usual Kir Royale, methinks!

Chambord is a huge 16th century royal palace, ordered by a young Francois 1 and completed by the Sun King Louis XIV, and one of many in the Loire Valley. This drink, a black raspberry liqueur, is made quite close to the chateau. 

It may be used in quite a number of “cocktails” including the likes of The Black Raspberry Margarita, The Chambord Vodka Lemonade, The Chambord Spritz, The Chambord Royale and the Chambord French Martini (another excellent one that I did try). All the recipes are on the little label attached to the bottle.

Taste of the Week. Irish Cheese

Taste of the Week.
 Irish Cheese

Lots of Irish cheese enjoyed these past few months, thanks to the delivery service of Neighbourfood. On the Pig's Back are regular suppliers and most, if not all these cheeses, have come from the Douglas outfit. I could do a Taste of the Week with each but took this shortcut instead! Just gives an idea of the marvellous cheese we have in this country. And there are so many more!

Crozier. Also had the original Cashel Blue. Cashel is cows milk while Crozier is sheeps.

Gubbeen

Coolea came via the Roughty Fruity selection in the English Market. 

Thompsons Do The Walk All Right

Thompsons Do The Walk All Right 

Peruvian style chicken from Clonakilty!

Fresh pint and those 1826 tiles

When you walk in the door at Thompson’s you’re walking on the original steel tiles from 1826. You’re also walking towards a delicious meal and some excellent beer brewed in the onsite micro-brewery.

And there’s more in this former bakery. Very comfortable seating for one. It’s a huge venue (seats 120, even with Covid19 rules) yet well divided into nooks and snugs and booths, even some intimate little hideaways. And the staff are welcoming and friendly.

Those steel tiles are not the only mementoes from the bakery’s past. There’s an ancient cash register by the front door, what looks like a mechanical dough mixer in the middle and, back by the bar, is where you’ll see their latest discovery: suitcases for wedding cakes!

With the micro-brewery on site, run by the Cotton Ball, there’s no surprise that the food is designed to match. Pizzas and burgers appear prominently on the menu. But this is a step-up on the usual tap-room fare.

Hot wings

Take our shared large starter for instance: Buffalo style wings are slathered in their 2-week house fermented Chilli sauce which is blended with vinegar, butter, honey, and spices served with blue cheese and celery. Hot and also packed with flavour, great texture in that sauce, there’s also a super dip, and that big piece of celery comes in handy! I’ve tasted quite a few wing offerings recently, in and out of town and also at home, and these are most impressive.

They also do a Sweet and Sticky version, with house made sweet chilli sauce with soya and sugar glaze, topped with sesame seeds and scallions and served with sweet soya sauce. Nachos, large or small, are also on offer, a couple of salads (including a Caesar) and also a Grilled Halloumi, Chickpea and Lentil salad.

Brewery tanks

Irish beef features in a few of the burgers and there’s also a chicken burger as well as a vegan version (with a spicy Chickpea patty). And some main-course salads, bigger versions of the Caesar, the vegan Beetroot, Carrot, Quinoa and Spinach and the vegetarian Grilled Halloumi with chickpea and Lentil.

We went to the rotisserie for one of our mains and the Peruvian style chicken was excellent. This Marinated Free Range Clonakilty Chicken is served with roasted jalapeno, a Red onion sauce, Salad and Fries. Quite a plateful and top quality (15.50).

There’s a terrific selection of pizzas, all on their 3-day proofed dough made from caputo flour. My pick was the Nduja Spicy Sausage and Honey Pizza (14.50). This one was slightly spicy, slightly sweet but very very satisfactory indeed.  There’s a vegetarian version and even a Ham and Pineapple. The other ones that appealed to me were the Chorizo, red onion and chilli and also the Chicken, red peppers and onions.

Must say we were pretty well fed at this point but there was no way we were going to leave a certain dessert behind. Considering the history of where we were sat, it had to be, for old times sake, the Thompsons Raspberry Swiss Roll, even if it was a shared one (5.95). But we did get two decent slices and lots of cream and enjoyed every little moist crumb.

Swiss Roll

We didn’t have any drink. Only kidding! Just had to sample a couple from the tap. CL sipped a glass of Thompsons Lite Lager (3.75) and pronounced herself happy with it. My choice was the superb Cotton Ball Indian Summer, produced first as a seasonal but now very much a core beer. And I could see why as I sipped my delicious pint (5.95).

Total bill came to €65.05 - would have been 56.40 without the tax!

Thompsons Restaurant and Brewery https://www.thompsonscork.ie/home-thompsons 

5-11 MacCurtain Street

Cork

Tel: (021) 603 1111

Thompsons, up and running since 6th of August