Wednesday, April 14, 2021

EIGHT DEGREES BREWING Presents ORIGINAL GRAVITY 2021 LABEL ARTWORK COMPETITION

EIGHT DEGREES BREWING 



Presents 

ORIGINAL GRAVITY

2021 LABEL ARTWORK COMPETITION


€1,000 PRIZE FOR EACH OF FIVE WINNERS.

Each artist will be promoted and their artwork featured on a beer label for one of our Eight Degrees 2021 limited edition beer releases.



About the Label Artwork Competition

To celebrate ten years of brewing at Eight Degrees, we want to showcase Ireland-based artists in our 2021 Original Gravity series. 

We are looking for designs that reflect our Naturally Adventurous values, that stand out on the shelf, and bring some positivity and excitement, expressing our desire to explore and roam again as we exit this lockdown. 

This series of five limited beer releases of ales, lagers and stouts will feature five pieces of original art, offering artists a can-sized exhibition space and allowing us to feature their art and promote them as artists. We’re looking for submissions of a piece of artwork that will be applied to a label template. There will be a €1,000 prize for each of the five winners.

 

About Eight Degrees Brewing 

An award-winning Irish microbrewery renowned for its innovation and experimentation, Eight Degrees was established at the foot of the majestic Galtee mountains by Kiwi Scott and Aussie Cam who were lured to Ireland by two Irish cailĂ­ns. The crew at Eight Degrees Brewing are passionate about producing exciting and adventurous beers using only natural ingredients. 

The very first of our naturally adventurous beers was brewed in April 2011; we've now brewed more than 85 original beers, taking inspiration from beer styles around the world. 


EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST 

If you are interested in entering, please register your interest at originalgravity@eightdegrees.ie and we will send you further information and terms and conditions. Please submit your expressions of interest from Monday 12th April 2021.


Entries close Friday 14th May 2021 at 11.59pm.

press release

Tuesday, April 13, 2021

Taste of the Week. Rebel City “Maharani” Irish Gin

Taste of the Week




Rebel City “Maharani” Irish Gin 

The local Maharani Gin is on my short list of favourites and is the current Taste of the Week. 

The juniper may be a little less forward than normal yet this gin is not at all short of character. On the contrary, it stands out in the crowd with its creamy mouthfeel and engaging harmony of the various botanicals. The nose, with the moderate citrus contribution of the pomelo leading, promises much and much is delivered, right through to a lengthy finish and its small hit of nutmeg mace spice. Quite a journey from first sip to last, quite a way from Kerala to Cork.

Kerala? You may well ask. Well some of the botanicals come all the way from Kerala in the south of India.

Distillery co-founders Robert Barrett and his wife Bhagya have brought it all together in a rather historic site in Cork. In a tiny gleaming distillery, Robert combines the botanicals and the spirit into a superb drink. He adds three botanicals from Kerala: they are Pomelo Fruit, officially Citrus Grandis;  Cassia (Cinnamomum Cassia) and also Nutmeg Mace (Myristica Fragrans). All three are sourced from the women’s farming cooperative in Kerala, Bhagya’s home state.

Their Rebel City Distillery is situated in part of the famous factory that thrived as it manufactured cars for Henry Ford (1917-1984). 


Rebel City Distillery 

Unit P6

Marina Commercial Park

Cork

  • info@rebelcitydistillery.com
  • +353 21 496 6300

Monday, April 12, 2021

A Quart of Ale± #45A. On the craft journey with IPA including a stunning NEIPA by Heaney

A Quart of Ale± #45A

On the craft journey with IPA including a stunning NEIPA by Heaney


 IPA

Heaney New England IPA 5.7%, 440ml can Bradleys


The label intro to this beer is short, and accurate: Haze, hops, and juice.


Light gold, deeply hazy, and a fluffy white head that’s in no big hurry to depart, mark the appearance of this new IPA from the Heaney brewery.


Aromas are somewhat reticent but you may note ripe Apricot plus notes of the more exotic Pineapple and Grapefruit. And more fruit on the palate, Mango and Charantais Melon to the fore, with just a touch of bitterness in the background. Lovely soft mouthfeel and perfectly balanced. Another well-made beer from the Derry brewery, one for the short-list for sure.


Mal Mackay from Heaney’s tells me the second batch is even better: “Yes, it is our first NEIPA and we’re very proud of it, although we thought it was great there is always room for improvement and the second batch we canned this Wednesday (April 7th) is even better. 


It’s slightly more refined on the body, a little smoother with the carbonation dialled in exactly right. I’m not sure what you get on your tasting notes but I feel there is a lot of squidgy apricot in there and some juicy red apple, it’s all about the jooooose. Very little bitterness if any, and a nice smooth lush body. We used Mosaic and Amarillo in equal quantities in the dry hop and Chinook in the whirlpool, no hops in the boil at all. Bottom line is yes, we thought it was good, but as ever here at Heaney, the next one will be better - until it’s perfect.” 


Food pairing suggested by the makers: Jamaican Jerk Chicken with a stone fruit sauce.


O’Hara’s Session IPA, 3.8%, 500ml bottle via Radical Drinks



A light golden body, a hazy one, with a white head that hangs about a bit. Hoppy citrus in the aromas. Clean and crisp as it hits the palate, almost lager like until the hops quickly dispel that notion and it continues full of flavour to the bitter end.


They say: This session IPA was designed to be light and easy drinking while still full of the punchy flavours of a traditional IPA. Brewed with 100% Irish malt to deliver a pale, clean and very crisp body. This matched with the late addition of hops, including Cascade, Simcoe and Chinook, make this a full flavoured, incredibly drinkable IPA.

That’s a pretty good summation of one of the better session beers you’re likely to come across.

For the geek:

Malts: Caramalt and Oat Malt

Hops: Cascade, Simcoe and Chinook followed up with the double dry hopping from Citra and Amarillo.

IBU: 25

Fermentation: Top fermentation

Serving Temperature: 6-8°C

Food Pairing: Pairs perfectly with chicken Caesar salad, smoked salmon, crisp lamb and Stilton cheese.

Glass: O’Hara’s Irish Craft Beer conical glass

Availability: 30L Keg, 50CL Bottles (carbonated)


Wicklow Brewery Coola Boola Session IPA 3.8%, 330 can Bradleys



Colour of this Coola Boola, a session IPA, from the Wicklow Brewery is a very pale yellow. The head shrinks quite rapidly. Aromas are somewhat reticent but, with Amarillo and Citra in the hop list, expect a little citrus. And you get that too, with a hint of lime, on the palate. With some tropical stuff in there too, it is quite a mouthful, good balanced inter-play of fruit and bitterness, more than enough to keep hop-lovers happy. Put this on your session list!




Rascals Wunderbar IPA, 6%, 330 can via Bradleys


Mid-gold is the colour of this German-style beer (bet you knew the style!). Fluffy head starts big, diminishes quickly. Touch of orange on the nose. And on the punchy palate too where the malt comes on-stage also to balance it all up. Actually, you realise (rather than realize) that this IPA is, thanks to sourcing and the interplay of hops and malt, is very much a European drink and a very welcome version indeed.  Man doesn’t live just on exotic fruit and floral. After all, variety is the spice of life. So well done to the folks at Rascals.


As they say themselves: A true IPA that stands up to its American competitors….DAS IST GUT! HOPPY  | FRUITY | PUNCHY. Unfiltered. Unpasteurised







Dining NOW Guide. This Week's Choices In Cork

Dining NOW Guide. This Week's Choices In Cork

(Contact me before 1.00pm Wed with a sentence, a pic and a link to menu, plan to update regularly)

 w/e 18/4/2021 Update #3

Click and Collect. At Home. Takeout. Takeaway.


Greenes add picnic box to their options!

Hake, a regular on Greenes At Home Menus.


We have some great additions to our click & collect offering this month. As the weather is improving and the restrictions are slowly lifting, we added a stunning PICNIC BOX to our offering to make the most of it! Selection of Artisan Cheeses, Charcuterie, Bread and Condiments with a Picnic Cloth, Napkins & Cutlery Included. (Don't forget to add a nice bottle of wine to go along with it.

Also added is our signature 6-COURSE TASTING MENU.

For more information and to order please visit


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Good Day Deli

Why not grab a Shaky Bridge?


GDD Garden Grab + Go



O'Mahony's Watergrasshill









Keep smiling. That's the message from Dockland. Check out their menu here







Goldie Has Fish Box #5


Ahmet Dede at Customs House Baltimore



New Week, New Menu,
Thank you so much for last week once again you guys are amazing with all your support and love you shown❤🌹🙏💥💪🔥☘🇮🇪🇹🇷👌 We can't wait to get going and open our outdoor space and start cooking, serving and having a bit of normal time with you dear friends.
This week we are open Friday to Sunday.
Check the menus & details here

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Liberty Grill Deliver



LIBERTY GRILL HOME DINING
3 Courses
Fri 16th / Sat 17th April €30 per person - FREE delivery in the great Cork city area
Pre Order online LibertyGrill.ie @libertygrillcork
Simple as.. We deliver on the day, when ready turn on your oven to 180 or 160 fan, Pop hot appetiser in for 8 mins, While you enjoy these, pop in your mains & sides, they will be ready as soon as you've finished your appetiser!
We offer a selection of wines at off-licence prices which we can deliver with your meal. Menus here.

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There’s one region we simply could not ignore on our virtual wine tour, so we’re heading to Burgundy this week. For this  box, we’ve chosen a selection from the many treats that we think will really bring out the flavours in this beautiful wine and bring you on a gastronomic tour of Burgundy. 

€50 for 2 people. Orders to info@latitude51.ie by midday Thurs. Collection Fri 16th April from 5-6.30

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Jacques are ready to feed you!



Heat At Home Menu. Phone lines now open, to order please call 0214277387. Collections are on Friday & Saturday.

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The Glass Curtain



FRIDAY 16TH APRIL €50 for 2 people sharing
Tandoori Monkfish tail, coconut dal, Bombay potatoes, garlic and ginger buttered greens, roti flatbreads Buttermilk pudding, blood orange, caramelized honey granola 
Suggested Wine Pairing: PINOT GRIS - LITTLE BEAUTY, MARLBOROUGH, NEW ZEALAND 2017 €30.
Click and collect
Just one of the meals on offer this weekend from the Glass Curtain. See rest of menu and order here from noon on Monday 12th April.

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Vienna Woods Hotel





Takeaway Menu Here

Two Courses for only €21.95


Three Courses for only €25.95

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Lovely views at Bunny's. And lovely food too. Check out the Cook@home menu here

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Killavullen Farmers Market Returns Saturday 17th!




 

Killavullen Farmers Market returns for 2021 on Saturday 17th of April and will take its traditional fortnightly place in the calendar for the rest of the year, fingers crossed! After an extended hiatus since the last market in December, the stall holders and customers alike are eager to get back. 

Following funding provided by the excellent Avondhu Blackwater Partnership, each stall holder will have their own gazebo ensuring the marketing can take place outdoors with the required social distancing at one of the oldest farmers markets in Ireland.

 Now into its 20th year, they will have their regular Saturday market on 10:30a.m. until 1p.m. in the grounds of the Nano Nagle Centre, on the main road between Castletownroche and Mallow. The market is continually evolving and continues to surprise each week!

All regular stallholders return to the market for 2021 so you will be able to purchase a range of products from locally grown seasonal vegetables, handcrafted baked goods, Arbutus breads, jams, chutneys and cordials. There is a fine selection of meat, smoked salmon, yoghurts. . 

 

Killavullen farmers market is a great spot to pick up crafted goods including knitwear, kids toys and wood products.  The second hand bookstore is a must for any reader. All books cost 50 Cent and donations of books are also gladly accepted. 

 

Unique to Killavullen Market is the KOB (Killavullen Organic Buyers grouping). Here you can order bulk foods and household supplies at discounted prices. Pop along to the market to find out more as this has been a great way to source difficult to get products during lockdowns!

 

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/killavullenfarmersmarket/

Sunday, April 11, 2021

Saturday Morning Stroll Through Cork's Millennium Garden

 Saturday Morning Stroll Through Cork's Millennium Garden

Sean MacCarthy's "Eden"



Coat of Arms


Ducklings and mother at edge of the river
Bridge over Lr Glanmire Rd to Carrig House etc. Most of pics taken from here.
Approaching from the east

South bank



North bank

South

ESB Marina

Carrig House


North

New buildings on north bank

South bank

Pairc Ui Chaoimh


Solar Power (Air Synergy) Lr Glanmire Rd

Millennium "2"