O Shea's Ale and Stout, Aldi

Technocentral · 25-11-2010 4:52pm #1

Was in Aldi earlier they have these, it seems to have replaced the Ale they used to sell that was made by O'Haras, its in 50Cl bottles for 1.99, bought two of the ales (pic attached)will give my verdict later.

irish_goat · 25-11-2010 5:05pm

The O'Hara's Traditional Ale was still available in Maynooth's Aldi yesterday. I might call in today and see if the O'Shea's were there. I'll be seriously annoyed if they take the O'Hara's away...must stock up.

Technocentral · 25-11-2010 5:09pm

I Wonder if its made by O'Hara's as well?

irish_goat · 25-11-2010 5:14pm

Few on here reckon it's O'Hara's.

http://www.beoir.org/community/viewtopic.php?p=62664

Sergeant · 26-11-2010 3:49am

I was always a fan of the Aldi finest ale. Found it better than O'Hara's own Red Ale. The small bottle size always annoyed me though. Will pick up a few bottles of this when I get the opportunity.

Technocentral · 26-11-2010 8:19pm

Its quite similar in taste to the Finest Ale they used to sell, maybe a bit hoppier, though at 1.99 I wouldn't be too tempted as its not as good as say London Pride which costs the same in Tescos, if they reduced the price to 1.50 though I'd buy it regularly, or even better did a hoppy IPA like O' Haras for a good price.

irish_goat · 26-11-2010 10:47pm

Tried both these last night, thought the Ale was nice but a bit blander than the O'Hara's one.

The stout was not to my liking, had a very roasted, almost burnt taste which I didn't enjoy. I've another bottle of it in the fridge so I'll try it again in a day or two and maybe see if it's any difference.

gurramok · 13-05-2011 11:46pm

Oldish thread but I recently drank a few of the O'Shea ales from Aldi which were quite nice to my liking.

Was looking at the small writing on the bottle, it does not say where they originate from, it just has the usual brewed for Aldi stuff. Anyone have any idea? Are they actually made here or in the UK?(UK as it states UK units in alcohol warnings on the bottle)

BeerNut · 14-05-2011 12:00am

gurramok wrote: »

Anyone have any idea?

Yes. Seamus O'Hara told me it's still them. Aldi just wanted to try a different tack.

irish_goat · 15-05-2011 3:38pm

Despite the fact that a few on here have said they've told it's the same recipe I'm still not convinced the O'Shea's ale is quite as good as the traditional ale (330ml). On top of that the traditional ale was €1 per 330ml so it was better value.

Saruman · 15-05-2011 3:45pm

No it's not the same recipe. Just the same brewery (Carlow).

slayerking · 15-05-2011 10:58pm

Saruman wrote: »

No it's not the same recipe. Just the same brewery (Carlow).

Im fairly sure I asked Liam about these and he said it was the same recipe, just packaged in different bottles, Although I do agree they taste completely different, the original Aldi Traditional Irish Ale being much nicer IMO.
He's not the easiest man to get a recipe out of so maybe he was just saying they were the same!!

BaZmO* · 16-05-2011 4:00pm

It's absolutely 100% not the same recipe. Not even in the same ball park.

It's a real pity they discontinued the Traditional Ale, really loved that beer.

cunnifferous · 14-10-2014 8:44pm

Seems they have a new Golden Ale. Not very nice, quite bland and a lingering astringent bitterness.

A shame because I really like their pale ale and red ale for the price. Never seem to see the pale ale in my local Aldi either. Hope they haven't replaced it with this golden ale...

Blackjack · 14-10-2014 10:05pm

cunnifferous wrote: »

Seems they have a new Golden Ale. Not very nice, quite bland and a lingering astringent bitterness.

A shame because I really like their pale ale and red ale for the price. Never seem to see the pale ale in my local Aldi either. Hope they haven't replaced it with this golden ale...

Had a bottle there Saturday. Thought it was quite ok myself.

cunnifferous · 14-10-2014 10:21pm

Blackjack wrote: »

Had a bottle there Saturday. Thought it was quite ok myself.

Not awful, but without a doubt worse than their existing range imo. Price has crept up to €1.99 as well.

To be honest most golden ales are pretty bland in my experience, would have liked if they added a porter or even a vienna larger to the range.

An IPA or american pale ale would be great but I guess hops are expensive and it is a budget range of beers.

Ruben Remus · 15-10-2014 12:48pm

cunnifferous wrote: »

Never seem to see the pale ale in my local Aldi either. Hope they haven't replaced it with this golden ale...

I'm also a fan of the pale ale and hope it sticks around.

It just won some awards (See:http://www.aldi.ie/en/about-aldi/award-winners/great-taste-award-winners-2014/products-detail-page/ps/p/o-sheas-traditional-irish-pale-ale/) so hopefully that will help keep it in the Aldi repertoire.

dan1895 · 18-10-2014 9:06pm

The Pale Ale can be hard to get sometimes as it's so popular and I believe that they get the same amount of stout, red and pale in each delivery.

Tried the Golden Ale myself last week and thought it was ok but the others are superior.

bennyineire · 22-10-2014 12:44pm

I have to say I think the Red ale is the nicest Irish red ale I have had, save for maybe a Rebel Red

Big Nasty · 22-10-2014 1:09pm

Hate the way they mix the cases and you have to root through them all to get the pale ale.

Ronan|Raven · 22-10-2014 6:28pm

Shame to see it having gone up to 1:99.

cunnifferous · 22-10-2014 7:32pm

Used to be €1.69 didn't it? That and (mostly) the poor supply really have stopped me going into Aldi when I'm looking for beer.

I would have thought Aldi would start buying the stout, red and pale ale in separate boxes at this stage, it's extremely obvious that there are different levels of demand for each and I'm sure they are losing some business beacuse of this.

Ravelleman · 22-10-2014 11:32pm

cunnifferous wrote: »

Used to be €1.69 didn't it? That and (mostly) the poor supply really have stopped me going into Aldi when I'm looking for beer.

It was €1.89, I believe. The unpredictable stock is quite frustrating, indeed. Might see if I can get some tomorrow though. I'm so weak.

cunnifferous · 23-10-2014 12:20am

Ravelleman wrote: »

It was €1.89, I believe. The unpredictable stock is quite frustrating, indeed. Might see if I can get some tomorrow though. I'm so weak.

It's last price was €1.89 but when it originally came out it was even cheaper than that. Either €1.69 or €1.79, can't remember exactly

BaZmO* · 23-10-2014 8:55am

cunnifferous wrote: »

It's last price was €1.89 but when it originally came out it was even cheaper than that. Either €1.69 or €1.79, can't remember exactly

When the red ale was in it's smaller 330ml guise it was €5.99 per 4 pack, then €5.69 after one of the budgets, then €3.99, and got as low as €1.99 per pack when they were trying to off load it before the rebranding and changing it to 500ml bottle.

The first post in this thread says that it was €1.99 for the 500ml bottle but I always thought it was €1.79? Maybe that was just once in a while specials?

Ravelleman · 23-10-2014 10:32am

cunnifferous wrote: »

It's last price was €1.89 but when it originally came out it was even cheaper than that. Either €1.69 or €1.79, can't remember exactly

I guess the price creep is natural. Still good value, I reckon.

cunnifferous · 23-10-2014 1:05pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

When the red ale was in it's smaller 330ml guise it was €5.99 per 4 pack, then €5.69 after one of the budgets, then €3.99, and got as low as €1.99 per pack when they were trying to off load it before the rebranding and changing it to 500ml bottle.

The first post in this thread says that it was €1.99 for the 500ml bottle but I always thought it was €1.79? Maybe that was just once in a while specials?

Yeah it was €1.79 in 2012 according to the Beoir thread below.

http://www.beoir.org/community/viewtopic.php?p=98830

Big Nasty · 23-10-2014 1:09pm

It was €1.89 until very recently. In fact I didn't notice the price increase on my last shop but I was getting other things. At €1.99 it's still very good value for a fairly decent 500mil pale ale IMO.

54kroc · 24-10-2014 4:33pm

Big Nasty wrote: »

Hate the way they mix the cases and you have to root through them all to get the pale ale.

It is very annoying, I actually used the contact form on the Aldi website to mention it to them, got a phone call a few hours later to say they would pass on the feedback to their buyers.
If anyone feels that they should stock more of a particular product it might be worth contacting them and saying it.

drumswan · 24-10-2014 4:41pm

You might see a bit more on the shelves with the Budgets recent lifting of the craft tax break capacity cap. I believe Carlow were producing something close to the limit.

n97 mini · 25-10-2014 12:42pm

Lidl soon to launch their own Irish craft beer range.

54kroc · 25-10-2014 12:45pm

n97 mini wrote: »

Lidl soon to launch their own Irish craft beer range.

Anymore info, who's making it etc?

Big Nasty · 25-10-2014 1:02pm

n97 mini wrote: »

Lidl soon to launch their own Irish craft beer range.

Actually prefer shopping in Lidl. I find Aldi a bit chaotic. If they have a pale ale I'll be very happy.

n97 mini · 25-10-2014 1:23pm

I think it depends on the individual stores. Two near me, one is chaotic but the other one is fairly relaxed.

the beer revolu · 26-10-2014 10:21am

drumswan wrote: »

You might see a bit more on the shelves with the Budgets recent lifting of the craft tax break capacity cap. I believe Carlow were producing something close to the limit.

I would have thought that O Hara's would have been well over the 20 000hl.
Can anyone confirm / deny this.
Beernut, calling Beernut......

BeerNut · 26-10-2014 11:23am

In July this year Seamus O'Hara said he was expecting to finish 2014 on 17,000hL so would have to be careful as he has the capacity to go over it.

20,000hL is a lot of beer, and far beyond what most Irish breweries are capable of. If you take 8 Degrees for instance: bottles everywhere, lots of taps, endless new specials, thriving export. They're one of the bigger guys and their LinkedFinance prospectus said their projection for 2014 is 4,000hL. I can't remember if the new brewkit is intended to double or triple that, but it'll still be well under the 20,000hL.

Big Nasty · 26-10-2014 11:57am

O' Haras are selling in to the US though, right?

BaZmO* · 26-10-2014 12:14pm

Big Nasty wrote: »

O' Haras are selling in to the US though, right?

Yep, and Porterhouse too.

the beer revolu · 26-10-2014 1:34pm

Thanks Beernut.
I wonder who lobbied for the increase.
Looks like it won't really affect anyone, except maybe O Hara's.

n97 mini · 26-10-2014 10:32pm

54kroc wrote: »

Anymore info, who's making it etc?

I wish I could say! All will be revealed in the coming weeks.

n97 mini · 26-10-2014 10:35pm

BeerNut wrote: »

If you take 8 Degrees for instance: bottles everywhere, lots of taps, endless new specials, thriving export.

Doesn't necessarily mean loads of sales, as you have sort of alluded to. One micro has 15% of the craft market, but probably about 40% of the craft taps.

n97 mini · 26-10-2014 10:37pm

the beer revolu wrote: »

Thanks Beernut.
I wonder who lobbied for the increase.
Looks like it won't really affect anyone, except maybe O Hara's.

Possibly also Porterhouse, and maybe in a 2 or 3 years Rye River, whose approach is very production oriented.

Lovely Bloke · 29-10-2014 9:06am

Possibly Fran Well? Or the lads in Clonmel making the lager?

irish_goat · 29-10-2014 9:58am

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Or the lads in Clonmel making the lager?

C&C are way beyond the limit already.

oblivious · 29-10-2014 10:54am

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Possibly Fran Well?

Owed by Molson Coors so I suspect they don't qualify under section 3b of the act "legally and economically independent (within the meaning of Section 78A of the Finance Act 2003) of any other brewer"

Lovely Bloke · 29-10-2014 11:34am

I thought they were legally indie still - Fran Well I mean, and did C&C not do some trickery to make that lager brewery the same?

drumswan · 29-10-2014 11:55am

I guess Five Lamps dont fall under the exemption then either?

n97 mini · 29-10-2014 12:22pm

You don't have to be under the Revenue's limit to put "craft beer" on the label.

oblivious · 29-10-2014 1:07pm

drumswan wrote: »

I guess Five Lamps dont fall under the exemption then either?

Their 90%+ owned by C&C so i would guess not

Zebra3 · 30-10-2014 12:41am

drumswan wrote: »

You might see a bit more on the shelves with the Budgets recent lifting of the craft tax break capacity cap. I believe Carlow were producing something close to the limit.

What's the new limit?

Lovely Bloke · 30-10-2014 8:57am

Zebra3 wrote: »

What's the new limit?

30khL

O Shea's Ale and Stout, Aldi

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