Who are "The Crafty Brewing Co"?

NIMAN · 15-05-2015 12:14am #1

Bought some of their lagers in Lidl the other day, and found them very nice.

So who makes them for Lidl?

Edit: sorry, just found out:
http://thetaste.ie/wp/lidls-new-irish-craft-beer-range/

Very nice to be fair. Others opinions?

BMJD · 15-05-2015 12:17am

tried the stout, didn't think much of it.

labels could do with a few more crafty craft crafter references, just in case we don't quite get their angle

Turpentine · 15-05-2015 1:31am

I think the rule of thumb these days is: if it's branded as craft in an "own brand" supermarket range, it's probably Rye River. That and their McGargles efforts.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qEwRJ9UMdI4

Unfortunately they seem to be one of those those brewers that think that because they're not with Diageo or Heineken, that makes them craft.

Industrious is not the same as ingenious.

drunkmonkey · 15-05-2015 1:36am

Horrible stuff who ever makes it. Wish they'd bring back the blue moon deals.

Chloris · 15-05-2015 1:43am

It's a fine brew, Blue Moon is so heavy and lifeless. Like a corpse.

oblivious · 15-05-2015 7:27am

Yep Rye river one of there 3-4 brands that brew

oblivious · 15-05-2015 7:35am

Turpentine wrote: »

Unfortunately they seem to be one of those those brewers that think that because they're not with Diageo or Heineken, that makes them craft.

they are capable of producing come very good beer:

http://thebeernut.blogspot.ie/2015/03/and-not-irish-red-to-be-seen.html

http://oblivioustobeer.blogspot.ie/2015/03/alltech-craft-brews-food-festival-2015.html

Turpentine wrote: »

Industrious is not the same as ingenious.

So if your over 20hl (brew-house system not annual production) your not craft?? If your beer has no hazy issue and doesn't smell of pine its not craft??? What is craft exactly??

If ingenious is using american hops and a US-05 yeast there are a lot of copy cats out there

Toast · 15-05-2015 7:40am

Turpentine wrote: »

I think the rule of thumb these days is: if it's branded as craft in an "own brand" supermarket range, it's probably Rye River. That and their McGargles efforts...

Industrious is not the same as ingenious.

I talked to one of the guys behind this in a beer fest before. He basically said both McGargles and the lidl stuff was designed as "a beginner's craft beer". It isn't meant to be challenging or madly different. He also said they were cleaning up in the States with McGargles so I couldn't really knock his approach if it was working out for them.

Personally I find the lidl stout quite nice if you don't treat it like a stout. Drink it cold from the bottle and pretend it's a coffee cocktail and you'll enjoy it a lot more.

matrim · 15-05-2015 7:45am

oblivious wrote: »

they are capable of producing come very good beer:

http://thebeernut.blogspot.ie/2015/03/and-not-irish-red-to-be-seen.html

http://oblivioustobeer.blogspot.ie/2015/03/alltech-craft-brews-food-festival-2015.html

So if your over 20hl you not craft??

That's one of the criteria for the beoir definition.

Rte radio had a piece during the week with Aidan sweeney talking about if we should protect the term craft.

oblivious · 15-05-2015 8:20am

I should have clarified that the 20hl I was referring to is the brew-house system not annual production

matrim wrote: »

That's one of the criteria for the beoir definition. .

That's Beoirs definition of an Irish microbreweries (native) currently at 20,000 hl (not 20hl) along with other things like been independent

matrim wrote: »

Rte radio had a piece during the week with Aidan sweeney talking about if we should protect the term craft.

Its a bit of an amorphous term, better to educate the consumer so they can make an informed choice when parting with their cash.

matrim · 15-05-2015 2:35pm

oblivious wrote: »

I should have clarified that the 20hl I was referring to is the brew-house system not annual production

That's Beoirs definition of an Irish microbreweries (native) currently at 20,000 hl (not 20hl) along with other things like been independent

Its a bit of an amorphous term, better to educate the consumer so they can make an informed choice when parting with their cash.

Didn't mean to imply that the beoir definition was the only one and I agree that "craft" is a bit of a meaningless term. For me a "craft" beer is as much about the brewer as the beer itself. If you have someone who cares about their beer and wants to try get something of their own taste / skill across in the making of the beer that makes it craft. Not just the size or ownership of the brewery.

You can have lovely beers that aren't "craft" and poor beers that are craft. That varity of flavour and style is what makes trying them so much fun

donaghs · 15-05-2015 3:47pm

The Lidl "craft" beers are alright, nothing special. The Stout's probably the best of them, but again there's far better "craft" stout out there.

As for Rye, beer politics aside, I like most of their McGargle range, and the Solas stout is nice enough too.

poitinstill · 15-05-2015 4:19pm

lidl stuff is ok the solas is quite nice .. the mcgargles are like you mix cheap perfume and carling

schemingbohemia · 18-05-2015 11:42am

Is it not gone up to 35,000hl since the last Finance Act?

oblivious · 18-05-2015 11:59am

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Is it not gone up to 35,000hl since the last Finance Act?

The tax rebate is for unto 30,000hl per annum . Do you mean Beoir's or Irish revenue ?

Brockagh · 18-05-2015 5:13pm

NIMAN wrote: »

Bought some of their lagers in Lidl the other day, and found them very nice.

So who makes them for Lidl?

Edit: sorry, just found out:
http://thetaste.ie/wp/lidls-new-irish-craft-beer-range/

Very nice to be fair. Others opinions?

I have only tried the larger and find it very tasty too.

JONJO THE MISER · 23-05-2015 7:43pm

I brought the ale at xmas, tasted a small bit of one and down the sink all the bottles.

George Michael · 03-05-2016 8:35pm

tried the IPA. very fruity taste to it, but enjoyable, although i imagine some people would find it too fruity. still would choose hop house 13 over it

poitinstill · 04-05-2016 7:35am

well if you like ipa's you will like the lidl crafty brewing one and wont like hop house 13 much as far too bland. ipa's are meant to have strong fruity ( hoppy) flavours.

George Michael · 04-05-2016 12:35pm

poitinstill wrote: »

well if you like ipa's you will like the lidl crafty brewing one and wont like hop house 13 much as far too bland. ipa's are meant to have strong fruity ( hoppy) flavours.

well i just said id try it (only 2.50). its an interesting taste alright. initially i thought what is this im drinking, but then i got into it and liked it. still probably would prefer hop house 13

Lovely Bloke · 04-05-2016 12:55pm

HH13 is not an IPA

UnknownSpecies · 04-05-2016 3:47pm

That IPA is incredibly cheap for what you get. Absolutely love it.

HH13 isn't in the same ballpark. Style-wise and taste-wise, in my opinion.

slayerking · 04-05-2016 6:34pm

I love the crafty brewing company pale ale and IPA. Top quality budget beers.

demanufactured · 05-05-2016 7:39pm

Crafty brewing ipa is bloody lovely.

poitinstill · 05-05-2016 9:43pm

fyi: i see aldi brand o'shea is releasing a wit beer (belgian wheat) next week...also grafters are bringing a kolsch to dunnes own brand. should be worth a lash and let the opinions be known:)

Lovely Bloke · 06-05-2016 8:09am

poitinstill wrote: »

also grafters are bringing a kolsch to dunnes own brand. should be worth a lash and let the opinions be known:)

Rye River took delivery of a couple of new big lagering tanks recently too, so expect to see loads more european style beers out of them.

fjon · 06-05-2016 10:42am

I think the Lidl stuff is really quite unimpressive, even taking into account the price. If you're near an Aldi they have some much better stuff - O'Haras/ O'Sheas and Williams Brothers are available for around the same price, and imo are a lot better for your money.

George Michael · 06-05-2016 12:03pm

fjon wrote: »

I think the Lidl stuff is really quite unimpressive, even taking into account the price. If you're near an Aldi they have some much better stuff - O'Haras/ O'Sheas and Williams Brothers are available for around the same price, and imo are a lot better for your money.

i will have to try them. i am kind of getting into trying the different craft beers now. hopefully i dont become an alcoholic:D

fjon · 06-05-2016 12:08pm

George Michael wrote: »

i will have to try them. i am kind of getting into trying the different craft beers now. hopefully i dont become an alcoholic:D

The O'Sheas range is a nice way to try out these styles and not pay a fortune. Make sure you stay away from the "Tara" beers in Aldi though!
They also have Adnams Lighthouse, Ghost ship and Brown Bear also which are fairly average.

UnknownSpecies · 06-05-2016 3:33pm

O'Sheas don't do an IPA. The Crafty IPA is far superior to any of the O'Sheas range though in my opinion. The other Crafty brews though I'd agree, the O'Sheas range is better. I'm looking forward to trying their new wit mentioned above.

andekwarhola · 07-05-2016 9:33pm

Must try the Crafty IPA. Have to confess I'd always ignored it. Probably the name or something.

Have to say re: O'Sheas Pale Ale. At that price point, I'd take the Grafters stuff over it any day.

physioman · 07-05-2016 9:38pm

fjon wrote: »

I think the Lidl stuff is really quite unimpressive, even taking into account the price. If you're near an Aldi they have some much better stuff - O'Haras/ O'Sheas and Williams Brothers are available for around the same price, and imo are a lot better for your money.

Have to agree. The crafty range is dreadful. Rye river beers are terrible quality. Avoid at all costs.

andekwarhola · 07-05-2016 9:55pm

physioman wrote: »

Have to agree. The crafty range is dreadful. Rye river beers are terrible quality. Avoid at all costs.

Big Banging IPA, Grafters Pale Ale and Grafters IPA are extremely decent beers for the price. Not much better at that price around.

VincePP · 07-05-2016 10:07pm

physioman wrote: »

Have to agree. The crafty range is dreadful. Rye river beers are terrible quality. Avoid at all costs.

And this is based on what qualifications?

Or is it just some 'opinion'.

I don't like lager - but that does not mean i can say all lager is dreadful. I love a very hoppy ale, but that doesn't mean that I can say only hoppy ale is "real beer".

Beer just like wine is objective. Just because you don't like something doesn't make it "dreadful"

Rye river is a small brewery when compared to the big boys. Its big when compared to the very small craft brewers. Carlow brewing is similar.

If all brewers only brewed one style that just some people liked, it would be very boring. Thankfully different people have different tastes and different brewers target different markets.

Sometimes i just like a tin of bass!

slayerking · 08-05-2016 12:43am

physioman wrote: »

Have to agree. The crafty range is dreadful. Rye river beers are terrible quality. Avoid at all costs.

What have you tried that you didn't like out of curiosity? They can be hit and miss, but their hits are goooood.

oblivious · 08-05-2016 10:15am

andekwarhola wrote: »

Must try the Crafty IPA. Have to confess I'd always ignored it. Probably the name or something.

Have to say re: O'Sheas Pale Ale. At that price point, I'd take the Grafters stuff over it any day.

Crafty IPA is seriously good and fantastic price point

O'Sheas Pale ale is solid, I suppose it can come down to which store is closer

physioman · 08-05-2016 2:17pm

VincePP wrote: »

And this is based on what qualifications?

Or is it just some 'opinion'.

I don't like lager - but that does not mean i can say all lager is dreadful. I love a very hoppy ale, but that doesn't mean that I can say only hoppy ale is "real beer".

Beer just like wine is objective. Just because you don't like something doesn't make it "dreadful"

Rye river is a small brewery when compared to the big boys. Its big when compared to the very small craft brewers. Carlow brewing is similar.

If all brewers only brewed one style that just some people liked, it would be very boring. Thankfully different people have different tastes and different brewers target different markets.

Sometimes i just like a tin of bass!

Didn't realise you needed qualifications to express an opinion here...do you have a degree or phd in beer tasting?

I've tried all the rye river brewing range (mcgargles, Solas etc) and they remind me of companies trying to enter the lucrative craft beer market by mass producing substandard product at a cheap price point like Guinness hop 13 or Heineken's orchard thieves. People are not stupid and will tire of these drinks quickly.

Interestingly you state they produce at roughly the same volume as O'Hara's. O'Hara's product is far superior and they haven't sacrifised the taste quality.

I enjoy trying lots of different craft products. Enjoy the kinsale, dungarvan and galway bay brewing products.

My advice to rye river company is to develop the quality of their product first instead of mass producing a far inferior product.

VincePP · 08-05-2016 4:24pm

physioman wrote: »

Didn't realise you needed qualifications to express an opinion here...do you have a degree or phd in beer tasting?

I've tried all the rye river brewing range (mcgargles, Solas etc) and they remind me of companies trying to enter the lucrative craft beer market by mass producing substandard product at a cheap price point like Guinness hop 13 or Heineken's orchard thieves. People are not stupid and will tire of these drinks quickly.

Interestingly you state they produce at roughly the same volume as O'Hara's. O'Hara's product is far superior and they haven't sacrifised the taste quality.

I enjoy trying lots of different craft products. Enjoy the kinsale, dungarvan and galway bay brewing products.

My advice to rye river company is to develop the quality of their product first instead of mass producing a far inferior product.

No problem with 'opinion' - but to make a statement saying something is "dreadful" is not opinion. Its pure idiotic.

I totally dislike many things - but that does not give me a right to say any of those things are dreadful.

But we love whining in Ireland and we're champion begrudgers and if we don't like something we make sweeping statements based on zero knowledge.

BeerNut · 08-05-2016 8:49pm

Naming specific beers and what you didn't like about them also helps the conversation work.

lordstilton · 08-05-2016 8:59pm

Rye river Francis big banging ipa is one of the best beers of that style made in Ireland. .and for 9 euro for for bottles it's ridiculously good value..if you think that beer is dreadful you know very little about beer..it might not be to your taste but it's an excellent beer

testaccount123 · 09-05-2016 1:53pm

physioman wrote: »

My advice to rye river company is to develop the quality of their product first instead of mass producing a far inferior product.

You either havent tried the Crafty range recently or dont know what you are talking about. There are some excellent beers among them. Im not a particular fan of Rye Rivers model either.

schemingbohemia · 09-05-2016 2:07pm

Have to say the Francis Big Banging IPA is great, and not just because of the price point. Wasn't quite so gone on the Crafty IPA as others on here.

ben.schlomo · 09-05-2016 5:57pm

physioman wrote: »

Didn't realise you needed qualifications to express an opinion here...do you have a degree or phd in beer tasting?

I've tried all the rye river brewing range (mcgargles, Solas etc) and they remind me of companies trying to enter the lucrative craft beer market by mass producing substandard product at a cheap price point like Guinness hop 13 or Heineken's orchard thieves. People are not stupid and will tire of these drinks quickly.

Interestingly you state they produce at roughly the same volume as O'Hara's. O'Hara's product is far superior and they haven't sacrifised the taste quality.

I enjoy trying lots of different craft products. Enjoy the kinsale, dungarvan and galway bay brewing products.

My advice to rye river company is to develop the quality of their product first instead of mass producing a far inferior product.

Francis big bangin Ipa is, in my opinion, far superior to any IPA made by O'haras and far better than Gbb's Full Sail. I'm guessing you've never tried it or you don't drink IPA's.

L1011 · 09-05-2016 7:58pm

physioman wrote: »

My advice to rye river company is to develop the quality of their product first instead of mass producing a far inferior product.

Which they have done. The original McGargles range was extremely poor but a number of them have been dropped at this stage and better replacements brought in.

I suspect you tried the older products, not the newer ones and have made your decision based on those alone.

Galway Bay had some severe consistency problems at start (and even some recently on specials) and you're hailing them as great.

Lovely Bloke · 09-05-2016 8:40pm

Francis is good when it's fresh, in fact, it's more than good.

But it very quickly goes oniony.

I had a 330ml and a 500ml bottle side by side the other evening, and found the 500ml (fresher) bottle to have a lovely clean, juicy hop character, but the older 330ml bottle was savoury and like a bag of onions.

Tigger · 10-05-2016 2:21pm

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Francis is good when it's fresh, in fact, it's more than good.

But it very quickly goes oniony.

I had a 330ml and a 500ml bottle side by side the other evening, and found the 500ml (fresher) bottle to have a lovely clean, juicy hop character, but the older 330ml bottle was savoury and like a bag of onions.

it was light struck
hops go weird when they get light struck

oblivious · 10-05-2016 2:28pm

Tigger wrote: »

it was light struck
hops go weird when they get light struck

Not that likely in brow bottle, little uv penetration through that glass

Lovely Bloke · 10-05-2016 6:37pm

Tigger wrote: »

it was light struck
hops go weird when they get light struck

In a brown bottle, in cardboard packaging.

I must have been fierce unlucky.

Tigger · 10-05-2016 8:38pm

oblivious wrote: »

Not that likely in brow bottle, little uv penetration through that glass

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

In a brown bottle, in cardboard packaging.

I must have been fierce unlucky.

brown bottles don't stop it just slow it, its why i love cans which do stop it.
some aromatic hops are far more prone to turning. its possible they go off quickly but i'd still say light struck, however as i'm a keen brewer and an analytical chemist without testing i'm not going to pretend i'm 100% sure

back when i used to drink stella in the 90's before they changed the recipe over and over i couldn't stand the bottles while i loved the cans and draught offerings and the internet wasn't around so i did the research with books and the tests with different light sources
craziest think was when i realised that florescent light will even cause the reaction
tyhat or the fact some people couldn't taste the difference

slayerking · 10-05-2016 9:09pm

Light struck beer generally doesnt taste like onions. Light struck beer tastes skunky/burnt rubber.

Certain types of hops can go a bit oniony to some tastebuds.
Lagunitas IPA for example is incredibly oniony to some. I've never got it myself, but the OH gets it.

dub_skav · 13-05-2016 9:29am

I tasted McGargles when they first came out. They were available in Tesco which is useful when you're far from a decent off licence.
I was not at all impressed, nasty stuff altogether.

Then when I read about Rye River I was less impressed again, they seem to have a desire to be the biggest craft brewer in Ireland, rather than producing the best beer.

After the recent change in attitude on here where everybody is singing their praises - particularly about Francis' big banging - I decided to get a bottle of Francis' yesterday.

I am now disappointed again - I can no longer dismiss all of their beers as nasty. The Francis' is quite nice and certainly far removed from their early offerings.

It may now become a Tesco option again, I still won't purchase as a first choice, but now the reasons will be more towards the philosophical objections than the taste ones.

Who are "The Crafty Brewing Co"?

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