What beer are we drinking this week? Episode 3

Black Sheep

I think the boards software changes account for the fall in traffic mainly, the drop off is on a lot of forums. There are several I post in and sometimes it’s like I’m talking to the same 2-3 dozen people on the whole of boards (Hi guys!).

On the wider availability of craft beer… I’ve said this before but lately I feel like pubs are going backwards, not forwards, when I go out now I see more and more places that don’t have a proper craft beer tap now, it’ll be 5 lamps lager or Cute Hoor or something. Completely anecdotal, I know.

Off licences, completely agree. Even service stations now seem to have a craft option in many cases.

the beer revolu

On the craft in pubs thing, I suppose my view is completely skewed by the fact that I only frequent pubs that have craft!

I'd say I've only been in three pubs since Covid.

Poorside

Wicklow Wolf Tundra IPA is a lovely beer, nice citrus hit off it without overpowering, might be my summer drink this year.

youcancallmeal

Sailor Sam Hazy IPA. I didn't get a dud thankfully, decent for the price but was a bit of a struggle as it warmed.

Rascals Rude Girl Black IPA. More porter/stout than IPA. Pretty good and probably the most remarkable Rascals beer I've had in the last few years. I've even been to their taproom in Inchicore recently and just all round underwhelmed by their beers

ben.schlomo

Had a can of Metalman Latte Heavy Bombardment last night. Really enjoyable, nice bitterness and freshness too.

9320

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118901795#Comment_118901795

I'd agree with this, definitely seen a resurgence in Craft Hoor etc taps in pubs that previously would have had craft taps.

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118901954#Comment_118901954

The Swan prior to Covid had more taps than it does now, Lagunitas seems to have replaced O'Hara's. They always had Five Lamps but now have 3 taps of it.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118914968#Comment_118914968

The two big boys support funds for pubs during pandemic closures, and grants or freebies for outdoor dining kit etc didn't come free... not that anything can be found to show illegality. But there are more and more pubs that are either just stocking Diageo and Heineken Ireland products; or just Heineken + Guinness; or even just Heineken.

Five Lamps is C&C, a big enough player themselves - although I'm now seeing more and more pubs with either no C&C taps (Rockshore/Orchard Theives as the draught cider) or absolutely piles of C&C taps (FIVE five lamps taps, Bulmers, Budweiser, Clonmel 1650 in one pub I was in recently)

9320

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915055#Comment_118915055

Sorry could have been clearer I was counting Five Lamps/C&C as "fake" craft and bumping out real craft taps.

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915321#Comment_118915321

Wasn't quite sure, I'd say their macro status is probably about as unknown as Franciscan Wells!

Poorside

Otterbank Middle lane is another fine beer from this brewer, 4.4% and beats a lot of heavier beers for tastes and texture, it's going on tap soon in Mother macs and I'll be racing in to try it.

youcancallmeal

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915055#Comment_118915055

This is definitely what has happened. Any pubs that I've been to in the last 6 months that had a few independent craft beer taps and bottles/cans pre-covid now have none. I do see draught Lagunitas in a lot of places but that's just because they are owned by Heineken and so pubs feel like they're catering to the craft beer crowd by having it on tap.

Effects

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915329#Comment_118915329

How big are they now? They started small though, didn't they?

L1011

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915570#Comment_118915570

Well, they're owned by a macro like Fran Well. Some product is brewed on Camden Street but some (most?) is Clonmel. Product is widely available and fairly heavily marketed.

Effects

I knew about the place on Camden Street alright. I was never really into their beers, so haven't kept an eye on them.

Friend of mine did some work with them years ago, when they were still fairly small.

Black Sheep

Yes, in line with the comments posted above, I would consider the 5 Lamps beer to be in that same space as Lagunitas and the Franciscan Wells beers now. I will drink them over alternatives, but they're not Irish craft beer as I had it in mind (...Do we still use the Beoir definition?).

I actually had a couple of pints of 5 Lamps pale ale on Camden Street a few weeks ago and it tasted totally different to how I remember it, darker and sort of yeasty, not in a good way. I was wondering was it either a recipe change or had someone hooked up a Cute Hoor keg by accident (!).

9320

I wonder if Five Lamps quality control is up to much I handed back a pint of their Red in the Swan a few weeks back as it was definitely off - that Black Marker taste.

BeerNut

Could have been an old keg. I'd say there's still stock from last year sloshing around, of the more slow-moving beers anyway.

Effects

Would they still be sending out kegs that old, or is it the pub chancing it?

BeerNut

Pub chancing it, definitely. Brewers can dump a keg that hasn't been sold and get a rebate on the tax. Buying back kegs from pubs would be a cashflow disaster, I'd say.

adaminho

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118915350#Comment_118915350

https://twitter.com/mothermacspub/status/1514982328803762179?t=1miRKAWPr8Q3t4aHtE6_KA&s=19

No middle lane yet but the Cask engine is back.

Poorside

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118931347#Comment_118931347

Saw that, hopefully Middle lane will be on by tomorrow

the beer revolu

I never quite get why they are engines rather than pumps or taps.

Haven't seen a cask in Cork for a few years, now.

Pen Rua

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118933619#Comment_118933619

Someone on my Untappd checked in a beer in the Weatherspoons that they marked as cask. Could have been a mistake etc... plus it is a Weatherspoons.

the beer revolu

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118935288#Comment_118935288

Of, course. I forgot about spoons.

Often cask there, I believe.

Cask is the greatest dispense method.

Effects

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118941848#Comment_118941848

How come?

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/118942006#Comment_118942006

Good question but I've fallen for it every time I'm over in England. Must be sparkled, cold and under 4%.

Black Sheep

There was an odd period early in the Irish craft beer scene where it seemed like cask was going to become a staple... I remember having pints of Dungarvan Helvic Gold at the Palace bar, and obviously places like Against The Grain. Every now and again there'd be Leann Folainn on cask and it was a must-have.

I think the last place I saw cask was Underdogs before it closed, did consumer habits just put an end to it?

Feels like a factor was also that much of it was being put out room temperature (Which could mean slightly warm) rather than cellar cool.

Effects

Coincidentally, the Black Sheep on Capel St. used to have a rotating beer on cask. I went in a few years back when they had a strong stout from Brehon Brewhouse. Can't remember which one it was. Possibly something that was barrel aged.

the beer revolu

After me saying that I hadn't seen a cask in Cork for years (apart from Spoon's), I was in the Bierhaus last night and the cask pump was out ready for a Wicklow Wolf due this week!