What beer are we drinking this week ?

Had a pint of Guinness mid strength yesterday ... Just to try it. I didn't realise it was available again (or did it ever go since it's release? Haven't seemed to see it around).

Bizarrely I quite enjoyed it, against my expectations. The mouth feel and texture were actually very satisfying, very creamy.

It's obviously as different from something like Wrasslers or Lean Folainn as day is from night, with none of the rich flavours or alcoholic warming aftertaste...

...But the point is, did I enjoy it? Well- I did.

Considering how far Guinness has strayed from its roots at this point I guess this extra jump doesn't even bother me that much. I can see a place for mid strength (for me at least). There are times in the early evening where I might up wanting to have a pint but don't really fancy that slight head buzz that I get with even one regular pint (I'm a lightweight). To me a mid strength offering serves the same role as the low strength small beers you found in the UK in times past, or are still sold everywhere (and at all times) in the likes of Sweden.

Had a couple of drinks at the Bull & Castle yesterday, first time in a while. This remains a cracking pub, and obviously a great supporter of craft beers in Ireland.

I had a pint of Helvic Gold from the cask (Dungarvan brewing company) and my girlfriend had a half. First time I've had anything from them on cask - very tasty. Still a touch of sediment at the bottom of the glass and perhaps a touch darker than the bottled offering I've had, or maybe it was my imagination.

Round two for me was a pint of Metalman Windjammer from the cask. Billed as an American style amber ale I thought this was really nice - definitely worth tracking down before it's gone. I gather there are some Nelson Sauvin hops in there ... I have a bottle of Brewdog's nelson sauvin single hopped beer at home... Be interesting to compare the two.

My gf had a half of Rebel ale too - their pilsner style. Quite pleasant straw-coloured offering.

We sat outside the front, in their small beergarden (three or four benches looking at Christchurch). Interestingly they have to have a sign up to stop people coming over from Leo Burdock's and eating their fish and chips on the benches. Clearly this is quite reasonable - it's not like you'd expect to be able to bring your Indian takeaway into a restaurant next door and plonk down and eat it. So I was quite surprised when a couple eating their fish and chips, when asked to move, launched an absolute tirade of abuse at the bartender who had come out. He stayed very cool with them in the face of abuse about everything from his wage, his 'karma' (?!) and his facial hair. Guess some people have no manners. Funnily enough the couple throwing the abuse were quite well-heeled, my girlfriend commented that the girl was wearing jeans that are a couple of hundred euros a pair. Guess you really can't buy class.