Don't Judge a Woman by its cover - A Western in Longford!

This review has been sitting in a folder cos I, well forgot about it. 

Ragin cos there's a "hoedown" on tonight (27.11.15) I believe somewhere in the midlands where "ass-less leather chaps" are standard attire*. Despite my interest, I'm afraid I'm up at "high noon". 

Why the Cowboy references? Let me bring through the swingin doors St. Mel's Brewing Companys'  NEOMEXICANUS!

"She" (apparently) is cloaked in a VERY BUSY label, maybe that's to get your attention, maybe it needs to be.  I'll be honest, I was a little "ah here", with a look that a dog gives you when you show them a card trick, when I looked at the label.

Apologies for the brutal pic! 

A very busy cowboy western label. Black n white very bold. It's not my kinda thing, but they often say don't judge a woman by its cover, right?

BUT, I wanted to see who made it, almost embossed in shadow is St. Mels at the top.  I had it in my hand, her wicked spell had worked, kudos to marketing!

The Sniff

Chocolate oats aroma from the off and pretty much linger away all through this review. Nice, wasn't expecting Chocolate. There is a mellow roast off this, I reckon the brewers pretty much showed the mix to the flame, rather than roasted the b'jesus outta her! Twist of nuts on the air too.

The Squint

Jack Daniels colour pretty much sums up this lady's tan line! She comes equipped with some fading lacing and a diminishing head, pretty quickly actually. Maybe she's shy! 

The Quench
The peanuts that were hinted at in the smell are all over the tongue in the taste along with a number of others I've yet to decide, but theres a real earthy feel to this, grass, hay, the usuals but something else, certainly not Irish born and bred, nor does it have to be to qualify! One thing that I loved about this is IT WAS A BREAK FROM THE NORM! Let me explain.

I feel a lot of Irish offerings in the IPA range taste good, bad and indifferent. There's no such thing as a bad beer apparently, but from talking to a number of "experts" recently, we are seeing a pattern form that there's an underlying taste, a common taste amongst at least 50% of the Irish Crafts on offer at the moment. More and more and of very good quality, but failing to "WOW" the audience! 

Read back on some of my reviews, the ones that stand out, really stand out.  Anyways I'll write about these findings another time!

The Finale

Definitely different and not typical of irish - a wild hopped ale. It shows, its a cracker! St. Mels have created a Black Label Series, I'll have plenty more. Thise lady, like most is one to take your time with, don't rush, its not an all day session! 

If it ends up being on limited release I'd suggest to stock up, enjoy this one.

"The hop variety from which the beer takes it's name, and which is cultivated by a Mexican order of Benedictine monks"

 Praise the Lord, or whatever they say in Mexico/Longford!

* may not be standard.

Slainte

@davyod

The Five Lamps Dark IPA (Whiskey Barrel Aged Series in assoc with Glendalough Distillery)

The 5 Lamps Brewery in an interesting venture with "Irelands First Craft Distillery" (Glendalough)  Arriving in a lovely little gift set (pic below) you get a sense of real quality from this collaboration.

Don't be fooled by the size of The 5 Lamps Brewery, quality & credit where its due in fairness. I have already reviewed their Dublin Lager if you wish to be further convinced. The "classy" yet confident labeling oozes appeal to a whiskey connoisseur and those who are in the know about The 5 Lamps lads should be looking forward to what should be a match match in crafty heaven, lets jump right in!

The Sniff
That familiar "pssssst" from the removal of gold bottle top and straight in with me nose! Coffee tangs and robust familiar hops breathing deep murky tones, just like you would expect most dark beers to offer. Theres a hint of malt in there aswell but just a hint. Theres a glimmer of something else in there, Im gonna quiz myself and say its from the 6 month old aged process from Whiskey casks from Glendalough! Think Imperials smell with a dash of something else.

The Squint
Looking through the bottle it looks as if this Indian Pale Ale isn't going to be that pale, well its not. This is a DARK IPA! The 5 Lamps really do pride themselves on their beers and so they should! Aslo very appealing is the Batch no, Bottle no, etc on the label. Only 1100 of these boyos created. If anything alone, the bottles will become collectors pieces!

The Quench
10% folks and make no bones about it, Its a cracker.  Theres more than enough of the residue in the casks it's aged in to make you stand up and pay attention.  As I write this it still is celebrating in my gob and the after taste is quite delightful, lasting well over a minute. Unexpected but very welcomed!

It has a lovely head that diminishes very slowly and plenty of lacing. Forgot to say that you get a free half pint glass in the gift pack and like the quality that comes all wrapped up in this bottle, it will appeal to the Gentleman and Gentle-ladies over and over! I include ladies as I got a small peach note in their after the 4th or 5th sip AND I AM DRINKING SLOW TO SAVIOR!

Another sup and its toffee, more hops, AGAIN a warm Whiskey hint that's more punchy than actually hinting! Bravo! Other notes would be a slight pine, even a "charcoaly smell", is that even a word - charcoaly?, well it is now.

The Finale
I'll be honest, all the thirst quenchers to date I've had from these guys has come from cans and bottles, I'm aware their driving force behind the business is the drafts, let me tell you, if their bottles and cans are of what I would consider decent quality, I cannot wait to try their drafts, I will by the way.

Getting back to whats on offer tonight, I shall be buying up as many of these as my bank balance shall allow. I'm sure the rest of the bottles in the gift pack are as good, The Porter and The Red Ale. Clever production aswell just in time for Christmas! Anyone who knows me and wants to show the love for 2016.......cough cough!

Well done John & Co!





As an add on, one of the other beers in the pack has made my Craftvent Irish Craft Beer Advent Calendar, stay tuned.

Sláinte

@davyod

Go big or go home! (White Gypsy)

Yea you pay a little more, but you also get more.

Gypsy Bottles are big.  Apparently size isn't everything, but there's always exceptions.

*looks in mirror, looks down....laughs hysterically!*

From browsing White Gypsy Website you do indeed get the feeling of 'local' (ingredients, sales, community etc) and first name terms with all involved.  Its great to see.  Maybe other breweries do the same, the Gypsy lads (Lassies too) make reference to it, so yea, Kudos!


"We make good beer, the other guys make bad beer!" I'd love to work with Cuilan Loughane, seems like a no bullshit type a guy and I always appreciate those people, whether I agree or not is irrelevant for this article, but yes, no bullshitters, I'm a fan!
So this evening the Gypsy beings us their version of an American Pale Ale clunking in at 7.5% in a 750ml "sharing" bottle. Sharing? We'll see by end of the review.

The Sniff
Ah that Hoppy aroma of American Pale Ale and I'm happy.  It's remarkable, the amount of breweries claim this, but in my opinion flute around with it so much that it becomes a bit of a mutant ale, without any real aroma. I like my smelly beers and this doesn't fail. Well done.

The Squint
Yes, a large bottle, simple marketing and what I reckon will become a well recognized logo for years to come - A Gypsy Horse. Its cloudy amber fluid with plenty of lacing is what I'd expect from a quality beer and White Gypsy Brewery gives this spades, no, shovel fulls!


The Quench
Superb, really well put together. Whether its the Oak that comes out,or the vanilla trickles that burst every so often, perhaps its a weird taste of toffee too, either way put all these together and you have a Gypsy curse,in a good way!! The carbonation does fall away but it is still there until the last sup of the bottle. Butterscotch! Bravo!

The Finale
Yea you pay more, but it is a large bottle, I think I maybe saving some pocket money, cos I wont be sharing mine with anyone.

Described as a sharing bottle? Yea,good luck with that!

Sláinte 

@davyod

12 Acres Brewing Company "Golden Pale Ale"

12 Acres Brewing Company is one I have to say I don't know a whole lot about. At the time of writing, I think there is a small glitch with their website.

Coming in (my opinion the best) the 500ml Bottle, traditional packaging with some chap, I'll presume he's from Clonmore, Killeshin.  The label does describe how the name 12 Acres is from one of their fields, where the barley, the water etc is all sourced as depicted in their ground/glass imagery below.

I'd argue that their image is one of a safe one. Colours easy on the eye, traditional so to speak and would appeal to all really.

Clearly they know what their up to as they achieved a Bronze Cup right here  recently!

The Sniff
Initial sweet biscuit, but as with some pales I've tried recently, its not very hard on the nose.

The Squint
No lacing, a light cloudy caramel fluid that looks great I have to say.

The Quench
Very refreshing, maybe its the power of marketing, maybe its the truth, but I did get a sense "brewed - shipped - bought - drank". Translation, brew it and drink it to get maximum benefits.

The "drink before" date on this bottle is May next year (2016), even with the best will in the world it wouldn't last that long.

Carbonation there, not champagne bubbles or anything thankfully and a sweet biscuit caramel again, some where in their popping up its head ever so often is a tiny flake of citrus.

The Finale
It's not marketed as one, however it has all the makings of a Session IPA to be honest! I want more and I shall have more.  Yes, this prince shall go to the ball!