Actin D'goat! Smiggy

I've always been a fan of "Smiggy" from the lads in Drawda, in the Wee County, at the same time I always wondered why I am such a fan? Let me entertain you. 

I'll say from the off that I have not been to the brewery in Co. Louth but simply by looking at their bottles on the shelves in "Offos" the length of the country, it does scream Fun! 

Orange colours (on this particular choice) nearly always work well on dark backgrounds and your eye is immediately brought to "that part" of the fridge. Clearly the marketing department should be paid more than they are! 

The "cartoony" goat character, again, ticks boxes even for novelty effect, but still gets you to pick up the bottle. Not everyone's cup of tea I'll admit, but the fact were talking about it, job done.

The Sniff?
Not an overly strong smell, toffee maybe but the smell comes back upon taste, plod along to the next paragraph like a good taster.
 

The Squint? 

If you can picture perfectly cooked caramel in a bowl, before it really darkens, well that's Smiggy. Very clear. Some constant light bubbles, so it has life in it alright. 

Lacing - the foamy bits left on the glass. Yea it's there. Fairly prominent. To be honest, lacing doesn't really bother me that much, so I don't usually put much emphasis on lacing itself. 

The Quench? 

The lack of SNIFF certainly doesn't mean lack of taste. Smiggy fizzes gently on the tongue for a couple a seconds & then it's gone. You can make up your own mind whether you want to try another Amber Ale that fizzes more or less, your call. 

A slight lasting flavour for about 45 seconds or so...just enough time to savour the biscuity  (think fresh warm  digestive biccie) elements. If it makes sense the taste smells a little like hopps from a small beer producer near Thomas St, Dublin that you can smell on the wind sometimes, faint but there nonetheless. 
If you really take your time after admiring the Goat staring at you to take more, I got a "tickle of tobacco" somewhere way at the back.

I got the urge to drink more of the beer, perhaps due to the non lingering taste, at the same time you'd have to keep your witts about you and not fall totally to its 4.8% charms! This could be a brew that would creep up on you. 

Tastes nice, Taste fading, Drink More, Tastes nice, Taste Fading, Drink More....repeat to fade.

BBQ & cheeses are recommended foods to accompany Smiggy & I would agree. 

The Finale?
Typically an "outdoorsy" beer or a nice easy drinking summer evening special...seems strange that I'm drinking it now in November. 

The power of persuasion I guess. Read the marketing bit again.

There's a whole herd of goats to try from Jackcodys I'll pick off one by one from the herd overtime.

Sláinte 

@davyod

The Glass Sandwich

Go Hang Yer Bollocks Off Them! (The 5 Lamps Brewery)

Before we begin, don't get offended by the "bollocksology"
in the title.

Read this first, then proceed.

Right, ready?

The Sniff
In my humble opinion, most lagers unless laden with chemicals dont actually smell too strong. Some do give a stronger linger on the nostrils, but most "natural" ones simply present themselves for tasting. 5 Lamps Lager is no different. This one, the reveal is in the taste, so why wait!

The Squint
Carbonation, well it is a lager in fairness. You getting exactly what you ask for here. Diminishing head, a little bit of lacing all encased within a weak tea colour and practically see through. If you placed a tea bag in a cup for 5 seconds and took it out, hey presto!

Like a beer I reviewed from Kerry, this could be a Craft Lager to introduce a suspicious drinker who is thinking of changing his or her order from the Innkeeper. Kerry v Dubs, it never ends!


The Quench
My first impression was "jaysus theres sherbert in there", then it was gone. This one is for the outdoors, think festivals, picnics. A real palette cleanser if there is such a thing where beer is related?

Offering a slightly more than gentle 4.2%, I'd happily sip'n'sit there and listen to the world go buy, with the sun on me back!

After a few more swigs, vanilla, nutty insights all sang for me

The Finale
I'm a kayak fisherman as a hobby and last year in Blind Strand just outside Courtmacsherry in Cork I caught some mackerel, 15 minutes later they were on a BBQ! I wish I could have hung my bollocks off the BBQ that day. This lager would have been the perfect remedy with BBQ'd fish!

Sláinte

@davyod

In the Pink Corner - 8 Degrees Vic Secret Single Hop Black IPA

Ah the team from 8 Degrees have it down to a fine art. Consistent in their approach to getting your eye in.

Their labels are distinctly different in each offering, yet you know its from 8 Degrees. Perhaps a lesson that maybe picked up from others, who get a little lost in the shelves?

I'm often amazed at so many craft that miss out on the subtle advertising. Everyone of 8 Degrees bottle tops have their trademark 8° on each one. A tiny observation, but maybe enough to get the undecided to reach for today's choice - Vic Secret.

At 6% this single hop serving, needs your attention.

The Squint
Not many brews in vivid pink would have you reaching for the foaming ale of choice, but like many 8 Degree offerings, their labeling is bold, vivid, very different in colour palette, but all the same, if that makes sense.

Holding a light to its colour reveals a very dark coffee/copper twinge, at a glance, it looks black. No biggie.

This Black IPA has the Australian Vic Secret Hop within, lets see if its bursting to get out!

The Sniff
Lets get the party started! Screaming of bold flavours.  Straight from the bottle, nevermind the pour. According to their website it has (including others) pineapple, in it.  I'm not sure I got pineapple, maybe I need fine tuning, but definitely got a hint of citrus, just a hint, just enough. Read some of my other reviews that "the sniff" is pretty much nowhere, not in a bad way, but Vic Secret leaves them in the slow lane regards aroma!

The Quench
Carbonated lightly, I made sure it got the serving temp at 8 Degrees, like the rest of the range, its a wallop of tingles, then the after taste kicks in and settles you for just enough time to point and smile at the bottle. I've not experienced such a feminine label with such a bold hop and malt balance! Theres a roasted taste too, in fact I reckon the roasted the b'jesus out of it!

I got turf, earthy malts and a distinctive burnt cask (Its not casked as far as I know), all in, I'm one happy Kangaroo. Pardon the Aussie related pun.

The aftertaste lingers right at the back of the tongue, its there long after the swallow, did I say its a roasted 6%?

The Finale
As suspected, once again the quality steams on through as with any of the other degree menu choices, it's only a small few Irish Breweries that can carry such a wide offering and still maintain their quality. Sometimes you stumble across a Black IPA. I'd heard about this one, I tried it, I wont be stumbling to find it again. I cannot promise to stumble after though!

Please drink sensibly.


I've had many 8 Degree crafts (more reviews on the way) and I may not have liked them all the same, but I can't disregard their quality, it shines through.


Sláinte

@davyod