August is here, heralding the wind down to what has been a pretty amazing summer. But fear not, we still have quite a bit of time ahead before the cool crisp bite of fall is upon us: what a better way to enjoy the rest of summer than try a few new brews?
Pushing the envelope to new levels of deliciousness by creating unique brews seems to be ubiquitous across the beer world.
Don’t get me wrong, traditional styles executed well are still amazing beers to drink, but sometimes its nice to try something just a little bit different. Or, personally, the weirder the better.
From adding fruit, coffee, and even vegetables to blurring the lines between styles, craft beer is an adventuresome enterprise. So take a holiday from your regular beer with these innovative options. Here are five beers to try for a different – and delicious- drinking experience.
Kinnegar: White Rabbit
As always Kinnegar makes another truly excellent brew – a White Session IPA. Taking a base style of the American Wheat, they used fruity hop, and malt, to creat layers of flavour.
The result is a hazy, lemony, easy drinking beer. At 4.5% this is a gorgeous option for a lovely session out in the late summer sun.
Available at Martin’s Off-License for €3.65
Flying Dog Brewery: Bloodline
As I have written about previously, beer with fruit additives were going to be quite popular this year, and this incarnation by Flying Dog is great option to try.
Using Blood Orange puree, this beer is well balanced with an appealing citrus flavour that doesn’t completely overpower, making for a lovely enjoyable drinking experience.
Available at Martin’s Off-License for €3.95.
Lough Gill Brewery: Wild Atlantic Series #1 Sour Wheat Ale
This is a limited edition brew as part of their Wild Atlantic series: “Wild sour and funky beers made to take advantage of our location in Ireland.
Our Wild Atlantic adventure crosses all styles to bring you the best hand crafted sours with unique profiles’. Lemony and earthy, this beer is a wonderfully tart sour with a restrained bitterness. Perfect for the warm weather!
Available at Martin’s Off-License for €3.39.
Rascal’s Brewing Company and Brewtonic Collaboration: Weisse Guys
Described as ‘a double dry hopped German wheat beer brewed with lemon peel’, this brew will certainly be lovely change of pace!
A self described ‘fruit bomb’, expect banana notes from its German wheat yeast with loads of fruity notes from the dry hopping with hints of lemon zest. Overall, a refreshingly complex beer that pairs excellently with lighter summer fare.
Available at Martin’s Off-License for €3.49.
Founders Brewing Company: Frootwood
Does exactly what it says on the tin: a cherry ale aged in maple syrup bourbon barrels. It might sound like a lot of flavours competing for supremacy but Founders executed this beer brilliantly. The vanilla and maple notes blend well with the cherry and hints of bourbon. A truly excellent brew.
I grabbed this on draft at the Brew Dock, but its also available in various off-licenses, like Martin’s, in limited amounts, for €6.49.
A historian by trade, Christina founded the Ladies Craft Beer Society of Ireland to have some semblance of a life outside of her Ph.D. An academic at heart, she then went on to turn her love of craft beer into something a bit more formal and has become a BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) Beer Judge.
With this background, she is devoted to educating the consumer on the history of beer styles and brewing, as well as what makes up the perfect pint.
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