A few months ago Barry and Fitzwilliam distributors had
kindly asked us to meeting up with the people behind Anarchy Brew Co Brewing
at W.J. Kavanagh's. I
thought this would be a good opportunity to check out a few place along my
route to Kavanagh's. Using Google maps I planned out my route to hit some old
and new spots, all with good and interesting beers. Give the number
and spatial diversity of good beer bars/pubs around Dublin
now. There are now a few good bimble's to
be had. Unfortunately, this post is much later than I had
anticipated as I lost some of my notes and pictures!
Porter house chocolate stout, Porterhouse Temple
bar:
First stop was to check out this year’s release
of the Porterhouse chocolate stout. I missed it last year, but the word was
that this year was very good and worth seeking out. In the glass it's black
was you would expect with a nice dense white head. The
aroma is of big cocoa and sweet chocolate. The chocolate theme
is carried over in the taste, dry cocoa and dark chocolate finishing.
With a slight bitterness that either came from the chocolate or hops. Great
beer and I can see why this was such a hit this years, it’s just a pity I left
it so long before trying it!
Panti Bars House Pale ale:
Next stop was to try Panti bars house Irish
craft beer, Panti’s pale ale. Its brewer by Trouble brewing, so from the out
it has a very good pedigree to fall back on. It poured amber in colour,
a bit reminiscent of an English bitter. With an aroma of
light citrusy hops. On the palate, there was a firm bitterness and hop resin
from the hops. As the half warmed up, toffee/caramel and malt notes came to the
fore. Given it's priced in at 4 euro a pint or 11 for a pitcher, it
represents good value and a solid beer to boot.
Respect your elders Galway bay brewery, The
Black sheep:
This the 16th pilot batch out of
Galway Bay Brewery and
it was on cask at The Black sheep. Deep brown in the
glass with a tight white head from been served through a sparkler. The aroma is
clean, with a slight caramel/toffee and malt. Taste wise it’s a well attenuated
beer. No big sugar/ caramel candy bomb, which something used to describe the
style. Smooth melanoidins that is balanced out with the hop bitterness. A well
brewed beer and served in good condition.
My final stop and the main event
was W.J. Kavanagh's. There were three beer from Anarchy available. All of them on keg, which it turned out unusual as they are manly a
cask brewery. First up was Anti-Vemon IPA
Anti-Vemon IPA:
In the glass, it was had a slightly hazy yellow. The
aroma was of mango and sweet American hops. The bitterness as lighter than I
expected which was followed by slight malt sweetness, easy drinker of a 6%
beer.
Citra star:
Lighter than Anti-venom, weighing in at 4.1%.
Big tropical fruit on the nose, with a very pleasing mouth feel and hop flavour. Overall a more balanced beer than Anti-venom and a one that I
have a few pints on the night.
Sublime Chaos:
A big stout (7%) and possibly off all the beer I
would have really like to try on cask. The tread decription describes it as
“ a stout infused with Ethiopian Guji natural coffee beans,
balanced delicately with New Zealand hops.” It was as black as the ace of
spades in the glass with a big cocoa noise. On the plate, there was a tsunami of
dry cocoa and a light coffee and a chocolate sweetness finish. I did not really
pick up the much in the way of the New Zealand hops. All in all a good stout.
Smoke Saison:
My favourite beer of the evening, it poured a
pale hazy straw colour from the bottle. This beer is all about the aroma, up
front bacon and beach wood finish with the classic Belgian/ saison phenols. On
the palate there is the initial pepperiness from the saison yeast. Then creepy
behind came the smokiness from the Rauch malt. This beer was perfectly
balanced, something that is very had to achieve. Considering there are the phenols/
pepperiness of the yeast to marry with the acrid beach wood flavour. Nevertheless,
they did manage to do it and I was told around 20% ruach was used. Which is also the
class percentage for a very good smoked porter. A very good beer and worth seeking out.
A big thank you to Barry and Fitzwilliam, Anarchy Brew Co and W.J. Kavanagh's for have us
all.
