Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Glasses a plenty
Remember I said that Fürstnenberg glasses can be found in abundance in Irish charity shops? I walked into one today near my job to nosey through the books, and look what I spotted on the shelf:
No, the beer wasn't in the glass when I bought it.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Out and about

The other non Irish beer is in fact Irish in the eyes of many who are not fully informed because the marketing is superb. If the label is to be believed this is the most Irish beer ever in the history of the world. Much debate has been spawned in Irish craft beer appreciation circles by Árainn Mhór's beer mainly because it aggravates us that this beer is pushed as Irish when it is in fact brewed under license in Belgium and then shipped off around the world benefiting greatly from the awful blarney that is spouted on the label. For example the label states the beer contains:

'...a secret essence of Árainn to deliver an aura reflecting the authentic romance of this Irish island...'
And later:
'Árainn Mhór Bán. One of our own. Brewed in the EU. Árainn Mhór Island, County Donegal.'The first piece of blurb is bullshit. The second is just plain misleading, though no doubt within the letter of the law. It's the brewed in the EU part that is so perfidious because it is entirely accurate but the addition of the island after it would lead most to think that is where the beer is brewed. It is not, and despite suggestions by the guy who set up the business, it will never be brewed on the island.
In some respects I am torn about what this business man is doing. He wants to be involved in the brewing of good beer, and the beer is good, but not remotely Irish tasting - it is a solid Belgian ale through and through with lots of fruit, bottle conditioned to boot and is a welcome addition to the Irish beer scene, but I don't like the way he is doing it. It is misleading and purposefully so.
Monday, May 11, 2009
Blast from the past
If you haven't spotted one of these signs, there can be no doubt that you have spied an ancient pint glass with Furstenberg emblazoned across it. There is one of these in every Irish household (strictly, in the family home, in a cupboard that your mother can't reach to the back of) or, for some strange reason they are also found in large abundance in charity shops . I am fascinated to see these glasses and signs because they suggest a time in Ireland when half decent German lager was pouring from the taps of pubs that now only stock the most mundane macro swill. As for the beer itself, it is harmless but well crafted, with a typical slightly sweet malt nose and satisfying fullness. It is nothing special at all, but I wish it was an option in the average Irish pub.
Stick to the cigars
Saturday, May 2, 2009
I need a bigger lawn...
I have had a few of these mini kegs in the past and always found them thoroughly satisfactory. The funny thing is that the beer that is served from them is rarely the very best available, but I always find the pint drawn from them excellent. This keg of Grafenwalder Pils is no different and is serving me well this weekend. It is the perfect lawnmower beer offering superb refreshment with solid lager malt padding things out. It also packs decent bitterness, providing a satisfying lip smack. It took me a while but I have pinned down why the beer from these mini kegs is so satisfying; the carbonation is perfect. It is smooth and oh so easy to drink, but at the same time gives a rich foam that lasts and lasts. In many ways it is similar to the pressure barrel I use for my home brew, though the method of dispense is different.
I am always a little confused about how to serve from these kegs. Allowing the beer to come forth under its own trapped carbonation is a disaster; a glass of tasty looking foam was the result, so I twisted the valve on top to allow air in and this fixed things. However, as most beer lovers will be aware, this signed the beer's death warrant, resulting in a shelf life of around 3 days - similar to that of a cask.
Not to worry, it'll be gone by then.
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