Carrig Brewing Co

Last month I had the great fortune to be able to take a weekend away with Mrs W to Drumshanbo in Lounty Leitrim.  And lo and behold there's only a brewery in the town - ahem.  Opportunity grasped, we headed along to Carrig Brewing for an impromptu visit.

Oisin and head brewer Daniel made us feel very welcome, telling us all about their brews and letting us get stuck into some of their wares.  

First up is Whiskey Coalface, a 6.5% ABV variation on their original Coalface Black IPA that's been aged in The Shed Distillery whiskey casks (also from Drumshanbo)...

An enticing dark colour with mild whiskey notes on the nose, the whiskey comes through wonderfully more smoothly upon tasting.  This black IPA isn't overbearing or sharp, just enough to make you long for open fires and snow on the ground outside.  Or maybe that's just me?

Next a very secretive red ale that Daniel said was like a rum and coke and, y'know, he wasn't wrong. This was probably my favourite of all the brews I tried from the brewery - I was going to describe it, but a less-sweet rum n' coke is probably right.  It's a pilot brew for an American importer and that's all I can say because they wouldn't tell me any more.  I really hope this makes it onto our shelves soon.

Finally on to Iron Mountain Stout.  At 4.5% ABV it's a sessionable dry stout with a delicate roasted coffee aroma and taste.  Maybe I detected a touch of vanilla in there too or maybe that was the beer w.nker element kicking in.  Regardless, it's a solid stout that will appeal to many.

Cheers to Sinead, Oisin and Daniel for their fantastic hospitality and enthusiasm.  Good luck with the new FVs too and see you at Dublin's Irish Beer Festival in September.

Battle of the Cloudwater DIPA

Manchester based Cloudwater's much-hyped DIPAs (Double IPA) have become a bit of a thing over the past six months or so.  I don't know if they deliberately under-produce or have their marketing machine cranked up to 11 but fair play, they sell out in minutes.

I didn't get to try the original DIPA but to date their best for me has been the superb v2, consumed 9 days after bottling and as fruity as a RuPaul/Boy George duet while manfighting with mangoes and passion fruit. Um Bongo on speed, bliss.

v3 was something similar, a beery grapefruit and orange pith combo but just... not... quite v2.

But that was then and this is now.  Time for v4 and v5.

v4 first.  Label says dry hopped during fermentation.  Slightly fruity aroma, slight fizz, doesn't seem 9% abv, thinner than other DIPAs, not as fruity as hoped and certainly not the fruit bomb of v2. Hmmm, lets see what v5 brings.

Much cloudier.  Label says dry hopped after fermentation.  Again a little touch of fizz and well hidden alcohol, though this has more of the gummy mouthfeel of a DIPA.  Still not as fruity as v2.

In my opinion v5 edges v4 but where they really comes to life is with a blending of the two.  I'll be honest and say I was reluctant to do this at first.  Why should the customer blend the two, isn't that Cloudwater's role, to decide how the beer is made?

Three blends were created, 75% v4, 50/50 and 75% v5.  In my opinion a half n half mix was the perfect combo: dank passion fruit, mango fizz, sublime, everything that I recall about v2.
The 75% v5 came in a close 2nd (not as fruity) with the 75% v4 a distant 3rd. (too thin)
It seems strange that both versions were below CW's high bar but a mix of the two created some sort of Utopia.

So is the v4 and v5 a genuine test of which is better or a clever Cloudwater marketing ploy to make you buy 2 beers?  You decide.

Or maybe just opt for their other DIPA Three's Company, which is a belter. Confused yet?