Tag Archives: New Posts

Snowy Yuzu Beer

Snowy Yuzu Beer

Snowy Yuzu

www.singhacorporation.com/snowyweizen

Brewed by Boon Rawd Brewery
Style: Weissbier
Bangkok, Thailand

Snowy Yuzu BeerBoon Rawd Brewery is a Thai brewery based in Bangkok and was created in 1933 by Phraya Bhirom Bhakdi (Boonrawd Sreshthaputra). Their best-known product is the pale lager Singha, found up and down the length of Thailand and popular with ex-pats especially. Other well known beer brands it produces are Leo, U, Snow, and Asahi. It also produces soft drinks and bottled drinking water.

Review: 490ml can of Snowy Yuzu Beer 4.5% vol.

Cans that can be bought anywhere really, but always to be found in Thailand’s ever reliable 7/11’s!  Snazzy logo on the can, a bear with some tree tops or even hops on its back, who knows, but its a nice looking can all the same. 

Snowy Yuzu BeerOn cracking open the can I immediately get the smell of fruit……. very strong on the nose, coming at you straight off the bat! Of fruits and citrus.

In fact the smell is probably of the Yuzu (hence the name), a citrus fruit that looks like a small yellow orange found in China and Japan, and with a similar aroma to a lemon and a grapefruit. I don’t know but it is what I was picking up on the nose anyway. Smells a lot like a fizzy lemonade.

On appearance, it looks cloudy and hazy on the pour with a golden colour emerging, some fast and lively carbonation too.  The white head does die a death. Not a great looking beer if truth be told.

Sure enough the taste is similar to a lemonade….. overloaded with citrus and fruits why wouldn’t it be anything else! One can definitely taste the orange peels. 

A harmless drink to try, not sour or bitter or any rough tastes, generally smooth to drink albeit it is slightly sickly with all the sugar and I doubt I could drink too many without getting a little bored of it. Basically its a lemonade with some beer. It says 4.5% alcohol, but its extremely well hidden as there is no kick to this, very light to drink. 

Mild and inoffensive, like a weak shandy. Charming and perhaps interesting for a try for one or two, but nothing else. Not a great looker but drinkable if nothing better is at hand!

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Full Moon Malt Strawberry

Full Moon Malt Strawberry

Full Moon Malt Strawberry

www.fullmoonbrewwork.com

Brewed by Full Moon Brewwork (Natural Malt Brewing)
Style: Flavored – Fruit
Patong, Phuket, Thailand

Full Moon Malt StrawberryFull Moon Brewwork, opened since 2010, is a micro-brewery and restaurant situated in Patong, on the resort island of Phuket, southern Thailand. They produce German lagers, English style bitter ales, and classic Belgium “weiss”  beers amongst some more novelty brews and craft cocktails, all at the same time as running a fully functional restaurant and bar on site of their brewery. 

The artisan brewery combine traditional beer brewing methods and modern craft beer styles mixed in with local Thai influences and creativity. By adding local ingredients such as Thai GABA rice, Thai black sticky rice, and the peel of Thai tangerines, distinctive “Thai” flavours are achieved in their colourful and exciting craft beers.

Review: 490ml can of Full Moon Malt Strawberry 5% vol.

Full Moon Malt StrawberryComing in a very nice and colourful strawberry red can, doesn’t look much like a beer at all but more a can of soda. 

Like the coloured can, the beer also has a stark red appearance, but also, surprisingly I guess, a decent sized white head…. which does maintain relatively well. 

Naturally as it is a strawberry beer then of course the expected aroma is to be of strawberries, and yes that is what one gets, but its slight and a bit astringent too on the nose.

A little chemically on the nose. bit like burnt sugar and too sweet!

But overall the aroma is on the low level……not a whole lot overall to smell to be honest. 

Full Moon Malt StrawberryThe taste was disappointedly bland. For all the talk of strawberry there was not so much of that at all to savour or taste. 
A slight taste of malts but not so much. A very chemical taste as so often you can get from these kind of fruit beers, they tend to be overload with artificial sugar and sweeteners, or at least that’s what it tastes like.

Very carbonated too. Took a while to settle, giving it a very bubbly and fizzy taste.

Taste more carbonated , bubbly in taste. Overall not very good at all. Very artificial and chemical.  Forgettable, sorry to say.  

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Brewdog Lost

Brewdog Lost

Brewdog Lost Planet First Lager

www.brewdog.com

Brewed by BrewDog
Style: German Pilsner
Ellon, Aberdeenshire, Scotland

Brewdog. The two lads from Scotland that have set the craft beer world alight. Started in April 2007 by two good friends James Watt and Martin Dickie, BrewDog is a British multinational brewery and pub chain based in Ellon, Scotland.

Brewdog LostStarting small to eventually becoming a bit of a sensation in the brewing world, with all sorts of high jinks and marketing bull. To their credit they have always tried to push the boat out with exciting and innovative styles, using a wide array of mad and exotic ingredients from chilli, honey, chocolate, hemp, and mustard to name but a few.  And generally, they do tend to get the basics right……IE. their beers are actually quite bloody good, continuing to rake up a tonne of awards and prizes all over the globe.

Third time having a brew from those Scottish whippersnappers, having had their 5 A.M. Saint a while back which I found to be disappointingly very bland all things considering, but their Brewdog Punk IPA was simply FANTASTIC, easily making my top ten of all time….its tropical fruits really adding to the flavours and setting it apart from more regular IPA’s. Recommended. So lets see how the LP First lager gets on……….

Review: 440ml can of Brewdog Lost Planet First Lager: 4.5% vol.

In some places can gets cans with 4.7% volume, and there is also a non alcoholic version which amazingly only has 10 calories in it per 100ml, WOW!. 

Brewdog LostAs per usual one has to wade thought the usual PR and woke nonsense from Brewdog. From the can we get all this………“United we stand for better beer, fiercely defiant and independent”, 
“The worlds first carbon negative beer”, “brewed with surplus fresh bread”, “using 1/3 less water”, “powered by Brewdog wind turbines”, “plant trees, the lost forest in the Scottish highlands is an reforestation plan to help create a carbon clean planet” and this lovely gem….“by drinking this beer you are having a positive impact on the planet”. How about fuck off.

So basically the spiel is that its the ultimate ECO-Friendly beer…..windpower/recycling/less resources/ etc etc……..great, ha. And for the name Lost Lager, it is the return of what lagers should be like, long lost but now thanks to Brewdog, back again……clever eh? Meh!

On pour, getting a clear, light golden coloured brew with a very nice frothy white head that has good retention. Looks very good it has to be said. 5 out of 5 for the appearance.

Looks good, and also leaves some decent lacing behind. Nice.  

Light and faint smell, floral hops, but very, very faint. Not much at all on the nose, mild. 

Brewdog LostOnto the taste. A very light and smooth tasting lager taste, lovely and crisp on the tongue, very clean. Nothing too heavy or tinty, all clean and smooth. Hops on the low level and well balanced. 

A very good clean tasting lager that hits all the right notes. Lovely crispy mouthfuls. Yes top marks again to the Brewdog lads, nothing amazing but for a lager it does the job. 

Getting the malted barley, some earthy hops, and some fruit and citrus notes of apple and pear. Using both German saphir hops which give it its fruity kick, and German yeast giving its clean crisp, and lager taste. 

Very smooth, refreshing and a solid lager. Nothing that’s going to knock you out of your seat, but its simplicity that is the key here. Very drinkable. 

As usual and I have said it before, if they could cut out all the woke bull crap and just sell it as a normal top quality lager. I liked this beer a lot, not a huge array of flavours but its a simple lager and a very solid effort and it works. Will return again……

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Solothurner “Oufi” Rotbier

Solothurner “Oufi” Rotbier.

Solothurner “Oufi” Rotbier  

www.oeufi-bier.ch/bier/

Brewed by Öufi Brauerei
Style: Rotbier
Solothurn, Switzerland

A family run brewery from the small picturesque town of Solothurn in the north-west of Switzerland by the banks of the Aare and on the foot of the Weissenstein Jura mountains.

Solothurner “Oufi” RotbierÖufi brewery, named after the “Solothurner city number 11”,  was founded on the 11th of November, in 2000 by Alex Künzle, who had had enough of his job as a mineral water sales manager and decided to concentrate on his passion, brewing beer, setting up the Öufi brewery.

The number 11 is everywhere in Solothurn. There are 11 fountains, chapels, churches and a clock with a face showing only 11 hours. No wonder the local brewery also bears the evocative name “Öufi”. But why 11?  Well Solothurn’s history is closely tied to the ‘holy’ number 11. and all of the towns residents, both young and old, regard the number 11 as magical or even sacred.

The Öufi brewers are a real beer family. Alex Künzle’s sons, Florian and Moritz, are also, like their father, involved in the brewing process while mother Barbara takes care of all the administration with daughter Sophie; and graphic designer Louise, the youngest of the Künzle children, designs the labels for the Öufi beers.

The family must be doing something right as they offload about 40 beers a year, from Helles, Pilsners, Rotbiers, Weizen, to a large variety of season beers, using local water from Solothurn and the best natural ingredients at hand.

At their brewery they offer guided tours, beer tastings and even a two day course in brewing. if that is too much for you, you can always relax in their own onsite pub and restaurant! 

Review: 33cl bottle of Solothurner “Ouf”Rotbier: 5% vol.

Solothurner “Oufi” RotbierOn the bottle it says this is a “bio” beer, whatever that means? I think organically friendly? 

On pour getting a very nice and big frothy head, lot of carbonation making the beer lively. Very golden coloured amber looking beer.

Once it all settles down, it all looks very appetizing. Nice colour and good looking. 

Smell is one of pure lager on the nose

Also getting a bit of wheat

Not a bad aroma, lagery, but is OK

Found the taste to be pretty bland, not getting a whole lot on the old tastebuds at all.

Solothurner “Oufi” RotbierTastes of toffee detected at times.and I am getting the hops, and I guess you can feel that it is an organic beer, but overall this is a pretty poor effort at a lager me thinks.

Not much flavour, no kick, not getting anything at all really. Very light beer.

Not nice at all and considering I bought it from the source (Solothurn) that is pretty disappointing.

Maybe I got a bad batch, but I couldn’t get anything from the few bottles I bought…..not a zilch, nothing…..

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Warka Strong

Warka Strong 

https://www.grupazywiec.pl/marki/warka/

Brewed by Browary Warka (Grupa Żywiec – Heineken)
Style: Strong Euro Lager 
Warka, Poland

Warka Strong 

The Warka Brewery is one of Poland’s oldest breweries and belongs to the Żywiec Group. Żywiec Group itself is majority owned by the Dutch Heineken Group.

The brewery is in Warka, a small town in east-central Poland, a location with centuries-old brewing traditions. In 1478 Bolesław V, the Mazovian Prince, reserved to Warka the exclusive privilege to supply beer to his court.

The current plant was opened in 1975, under the Zakłady Piwowarskie w Warszawie (Warsaw Brewing Industries) and in 1999, Warka Brewery was purchased by Grupa Żywiec S.A. The brewery was modernized in 2004 and now has a production capacity between 200-350 million litres annually.

Review: 500ml bottle of Warka Strong Beer: 6.3% vol.

The ABV may also be 6.5% in some outlets. Comes in cans, bottles and on draught. 

Warka Strong On the bottle there is a very distinctive portrait of General Pułaski, a Polish nobleman, soldier, and military commander, who was from Warka. He was driven into exile and ended up in North America to help in the American Revolutionary War where he distinguished himself throughout, most notably when he saved the life of George Washington. He has been called, together with his counterpart Michael Kovats de Fabriczy, “the father of the American cavalry.” as they created the Pulaski Cavalry Legion and reformed the American cavalry as a whole. A hero in both his native Poland, and in the USA. In any case, it looks pretty cool, and is a good look on the bottle.

On the pour I am getting a bloody good looking beer. In fact it looks magnificent, lovely sparkling amber colour with a decent sized head, which does die in time but the beer still keeps its inviting look. Not bad at all.

Smell is of the cheap lager variety, very faint, not a whole lot on the nose. Malted barley, caramel and yeast. 

Onto the taste……..initially I am liking it. Yes, its ok……as expected it is strong, and with a lot of sweet malts and grainy flavours……a little tough on the palate, but just about manageable.

Warka Strong Deep taste, and it does take a while to get the hang of it…….it is a strong Euro lager after all, not my most favourite type of beers…….but after enough of these, I eventually adapted to the kick and enjoyed this over time. 

Bit gassy and yeasty, but relatively,and I say relatively here, smooth considering its 6.5%. All a bit subtle. 

Taste is medium sweet to bitter, has a small kick in it but with a smooth finish. 

OK, passable, if you have enough of them!! I’d hazard to say this is one more for getting smashed than quality and sophistication. Decent.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Sam Smiths Imperial Stout

Sam Smiths Imperial Stout

Sam Smiths Imperial Stout

https://www.samuelsmithsbrewery.co.uk

Brewed by Samuel Smith Old Brewery 
Style: Russian Imperial Stout
Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, England

Samuel Smith’s is an independent brewery and pub owner based in Tadcaster, North Yorkshire, is , founded in 1758. Its name goes back to the famous English brewer Samuel Smith.

Sam Smiths Imperial StoutThe Old Brewery was established as the Backhouse & Hartley Brewery in 1758. In 1847, John Smith purchased the small brewery with funding provided by his father, a successful butcher and cattle dealer from Meanwood, Leeds, but soon built his own new brewery John Smith’s, close by. (the famous John Smiths we have today, as far as I can tell). John Smith’s brother William, who ran the business after John’s death in 1879, left the Old Brewery to his young nephew Samuel in 1886. Samuel enabled by the buoyant beer industry to open Samuel Smith’s Brewery under his own name and was able to compete with the established John Smith’s Brewery.

They brew a wide range of high quality beers made solely from authentic, natural ingredients (the same yeast strain used since the 1800’s), and according to the methods of 1758, (using open, stone fermenting vessels known as “Yorkshire Squares”), and the brewing water still comes from the same well sunk back in 1758.

Samuel Smith’s operates over 200 pubs – including rural, suburban, inner-city and city-centre ones, with over 20 pubs in central London. Most of the these pubs are traditional in their layout and decoration, think old wooden bar, fire place and dartboard. For these bars and fine establishments they produce a wide range of beers including bitters, stouts, porters, lagers, and fruit beers.

Sam Smiths Imperial StoutSam Smiths pubs are somewhat seen as a throwback to years of yonder, as they are widely regarded as a very traditional and somewhat eccentric due to their continued insentience of using of dray horses, strict bans on music, mobile devices, tablets, e-books and laptops, with the aim of removing activities that discouraged conversation. The ban also includes “pictures of sport”. They also kept to low beer prices. All the better for it I say!

Having said that though, in October 2017, the brewery issued a chain-wide ban on the use of profanity in its pubs. The “zero-tolerance” policy calls for employees to cut off service to customers who use offensive language. It was reported that this policy, along with recent bans of groups identified as “undesirable” or potentially “rowdy” due to certain types of clothing worn, is part of a “traditional, “uncompromisingly Victorian” aesthetic” that the brewery tries to maintain in its pubs. Nah fuck that! Ha

Some respect to the brewery in that they were not too compliant with the whole fascist Covid-scamdemic coronavirus test and trace system in its pubs. Apparently some local councillors in West Yorkshire were giving them some stick for this. Fair dues, I will drink to that. 

Review: 355ml thin bottle of Sam Smiths Imperial Stout: 7% vol.

On the bottle, which is like a bloody book with all the writing on it, has “A rich flavourful brew of the type once exported from Britain to Imperial Russia”, which is interesting and leads to the question why was a traditional English brewery making Russian Imperial Stout?

Russian Emperor Peter the Great, while on a trip to the UK, took a great liking to the dark beer, and requested some be sent over. So this distinctive type of beer, originally brewed as a delicacy, was made stronger to withstand the abuses of shipping in foul weather and the long journey, to the Tsar, and Imperial Russia, least it go off and upset the noble man. But he loved it and it eventfully became a favourite of the Russian nobility, its popularity lasting. 

This was history’s first “imperial” strength version of a particular beer, and the term is now applied to other beer styles, like Imperial IPA. Imperial stout beers typically reach into double-digit ABV levels and are packed with flavor.

The good taste continues onto today with the beer winning gold at the World Beer Championship in 2008.

Wow, straight off the bat, right from the top coming off the bottle I can get a whiff of a powerful aroma, a very strong smell of black liquorice, and the expected porter smell. 

Smell is pure porter of roasted malts, molasses, and hints of coffee. Definitely noticeable anyway! 

It’s a bit intimidating with the smell, but once you get into it it works out ok. 

On pour getting a pitch black colour which looks good, a bit of a head that looks promising, but when it all settles down the head is quite small,…..still looks appetizing though. 

Standard enough look for a Russian porter, to be fair… full bodied, deep black look, thin head. 

No lacing, which tells its own story. 

Sam Smiths Imperial StoutThe taste is one of dark roasted malts, with a milk chocolate and coffee variety, especially in the back end…..

Lovely aftertaste, really delicate and crisp on the tongue, love it…….like a coffee ice cream.

Dark chocolate and coffee, very strong flavours, all very good…..but soft on the palate at the same time, not offensive, has a great balance.  

Not quite as good as a Guinness (my usual go to Stout), but they have that same full bodied smoothness that rounds off in the end…OK its an imperial stout, and that is the difference to my usual Guinness I know, I know,, but for that its good. and I love that the 7% is very well hidden making this a very tasty stout. 

A stout with a lovely smooth feel to it. Will try again…………..

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Manufaktura Piwna – Irish stout

Belfast Irish Stout

Manufaktura Piwna – Irish stout

https://jablonowo.pl

Brewed by Browar Jablonowo
Style: Irish Stout
Wólka Kosowska, Poland

Manufaktura Piwna – Irish stoutJabłonowo Brewery is a brewery established in 1992, located in the small village of Jabłonowo, north of Poland. The Brewery is one of the few Polish independent, and family-owned, breweries in the country.

Initially, they only produced for the local market but over time, and with it great success, it expanded the range of its distribution, where now the brand can be seen all across Poland. It mainly specializes in lagers, dark beers, and flavoured beers. 

Review: 500ml bottle of Marfaktura Piwna Irish Stout: 6.5% vol.

Manufaktura Piwna – Irish stoutOn the bottle, the lettering of “Belfast” stands out big and clear. Also “strong with stout” caught the eye……”Original recipe” and “1997”……all very interesting. 

Comes in bottles, cans and even on draught in certain places if you happen to be so lucky. 

On the pour I get the expected pitch black look of a stout, but with a smaller than expected head…….some activity here but it does die a death…which is a little disappointing. 

Getting a very strong aroma of chocolate, very strong on the nose.

Very strong smell of chocolate and roasted malts, very strong. I like it, its inviting and pleasant on the nose.

Onto the taste……initial impressions are this is not too bad. As an Irish guy with a love of the Guinness I am naturally wary of stouts that try to match up, but this is alright, a tad bitter but that’s ok and I am getting the coffee. 

Manufaktura Piwna – Irish stoutIts a little overbearing with the harsh tones, and it would be nicer to get a more balanced brew, but as I said, it is ok. And you get a lot in the bottle, which is always a bonus. 

Tastes a bit like treacle, all black chocolate syrup, with a molasses flavour. I like it. Coffee, chocolate and dark malts, all flavoured and strong.

I found overtime, it calmed down with the roasted bitterness less overpowering, very manageable, chocolate and coffee through out. Its a slow burner and the longer I drank it the more I grew to enjoy it. Did the business in the end, and I’d consider it good for a session. 

Surprisingly decent, not bad for the style.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Królewskie

Królewskie

Królewskie

https://krolewskie.pl/

Brewed by Browary Warka (Grupa Żywiec – Heineken)
Style: Euro Pale Lager 
Warka, Poland

Królewskie, a brand of beer produced by Warka Brewery, a subsidiary of the Grupa Zywiec S.A.

Seen everywhere in Poland, especially popular. 

Review: 500ml bottle of Królewskie: 5.2% vol.

KrólewskieCan be found from 5.8% to 5.6% ABV but I got mine in Poland from a supermarket at 5.2%, in a bottle but can also be found in cans and on draught. 

Nice red colouring on bottle and with an image of what looks like a king of Poland with a cross…..liking the based message, for King, for God and for country…..w górę polsce (up Poland – I think!). Either way very tidy and classy imagery on the bottle. 

Smell is of a light lager, grainy and light malts, inoffensive on the nose .

Looks very nice on the pour, decent frothy white head and it does keep, lovely golden colour

Good carbonation.

KrólewskieNot too bad on the looks department at all for a lager. Crisp look, clear and golden. 

Initial taste is a nice, crisp and clean lager, and going down the hatch very well. 

OK it is a lager and nothing amazing but still nice enough coming out cold from the fridge.

A tad bit bitter at times, but overall a regular lagery malty taste that does the business.

Light and easy to drink. Sessionable. No complaints here. 

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

Ireland County Top Challenge

Ireland County Top Challenge

Here is the challenge

Ireland County Top ChallengeThe challenge is to climb to the highest point in all of the 32 counties of Ireland. Because some counties share the same highest point this means climbing to 27 points.

Some say it is actually 26 as Sligo and Leitrim share the same mountain but have different peaks, if you can work that one out, but it doesn’t matter, 26 or 27, its all very doable.

The highest peak is Carrauntoohil at 1,038 m, in the Kingdom of Kerry, while the lowest is in the Lake County of Westmeath, Mullaghmeen standing at 258 m. 

With no football on due to the Covid bullshit, my weekends were totally bored. Nothing to look forward to at the end of the week, no trips to interesting, or uninteresting towns, for a match, I desperately needed something to fill the void. 

By complete accident I stumbled upon Murray Nolan‘s excellent blog entitled “Walking Ireland’s County Tops” and I was intrigued. I hadn’t even knew this was a challenge and something people did. I loved the idea of it and rather instantly decided then and there that I would try it. It was perfect, I love the great outdoors, like walking, and don’t mind a bit of physical hardship, and I get to see and wander around Ireland, what’s not to like. Stuff the fucking football, over privileged nancy boys, this is great.

Ireland County Top Challenge

I wasn’t worried about the physical side to it. Although I am overweight, I am pretty healthy, and well used to going on long walks, and even now and again I do the odd, very odd, 10k run, and living in Switzerland I have been up and down plenty of mountains, real mountains compared to the hills we have in Ireland. So all in all no bother to me!

What am I expecting…… well I honestly think it will be a piece of cake, we really don’t have “Mountains” in Ireland, not really, and I don’t expect any issues in that regards. I see people on online groups in Facebook (Hiking Ireland) going on about hiking poles and crampons but fuck that shit, pretentious cunts. Also had many people on that Group going on about how we need to stick to the 5k or 10k Covid limit, or whatever, bunch of ninnies. This is the great outdoors, free as a bird and all that. FFS. 

Ireland County Top ChallengeI am guessing as it is Ireland, it will be wet, windy, muddy and miserable. Not seeing many nice hot summer days at all.  Also I am thinking there will be a lot of boggy land, and some peaks might be hard to find, especially the smaller peaks that people generally don’t tend to go to. I can imagine there will be a lot of bumpy back roads and getting lost down country lanes, but anyway lets see. 

I also expect to have a great time meeting many cool people along the way, and see some amazing scenery of Ireland. While doing the County Peak Challenge I hope to learn a bit about the towns and county’s local history too, if possible from guides or locals. 

These are the 32 counties in Ireland, but in the case of 10 counties, marked with (‡), the highest point is shared between two counties, so there are only 27 distinct Irish county high points.

The four Irish provincial tops, referred to as province high points, are also listed. 

Irish County and Provincial Tops 

Rank TableNameParent range/AreaCountyHeight (m) 
1Carrauntoohil
Highest in Munster
MacGillycuddy’s ReeksKerry1,039 
2Lugnaquilla
Highest in Leinster
Wicklow MountainsWicklow925 
3Galtymore‡Galty MountainsLimerick918 
3Galtymore‡Galty MountainsTipperary918 
5Slieve Donard
Highest in Ulster
Mourne MountainsDown850 
6Mweelrea
Highest in Connacht
Mweelrea MountainsMayo814 
7Mount Leinster‡Blackstairs MountainsCarlow794 
7Mount Leinster‡Blackstairs MountainsWexford794 
9KnockmealdownKnockmealdown MountainsWaterford792 
10KippureDublin/Wicklow MountainsDublin757 
11ErrigalDerryveagh MountainsDonegal751 
12BenbaunTwelve BensGalway729 
13KnockboyShehy MountainsCork706 
14Sawel‡Sperrin MountainsDerry678 
15Sawel‡Sperrin MountainsTyrone678 
16Cuilcagh‡Breifne MountainsCavan665 
17Cuilcagh‡Breifne MountainsFermanagh665 
18TruskmoreDartry MountainsSligo647 
19Truskmore SE CairnDartry MountainsLeitrim631 
20Slieve FoyeCooley MountainsLouth589 
21Slieve GullionCooley MountainsArmagh573 
22TrostanAntrim HillsAntrim550 
23MoylussaSlieve BernaghClare532 
24Arderin‡Slieve BloomLaois527 
25Arderin‡Slieve BloomOffaly527 
26Brandon HillSouth Midlands (Brandon Hill)Kilkenny515 
27SeltannasaggartArigna MountainsRoscommon428 
28Cupidstown HillWicklow MountainsKildare379 
29Slieve BeaghFermanagh/ S. TyroneMonaghan373 
30Carn Clonhugh
(Corn Hill)
North MidlandsLongford278DONE
31Slieve na CalliaghNorth MidlandsMeath276DONE
32MullaghmeenNorth MidlandsWestmeath258DONE

1: Mullaghmeen: Westmeath

So I started at the smallest, and why not, no point in killing myself, right!

Yes in the Midlands of Ireland, the heart of the country, in Westmeath, handily enough for me starting out, the lowest of all the county tops! The Lake County’s top is in Mullaghmeen Forest, North of Westmeath.Ireland County Top Challenge

I got my first county top achieved
Review of Mullaghmeen Forest
Reviewed February 5, 2021

Ireland County Top ChallengeLuckily there was a break in the weather and we finally got a good day for a change. I wanted to start the County Top Challenge and I read that Westmeath’s highest peak was in Mullaghmeen, through the Forest. It is 258 metres so its actually the lowest county top in Ireland. A good one to start with I think!

The morning was lovely, and the walk through the forest was very relaxing. I brought the son and he loved it, a nice and gentle walk through the forest, with the sun shining through the trees, and the pathway very easy to navigate. We started out on the red route, which is the easiest and shortest of the three routes. It takes you through the forest in a loop back to the car park. The white loop is the longest, and goes right around the forest, and by all accounts is a long walk. The blue walk is the route you need if you want to do the county top, as it leads straight to the summit. I took this one after I was told by some locals that this is the one to take if you need to see the peak. Initially I had started out on the red route so it was lucky I had met some people who put me right.

Ireland County Top ChallengeI went up the peak myself, up a small gravel path that leads right to the top. Up there I got to see the surrounding hills and lakes (Lough Lene) of North Westmeath. On a lovely day with a clear blue sky it was a lovely scene in the fresh air, reinvigorating.

I joined the gang back at the red route, they took a break waiting for me near the famine grave garden.

Overall we spent about an hour and a bit and it was a very enjoyable time walking through the forest. And I got my first county top achieved. One down, 25 more to do! (some counties share peaks!)

 

2: Slieve na Calliagh: Meath

After Westmeath, next up was the Royal County of Meath, another handy low top, visiting Slieve na Calliagh (Loughcrew)

Ireland County Top ChallengeVisited the passage tomb in Loughcrew, had not known about it before but was well impressed that this old, about 5000 years old, structure was preserved on the hill for all to see. Unfortunately the inside of the tomb was closed for the day for upkeep, but still a free walk around the site where I was well able to take in the splendor and significance of this ancient irish site.

A bit of a steep walk up to it though, up a little hill, but it is well worth it though as not only do you get to see the passage tomb but also to take in the amazing views from atop. Plenty of lovely green fields on show, and a lot of white dots (sheep) can be seen far off in the distance.

Went on a lovely summer’s day and was very enjoyable. Also was amazed at how busy it was, with a lot of tourists up and down the hill while I was there, busloads of them of all age groups.

Interesting and worth a look.

 

3: Corn Hill: Longford

Another county top off the list, onto the magnificent number of three now with Longford’s highest peak gone.
Coming from the Esker direction, it was a nice walk through some quiet country roads, with the phone/electricity mast, where the peak is, in clear view from miles around, a good pointer.

The walkway was well laid out, a good loop around which takes about 3 k and I didn’t do as I was there for one thing and one thing only, to scale the heights of the county top.
The actual county peak is behind the closed gate to the mast and its building, to the right of where you can find a pathway, which you follow for a teeny bit until you get to the side of the building where near the long grass you can catch a glimpse of the stone marker which tells you the exact peak location. Need to be a little alert to it.

Views are not so great at the peak as there are some trees obscuring. I suggest for the views go back to the gate to where the bench is and that’s where one can get good views of all the surrounding hills and counties. The clear day that was in it I was lucky to see Sligo and Benbulbin.

An easy enough route to the top, took less than 20 minutes from entrance. Nice views. now onto the next country peak..

 

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post

The Chimay Collection

The Chimay Collection

Bières de Chimay

https://chimay.com

Brewed by Bières de Chimay
Abbaye de Scourmont, Chimay, Belgium

Chimay is a Trappist Brewery produced at the Abbey of Our Lady of Scourmont, in the small town of Chimay, south west Belgium
It is one of six breweries in Belgium authorized to display the hexagonal Authentic Trappist Product logo guaranteeing that their products are made, on site, in a Trappist abbey, by or under the control of monks, operate as a non profit outfit and that part of the income from its marketing is devoted to charities.

In the summer of 1850, a small group of monks established a settlement on the wild plateau of Scourmont near Chimay. Around the monastery a farm, a cheese plant, a Church and Abbey came to be. Later using water drawn from the Abbey well, the monks started brewing in 1862. Today as one of the biggest Trappist breweries in the world, Chimay beers are now found all over the world, still operating out of the Scourmont Abbey under the supervision of the monks. 

The Chimay CollectionDuring World War II , the abbey was taken over by the Nazis who had the temerity to melt the brewing vats, the bastards! Luckily possession was restored after the War, but unfortunately the monks had to start everything afresh again as so much was destroyed. 

This coincided with Father Théodore De Haene, in 1948, attending the University of Louvain where he learned beer making with Professor De Clerck. Together, they create the new brewer’s yeast for future Chimay beers. And the rest they say is history! 

Their most well known beers are as follows….

• Chimay Bleue (brown – 9% Vol – 33 cl ), called Grande Réserve in 75 cl .
• Chimay Blanche (Triple) (blonde / amber – 8% Vol – 33 cl ), called Cinq Cents in 75 cl .
• Chimay Rouge (brown – 7% Vol – 33 cl ), called Première in 75 cl .
• Chimay Dorée (blonde – 4.8% Vol – 33 cl ), it is originally the table beer of the monks of the abbey.
• Chimay Bleue Aged in barrels (brown – 10%). 

I got their most iconic bottles in a three pack, its red, white and blue collection, with a branded tulip-shaped glass and each bottle has been cellared for about 2 years.

Review: 0,33l bottle of Chimay Biere Triple, a Tripel Trappist Ale (Blanche/White): 8% vol.

Chimay Biere TripleCan come in 33l or 75l bottles, or on tap if you are lucky enough to be in Belgium, and only from about 20 or so elite hostelries after having met the brewery’s strict criteria! Named Cinq Cents in the 75l bottles 

Has a massive score of 93 and with it an “Outstanding” remark, from a certain beer review site. I know this is bound to disappoint so, ha ha. 

Chimay beer is neither filtered nor pasteurized, also its a high fermentation beer that re-ferments in the bottle.

Decent frothy head on the pour, all fine, white and creamy looking, with an amber golden colour to the beer. Looks pretty fine in the appearance.

Biggish frothy head. Amber colour. Fine creamy head. Looks ok.

Chimay Biere TripleThe aroma has a very piercing smell, very strong on the nose, slightly citrusy and fruity esters, very strong, very yeasty with spicy hop aromas.

Onto the taste, oh wow, hit straight away with the taste, pretty hoppy for sure. That’s tough to stomach if I am honest. Earthy start, woody, barley malts from the beginning. Wheaty in the aftertaste too. 

Sweet tastes from the malts, then the yeast and the bitter hops, not very enjoyable, kind of tastes like a bad medicine to take, with bubbles. Their is some sort of balance there between the sweet and the bitter, and there are a wide array of flavours, just I didn’t like all that very much!

Chimay Biere TripleBitter tastes, urgh. Hoppy bite, very much so. Over more sips it becomes more manageable but its not very nice, not one to enjoy. Fruity tastes found, orange peel and citrus. 

I know this is very popular, but fuck me I found it very hard to drink, and couldn’t enjoy it at all.

Yeasty, very strong in the taste, and the alcohol at 8% kicks you right in the bollix. Didn’t find any balance between the hops and yeast. 

Not nice. Don’t like it, too harsh and not enjoying it at all. To all the fans sorry but I am just a regular beer drinker with a well worn out palate, simple tastes here, no pretensions, so the Belgian tripel’s are just not up my street… 

Review: 0,33l bottle of Chimay Biere Brune, a Brown Ale (Rouge/Red): 7% vol.

Chimay Red (Brune)Can come in 33l or 75l bottles but not on tap. Known as Première in 0.75l bottles, “Red Cap” in 0.33l. Bottle conditioned, in that Chimay Rouge is a high fermentation beer that re-ferments in the bottle, “beer fermented in the bottle”.

Another Chimay with a massive rating on that beer review site. Another “Outstanding” score. 

Chimay Red (Brune) is the oldest of the Chimay Trappist beers, first brewed back in 1862, but after WW2 it had slight tweaks in the flavour but still remaining true to the old recipes. 

Colour is of a dark brown appearance, with a very small dark chocolatey coloured tan head that didn’t fill the tulip glass which was a little disappointing, perhaps I didn’t pour it correctly.

Smell is piercing, the fruits, especially of apricots, attacking straight off the bat, but doesn’t last, also of sweet malts, and a yeasty aroma. Ok but light.

For the taste I am getting a very fruity flavour, light and not as hoppy as the Blue, more manageable for me anyway.

Chimay Biere BruneGetting caramel and brown sugar especially in the aftertaste, it lingers and hangs around on the tastebuds. 

Their blurb states that this should taste of a “fruity taste accompanied by a slight bitterness”, I would say that’s spot on. Mild bitterness and lots of dark fruits. Yeast and sweet malts found in the taste too. A lot of malt in fact!

Still a light kick with the alcohol, feeling it after, bit light in the head after a couple of these bad boys. 

Overall its ok, nothing amazing and to be honest I found it a little bit dull. 

By the end of the beers they did start to grow on me a little more, and I can see how they could be nice to relax with over a long night. I might return, not sure!    

Review: 0,33l bottle of Chimay Grande Réserve, a Strong Ale (Bleue / Blue) 9% vol.

Chimay Grande RéserveChimay Bleue which in the large 75 cl bottle is called “Grande Réserve, bottle conditioned. 

And another high ranking beer from Chimay on the old beer review sites, scored as World class on one……. Jesus they are fairly popular alright! 

On the pour, well fuck me, the carbonation is out of control, loads of it, not leaving a whole lot left in the glass to finish off when most of it is gone to the bubbles. FFS. 

When it all settles, a massive froth and creamy white head appears, with a dark purple look, like a plum. Looks pretty good once it all calms down. 

Very good lacing, all over the glass, expected what with all that foam.

Chimay Grande RéserveLeft the second one on the fridge for a bit to see if it made any difference to the pour. It did, much better on the pour, still though not getting the Chimay tulip glass full, which is a tad bit disappointing, and a much smaller head than the first bottle. Still creamy though and pitch black in colour. Looks very smart…

On the nose it is very, very fruity, getting a really nice aroma, very pleasant. Also hints of black currant/red berry/plums. 

Yeasty and dark malts, with toffee and caramel, lovely.  Nice on the nose.

Onto the taste, very, very sweet taste coming from the barley malts and caramel, also very hoppy, overly hopped, which I find pretty hard to digest. True to form, a Belgian sour. Also can get the dark fruits.

Later on it all goes a bit flat, and its another Belgian I can not seem to get acquainted with. Not enjoyable for me.

Chimay Grande RéserveThe yeast is also strong, hitting you near the end, bit light headed after these two bottles. I think if I had a good few of these in a pub I’d be off my head and I might even enjoy them! Very strong! 

Bit dry in the mouth. Like a red wine, a hard hitting version. Fruity, plumy and cherry kind of taste. My mother, a big red wine drinker, loved this beer. A glass of wine, but stronger.

Taste is so so but top marks to kickability, powerful stuff. Overall, by the end I did get into it a little more and started to enjoy it, so perhaps I need a crate of them to sample next time, over a long evening. Have to revisit then, perhaps a good beer to get for a special one off celebration or for Christmas.

Use Facebook to Comment on this Post