Creamy, foamy goodness poured over the rim of the glass. The Kilkenny head — as luscious because it will get: thick and frothy, the quintessential illustration of why Eire is understood for its beer simply as a lot as its rugged pure magnificence and wealthy heritage.
There’s simply one thing undeniably iconic about an Irish pour. That’s why I’d come to the nation of my heritage — to grasp what units its brews, and pure magnificence, other than different prime outside and culinary journey locations. One thing about that Irish brew simply hits totally different.
And now, right here I used to be, sipping (extra damn-well gulping) the most effective beer of my life: Kilkenny Cream Ale. Extra on that in a second.
Irish Beer: Past Guinness
Throughout my journey, between pints, the outside known as, providing browsing alongside the wild Atlantic’s Benone Strand, mountaineering within the craggy highlands of Donegal, and kayaking by crystal-clear waters of Lough Swilly. Nonetheless, no mistaking it: I used to be right here to get sippin’.
As an American, Guinness has at all times been my go-to Irish export. However I didn’t come all the way in which to Eire simply to drink Guinness. No, I used to be on a mission to find the opposite gems that Irish of us get pleasure from at their favourite native pubs.
Past the long-lasting black stuff, there’s a complete world of Irish beer ready to be explored, from Murphy’s and Smithwick’s to Harp and Beamish. These are the “second-tier” brews; not fairly craft beer but in addition not within the ubiquitous worldwide mainstream.
They’re the everyman’s beers, those that common Irish residents flip to once they’re not reaching for a pint of the legendary black stuff.
High ‘Second-Tier’ Beers in Eire
Whereas Guinness reigns supreme, a second tier of extensively beloved brews tells the story of what Eire drinks when it’s not pouring a Guinness. These aren’t your typical microbrews, nor have they got the powerhouse fame of the large stout. They’re merely the dependable, on a regular basis pints folks get pleasure from throughout Eire.
After numerous sips, pours, and pubs, listed here are my prime picks of Eire’s greatest beers outdoors of the long-lasting black stuff:
Murphy’s Irish Stout
- Style: Smoother and barely sweeter than Guinness, with a wealthy chocolate and caramel undertone.
- Texture: Mild and creamy, with a softness that makes it approachable even for these new to stouts.
- Notable High quality: Brewed in Cork, Murphy’s has a loyal following, providing a mellow stout expertise that’s excellent for relaxed pub nights.
Smithwick’s Pink Ale
- Style: Deeply malty with caramel notes and a touch of toasted grain, giving it a heat, rounded taste.
- Look: A traditional pink ale with a ravishing amber-red hue and a slight haze.
- Particular Traits: Referred to as Eire’s oldest ale, Smithwick’s has been a staple since 1710, bringing historical past and character to each pint.
Harp Lager
- Style: Crisp, clear, and refreshing, with a lightweight malt sweetness balanced by a delicate hop bitterness.
- Look: A pale golden lager with a transparent, brilliant pour and a lightweight, foamy head.
- Distinctive Function: Brewed in Dundalk, Harp is one in every of Eire’s go-to lagers, providing a refreshing choice for individuals who need a lighter, extra sessionable beer.
Kilkenny Cream Ale
- Style: Clean and creamy with a delicate maltiness, Kilkenny provides a wealthy, velvety texture that’s as satisfying as it’s drinkable.
- Look: Topped with a dense, creamy head, this nitro-infused ale has a heat amber hue.
- Distinctive Function: Kilkenny is the right fusion of Smithwick’s and Guinness, making a nitro ale that’s uniquely Irish.
Beamish Irish Stout
- Style: Daring and coffee-forward, Beamish delivers a wealthy, roasted taste with a contact of bitterness — preferrred for individuals who love a darker, heartier stout.
- Texture: Clean and barely heavier than Murphy’s, giving it a satisfying mouthfeel that lingers.
- Character: Brewed in Cork, Beamish is understood for its depth, making it a go-to selection for stout fans in search of that deep, coffee-like style.
O’Hara’s Irish Pink
- Style: Properly-balanced with malty sweetness and a contact of hop bitterness, giving it a fancy but approachable profile.
- Look: A deep ruby-red ale with a wealthy, creamy head.
- Notable Qualities: Identified for its balanced taste and easy end, O’Hara’s Irish Pink is a implausible selection for individuals who admire a conventional Irish ale with a contemporary twist.
All Roads Lead Again to Guinness (and Heineken)
Regardless of my greatest efforts to stray from Guinness, it was practically unimaginable to keep away from its plain presence in Eire. Brewed at St. James’s Gate in Dublin since 1759, Guinness is woven into the material of Irish tradition.
However after a couple of miles on the highway, I spotted there was one other massive identify creeping into the scene — Heineken. Based mostly within the Netherlands however with a brewery in Cork, Heineken Eire produces a spread of beers, together with Murphy’s Stout.
After a while exploring Northern Eire, I made my method again to Dublin, hoping to get a singular perspective on Guinness itself. And whereas the famed St. James’s Gate tour is a should for vacationers, the actual hidden gem for beer lovers is the Guinness Open Gate Brewery.
Right here, a rotating number of experimental brews is served in a comfortable taproom, making it a playground for anybody inquisitive about discovering what else Guinness has to supply.
I met with Steven Codd, a bartender on the Open Gate Brewery, who shared a few of his experience on what makes an ideal pint. In keeping with him, discovering the most effective Guinness isn’t simply in regards to the pour; it’s in regards to the pub’s rhythm.
“A busy pub will serve pint,” he informed me between pours, “as a result of the beer isn’t misplaced within the line for too lengthy. If it’s busy, you get the right quantity of nitrogen in each pint.”
Guinness’s recognition, Codd continued, comes right down to its heritage. “It’s been brewed right here since 1759. It’s an everyman’s drink.” And when poured proper, it’s unmistakable. On the Open Gate, pints are pumped recent from the brewery subsequent door, creating the freshest Guinness expertise you’ll ever discover.
In keeping with Codd, to correctly drink a pint of stout, it’s important to gulp, not sip. “The appropriate solution to drink it?” he defined. “As soon as it goes black, as soon as it settles — don’t sip, give it a giant gulp — since you wish to get to the beer beneath the top. Individuals who say they don’t like Guinness they’re sipping the white head, which is the bitter half. Massive gulps, get the great tasty beer that’s beneath.”
He was actually the professional, pouring the freshest Guinness on the earth. There was a pipe sending the stout instantly from the brewery throughout the road to Open Gate — like alcohol Willy Wonka wonderland. So, for the sake of “analysis,” I fortunately obliged, and gulped away.
The Holy Grail of Nitro
After a spherical of pints on the Open Gate — now a wee bit tipsy — Codd despatched me on a mission: discover Kilkenny. It’s brewed by Guinness, but it surely’s surprisingly scarce to search out on faucet, even in Eire.
“Go to O’Regan’s Pub,” he stated, exhibiting me the coordinates. “Strive a pint of Kilkenny. It’s among the best beers I’ve ever had. When you attempt it, you’ll know what I imply. It’s creamy, stuffed with taste, and in contrast to the rest.”
Kilkenny is a singular mix of Smithwick’s and Guinness — a creamy, nitro-infused ale with a style that borders on ethereal. At first sip, it’s a revelation, with a smoothness and richness that rivals even the most effective stouts. For these seeking to discover Irish beer, Kilkenny is crucial. At the least that’s how I felt.
On my windy stroll to O’Regan’s, I stumbled upon the oldest gate in Eire, relationship again to the Viking interval. Then, I unintentionally discovered myself at St. Patrick’s Cathedral. The St. Patrick. Oops. The town — and darn effectively the entire nation — is overflowing with historical past like an overpoured glass of frothy brew.
The Finest (Irish) Beer Ever: Kilkenny Cream Ale
I lastly discovered myself at O’Regan’s, a comfortable, down-home pub within the coronary heart of Dublin. After a protracted day of strolling by the town’s winding streets and bustling lanes, my toes have been sore, and the Irish drizzle had simply began to settle in, leaving me craving heat, a bit consolation — and, after all, the right pint.
I had journeyed by Eire’s beers, tasting the most effective, from the well-known Guinness to everyman brews like Murphy’s, Beamish, and plenty of others. However I knew my quest wouldn’t be full till I attempted Kilkenny.
The bartender greeted me with a realizing smile as I ordered, and I might inform he was used to seeing beer pilgrims like me in search of out the legendary nitro ale. As he poured, I watched the beer settle beneath a head so thick and creamy, it seemed virtually like a cloud had landed in my glass.
The pour was mesmerizing, with a cascading impact that rolled down the glass like velvet. Removed from the inky blackness of a typical stout, Kilkenny’s deep amber-red shade caught the low afternoon mild of the pub, giving it a wealthy, inviting glow. The thick head sat completely on prime, promising that first sip (or gulp) can be value each step of the journey.
I lifted the glass, inhaling the nutty, roasted aroma combined with a delicate sweetness, and took a protracted pull. It was an expertise, not only a drink. The feel was easy and opulent, the form of creamy richness that lingers on the tongue and someway feels each heavy and light-weight. It was indulgent but refreshing — a creamy, nutty masterpiece that stood as a real tribute to the ability and soul of Irish brewing.
Sitting there in O’Regan’s, surrounded by the heat of dialog, I felt I’d discovered the right Irish beer. Kilkenny was the head of every part I had tried all through Eire. It had the creaminess of a stout, the malt depth of a pink ale, and the satisfying end of a wonderfully poured Guinness.
Kilkenny was, undoubtedly, the holy grail — a pint that embodied the spirit, heat, and craftsmanship of Eire. And whereas my Irish beer journey could have led me to many unimaginable brews, Kilkenny Cream Ale was the one one which made me actually really feel like I’d lastly discovered dwelling.
