Saturday 28 July 2012



We celebrated the start of the 2012 London Olympics with these specially made 'Olympic Shots'.   The five Olympic rings represented by Jagermeister and four flavours of Mickey Finns Schnapps ( Blueberry, Sour Raspberry, Sour Irish Apple and Butterscotch ).

Friday 27 July 2012




  How well do craft brewers know their target market?  Also, how well do craft beer drinkers know how their favourite drink is made? Or do they care?

  The label on Stonewells Cider states that all their apples were sourced locally in and around Kinsale, Co. Cork and then goes on to list each variety of apple that went into it and fair dues to them, they've produced one of the best tasting ciders I've ever had.  Big on apple flavour with a crisp bite and an incredible expansive bouquet of apples and alcohol, Stonewells is a world away from the sweetish conformity of most commercial ciders.

  Apparently in times gone by they used to put nails in cider when it's being brewed.  Just a few regular two inch iron nails placed in the wooden barrel at the start of the brewing process.  By the time the cider is ready to drink the nails aren't there anymore, they've completely dissolved into the drink.  The more iron nails in the barrel the dryer and sharper the taste of the end product and its good news for all the anemic cider lovers.  Does anyone still make cider with this method?  I seriously doubt it, it seems a bit too extreme for most craft brewers and if there was a cider out there brewed with nails (from one of the more eccentric brewers, the ones who will try anything, sometimes with great results, sometimes not) it would have it's ingredients featured prominently in both the name and label.

  I'd buy a bottle anyway, just to try.  I might not like it but I'd definitely try it.  I am their target market.