Category: Trim

2016, Bru Brewery, Chicken wings, Craft Beer, EmojiRanking, Gin Cocktails, Meath, Steak, StockHouse Restaurant, The Malt House, Trim

Always Sunny in Trim

by irishbeersnob1 Comment on Always Sunny in Trim

Quite recently we celebrated our seven year wedding anniversary, and decided to visit the town we got married in, Trim! My original idea was to dine in the Knightsbrook Hotel, the venue of said wedding, until I engaged in some twitter activity with a nearby restaurant called StockHouse Restaurant. So on a rare sunny Sunday off we hopped on the short bus journey. We started our day off with a couple of drinks in Trim Castle Hotel. We both enjoyed a stunning pint of Rua, a red ale from local brewery Bru. This is the only craft beer option on draft, but you’ll also find bottles of their IPA Ri. 

The StockHouse Restaurant is right around the corner from the hotel so we really didn’t have too far to walk. Upon arrival I was thrilled we had a reservation as it was quite busy. After a very welcoming and friendly greeting from Tom, one of the owners, we were shown to to our table and handed menus and cocktail recommendations. I noticed on the drinks menu they pride themselves on their range of Gin. On the beer side we were delighted so see they support local with stocking a range of bottled beer from Bru Brewery along with Boyne Valley Cider. 


To get us started I chose “Cloudy Sky” made from Haymans sloe gin with Fentimans Ginger Beer while Wayne chose “Ten of Hearts” Tanqueray N0.10, Aperol & Rhubarb bitters. We enjoyed these very much as we looked over the menus. There was so much choice we both decided to go with the Early Bird Menu.

My “Cloudy Sky” & Waynes “Ten of Hearts”

For starters no surprises in what Wayne picks, chicken wings. In his infamous words “I judge places on their chicken wings”. I don’t remember the last time he had something different. For me I chose the black pudding salad. We were both more than happy with our choices. Wayne actually uttered the words “best wings in Meath”. They were a decent sized portion with a generous dollop of blue cheese and garlic dip on the side. My black pudding was tossed with saute potato, bacon bits, lettuce leaves with a perfectly poached egg perched on top. Personally for me I would’ve preferred it without the potato. It was a beautiful dish and I couldn’t help myself stealing some of the blue cheese garlic dip to mix in.

Waynes Hot & Spicy Chicken WIngs


My Black Pudding Salad


For main course Wayne chose the striploin 8oz steak cooked medium and served with chunky chips and garlic butter on the side. While I decided on the confit duck leg served with herb stuffing, savoy cabbage, red onion and a spiced plum sauce. I chose garlic potato to accompany mine (good thing we’re married and both like garlic). Wayne devoured the steak and really enjoyed it. My duck was so tasty it fell off the bone. Both were thoroughly enjoyable dishes. Of course we had to have a beer, Wayne chose Bru Ri as I had Bru Rua. The beers were well suited to the dishes (perhaps something to use as a recommendation on the menu).


Waynes Striploin Steak

My Confit Duck


Needless to say we were both stuffed. When offered the dessert menu we politely declined. We took our time to finish our beers before ordering two espressos. During the course of our meal I found the staff very friendly and attentive without being intruding. It’s a very comfortable restaurant with a really lovely vibe. The walls of the restaurant are adorned with photos of the historic town and county. Before we were about to ask for the bill, Mick and Tom both presented us with a beautifully decorated surprise dessert, a mixed berry Eton Mess. So much for being stuffed, we devoured it. 


This was an extremely lovely visit to Stockhouse Restaurant and very good value for money with two courses on the early bird for €21.95 and the cocktail specials starting from €8.95. For €83.20 excluding tip it was well worth it. Thank you to Tom & Mick and all the staff for a wonderful experience we really enjoyed it and are already planning a return visit.

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Our day didn’t stop there, it would’ve been rude to be in Trim and not stop in to see Rodney in The Malthouse for a few beers. “We’ll stay till the 16.50 bus” ha yeah right, why stop there when you’re having fun. A few beers, laughs and a taxi home later that night saw the end to a fantastic day.

Bees, Blonde Ale, Craft Beer, English Ale, Hiver, Honey Beer, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, The Winehouse, Trim

Hiver – The Honey Beer

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Hiver – The Honey Beer
On a recent beer restocking trip to The Winehouse in Trim, I came across this. A blonde beer that has been brewed with honey. This very much appealed to my sweet side.

This is a traditional English style beer. Brewed proudly using urban London, English blossom and heather honeys. The use of challenger and UK cascade hops are so mild that they truly let the honey shine through.

Once I popped the bottle the aroma was tantalizing. I thought from the smell of the honey, the taste was going to be over bearing, but I was wrong. Its perfect. Not too sweet at all, it actually tastes like more. 
Its a wonderfully light beer that leaves a refreshing taste. I think this will be perfect as a summer beer. I can imagine enjoying a few of these with friends at a BBQ.

For more on the bee keepers visit www.hiverbeers.com.

Cheers 

Belgian, Kwak, The Winehouse, Trim

What’s the Kwak? It ain’t no duck that’s for sure

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on What’s the Kwak? It ain’t no duck that’s for sure

I can’t believe, i’ve never had this beer before. I’m a fan of Belgian ales, and visiting Belgium is on my agenda for 2014. Maybe the Brussels Beer Fest later this year.

Anyway I digress.

For Christmas my wife bought me a 750ml bottle with the accompanying glass complete with wooden handle. Now i’m sure you’ve all heard that story about the Delerium cafe in Brussels which takes your shoe as a deposit should you decide you want to scarper with the glass. 

Now, thats impressive glassware.

Onto the beer. 

Kwak, an amber strong belgian ale, weighing in at a hefty 8.4%. In the proper glass it pours a clear earthy amber, with an off white head. The head soon disapates however. The toffee flavours, with sweet mouth flavour, finishing slightly bitter. Very nice beer I must say. 

I got this at my local off license Trim Winehouse, I know it was for me for Christmas but i’d to pick it up myself. An altogether not unreasonable €16 approximately, with a show stopping glass.

Cheers



100, Founders, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Porter, The Winehouse, Trim, Ugly Duckling Dublin

Founders – Porter – The Ratebeer Centurion

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Founders – Porter – The Ratebeer Centurion

Founders have certainly been making an impact since they’ve arrived on our shores. I’ve already sampled the All Day Session IPA – link is on the right hand side.

I was eating out with a friend in Dublin recently, and it finished a little earlier than expected. So I decided to pop into my friends in Ugly Duckling Cafe to say hi, and also wait for Mrs Irishbeersnob who was on the late shift at work. Chinwagging as people who know me is my speciality and Derek and Darragh were really keen to tell me about their new beer additions, Founders. I asked for the porter as i’d not had this yet.

Firstly, I had had a few drinks already so I wasn’t really paying much attention in terms of notes etc, but I was blown away by it. Served at room temperature this was sensational. However I said to myself i’ll have to pick this up and try it again.  

So I was also more than pleased to see this in Trim Winehouse on my recent visit there, but have noticed it in O’Briens Navan. The Winehouse in Trim were selling this for €2.69 a bottle. I think they’ve also a special on with 6 for €15.00

This beauty pours dark. A lovely sweet aroma from the hops but notes of chocolate are there. You can also get a lovely hint of coffee. This has skyrocketed up the list to top of the pile as far as bottled porters go for me. Its also very easy to see how this has an average score on Ratebeer of 100.

At 6.5% its not a wimp, but this is perfect to sup on during these dark winter evenings. 

Beoir, Bru Brewery, Meath, Off License, Sowing Room, The Malt House, The Winehouse, Trim

Revolution in the Royal County Part 2

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Revolution in the Royal County Part 2

Trim, home to King John’s castle, the river Boyne, and Bru Brewery. Also home to The Malt House Pub, which has newly opened the “Sowing Room” in their fantastic attached Off License, The Winehouse.

On Friday the 18th of October, this was officially launched to the public, and Rodney Leonard was kind enough to invite yours truly to the launch night. 


The event was showcasing the beers from Bru Brewery (www.brubrewery.ie / @brubrewery), but also we had entertainment, and a beer tasting session presented by Dean McGuinness (@beermessiah) of Premier Beers, you may know him from his regular slot on Movies n Booze with Sean Moncrieff on Newstalk. There was also a great abridged show by Susan Boyle (@miss_susanboyle / http://www.awinegoosechase.com), who has a fantastic one woman show called “A Wine Goose Chase”

The tasting by Dean brought us through the beers newly installed at the Malt House. From Kona we had long board lager, which i’ve talked about before, supped many a pint on my recent trip to Florida, Thwaites Wainwright, Red Hook Long Hammer IPA, and Columba. Dean talked to us a little about each brewery and the styles and marketing strategy. We weren’t finished yet, there was a treat in store for us. There were cold glasses with Vanilla Haagen Daaz Ice Cream which then had Timmermans Strawberry Lambic poured over the top, an adult milk shake and it was delish. To cap it all off we’d a sup of the champagne style beer, Deus. Personally i didn’t like the Deus, i’ve always preferred 3 monts. 

All in all it was a great evening and the local Trim crowd were definitely piling in on the Bru beers, the lager was flying out. So much so that there was a resupply run done during the evening.

The next day Paddy from Bru had invited me along to a brewery tour he was doing with Rodney and some of the pub customers, who were going to the Kilbeggan Distillery for a tour. It was great to see the set up of Bru, and to hear where they are hoping to go.



Major Kudos to the lads who undoubtedly had a few the night before and still were there despite some sore heads. 

Also the range of beers in The Winehouse is really spectacular. Definitely the best i’ve seen in Meath so far. Mrs Irishbeersnob summed it up best, when walking into the Sowing Room. It felt like a kid walking into a sweet shop. Well Done. Best of Luck with it, and from talking to Rodney yesterday, its quite clear that customers will support this venture, and are coming from all over, i’ll be more than happy to pop over from Navan.