Rye River Brewery – Irish Beer Snob

Podcast Episode Thirty Five – An Interview with Alex Lawes

It’s a happy coincidence that most folk in the Irish micro brewing industry are of the sound sort. Many are happy to chat away, and talk about their love of all things beer.

We’re delighted to have been able to sit down with Alex Lawes, the Head Brewer of Rye River Brewing, brewers of The McGargles range. Not only has Alex overseen the stabilisation of the recipes of the McGargles beers, he’s also delivered the coup de grace of Francis Big Bangin IPA, which has quite frankly, made a number of people eat their words.

He’s also overseeing a range of brands for Dunne’s Stores (Grafters) and Lidl (The Crafty Brewing Co) and these beers have been punching well above their weight, none so much as the Pale Wheat Ale which I wrote about here

In this interview we cover a wide range of subjects but most importantly, an exclusive reveal of the next Whiplash Beer. After Alex teased us all with this a couple of weeks ago.

New beer, nearly here. pic.twitter.com/gAx1WjVRfU

— Whiplashbeer (@whiplashbeer) October 21, 2016

We hope you enjoy the interview, and keep an eye out from Next Week when this new beer drops, we had it out of the tanks, and it was tasting sawwweeettt!

You can download the episode here, via iTunes, and Stitcher Radio

Thanks for listening

Crafty Brewing Company – American Style Pale Wheat Ale

For a good while now, Rye River Brewing have been making beers for Lidl Ireland under the brand of “The Crafty Brewing Company” range that we have previously reviewed on a podcast here where we tasted their Pale Ale and IPA.

Needless to say we were very impressed by those beers especially given their price point and i’m delighted to say this is no different.

Here we have a pale wheat ale, that has a slight haze. The first thing I noticed was a great tropical aroma. That very familiar Mosaic profile takes centre stage, loads of citrus aroma, grapefruit, with an edge of pine. Juicy mango is the main aroma i’m taking, and the mosaic is ably backed up by Cascade. There is really good head retention all the way down.

On to the taste we have a lovely smooth bitterness with some of the sweetness of the malt there, but this finishes easy. Making it really easy to take large mouthfuls to quench your palette. The mouthfeel is absolutely superb.

Pound for Pound, this is Conor McGregor, one of the best beers i’ve ever tasted at this price point from an Irish Micro Brewery. No wonder the team there are so happy.

This is a special edition beer and for €1.99 a bottle, an absolute steal. Fill yer boots. I know i’ll be going back to Lidl branch tomorrow.