Take Home Hag

Having seen the set-up in Carry Out Tyrellstown I've been waiting to try the new Craft Beer Growler System for a while. I got the chance just last week when White Hag had a sampling event in the Carry Out off licence in Clongriffin. Available to sample, in draught form were Tuireann Bán - a White IPA, and Meabh Rua - an Irish Bog Ale (really, a high % Red Ale, or Imperial Red Ale).

I should probably rewind a bit and explain what a "Growler" is. Simply put, it's a way of getting draught beer into your home by non-nefarious means. A system of sealed containers containing draught beer to bring home and enjoy at your leisure. Craft Beer Growlers are the people behind the system in Off Licences, and various pubs across the City of Dublin are also getting in on the act. I personally have a growler from L Mulligan Grocer, and I know the Galway Bay pubs have their own now, as do J. W. Sweetman's.

The actual system supplied by Craft Beer Growlers looks just like a bar with taps, and kegs under the counter. There is a selection of 4 rotating beers to choose from, and the line-up changes regularly enough, so that most times you arrive back with your growler, you'll probably end up with something different to bring home to sample.

The Growler Filling Station

As this was a sampling night for The White Hag Beers, I'll give a review of both of these. I had a small sample of the Meabh Rua while in-store, and also took home a 1 Litre Growler of the White IPA with me, which I drank over the course of the rest of the evening.

To start with, the Meabh Rua packs a whopping 8.2% alcohol volume - so it's definitely a sipper. It's a Red Ale, in the Irish Style - which means lots of up front Malt flavours (well, the 8.2% means lots more Malt too!). This leads to a nicely warrming, complex sweetness. Intense dark berry fruits, treacle and a bitterness to balance. The alcohol is comforting and not harsh. The amount of malt that goes into the production of "imperial" or "double" Ales needs to be balanced, and there is some hop flavour coming through here - however, in line with the style, they are not overpowering the malt profile, but simply serve to balance the beer. As you make your way through the ale and it begins to warm up slightly, the complexity becomes even more apparent  - brown sugar, molasses, caramel and toffee are all vying for attention, leading to an immersive experience of flavour, aroma and warmth that is not to be missed.

This is quite possibly the best Irish Red Ale I've ever drank, and during this cold snap, I'll be stocking up on these - even better if they are on draught from my Growler.

Next up was the Tuireann Bán, a take on a Belgian Wit, hopped up with some American style hops. It's quite lightly coloured, cloudy lemon yellow. Citrus hop flavours dominate, but there is a cleaner, sharper hit with less of a malt background that pure IPAs. In the background you can definitely detect Belgian influence, some yeasty earthiness, even spices and herbs - nothing specific, but enough to properly differentiate it from just being a cloudy paler version of their IPA. This hybrid style is worth seeking out.

White Hag is a pretty recent arrival to the ever-growing array of Irish Craft Brewers, and I also sampled the IPA and Christmas Ale recently too. Again, both of those beers are welcome addition in their respective styles, and if White Hag can maintain the quality they'll become a mainstay of the scene for years to come.

With my new Growler ready and willing to accept new and exciting beers from taps I can't wait to see what comes next.