Galway Hooker Sixty Knots India Pale Ale

6.5%

Galway Hooker was one of the first craft brewers in the country, set up in 2006 by cousins Ronan Brennan and Aidan Murphy. Murphy is very happy with the boom in new craft brewers. ‘It’s a funny kind of thing; the competition elevates the whole craft beer market so it is mostly positive. The more beers, the more momentum we all seem to get.’ Originally set up in Roscommon, they moved to a bigger new brewery in Oranmore two years ago. ‘It is certainly a lot more comfortable’ says Aidan.

Sixty Knots was launched about a year ago, and is now a permanent fixture, alongside the original Irish Pale Ale, Stout and Amber Ale. ‘Basically we were trying to produce a traditional India Pale Ale with high alcohol content and a  high level of bitterness (it has 60 ibu). It is a little bit different from other Irish IPAs in that it has a combination of the punchy citrus of American hops combined with the earthy spiciness of European hops’. Sixty Knots certainly has a lively bitterness, but it is very nicely underpinned by pine resin and a broad maltiness.

Merinas Verdejo 2014, Uclès, Spain

I featured the red version of this wine a few weeks back. Both come from a sub-region of  La Mancha, the huge expanse that makes up much of  central Spain. The reds are usually reliable and inexpensive, but producing white wine in such a hot area can be challenging. This one is very good however.  Verdejo is the ancient grape variety used to make Rueda further north in Spain. But here it makes for a fresh crisp refreshing wine with plump pear fruits. A very nice price too - €12 from On the Grapevine; Drink Store; Red Island; Nectar; Green Man.