Hop Head Ale

5% around €2.20 for a 33cl bottle

The Porterhouse was established in 1996, as the label proudly points out, making it very much the elder lemon when it comes to craft brewing. Nowadays, the operation covers seven bars in three countries, as well as a few restaurants, wine bars and nightclubs.  There are eleven regular beers and a few seasonal specials. Beers with flavour were not always so easy to sell. It took Oliver Hughes and Liam LaHart several attempts to get up and running. As for Hop Head, it was originally released in 1997, but withdrawn shortly afterwards as ‘the market wasn’t quite ready for it then’, and rereleased in 2009. An American style Pale Ale, this is aromatic bitter with crisp citrus hops.

Widely available from off-licences.

Touraine Sauvignon 2013, L’Arpent des Vaudons Jean-François Mérieau

12% €14.95

Jean-François is the third generation of Mérieau to run this estate in the Loire valley. The fourth generation is in place, with the birth of Jean in 2007. Let us hope he is as talented a winemaker as his father, who releases a series of really well-made, reasonably-priced red, white and sparkling wines, including this Sauvignon Blanc. It is fresh and fluid with lovely plump quince and peach fruits. It is dry but never rasping. Drink it as an aperitif, with salads, fresh goat’s cheese or anything fishy. If you are feeling really flush, Terroirs also have another Sauvignon, the magnificent Sancerre Florès from Vincent Pinard. Sadly it will set you back €29.50.

Terroirs, Donnybrook