It’s A Foreign Affair
Fri Jul 03 2015
O’Hara’s® Irish Craft Beers, part of the Carlow Brewing Company, has collaborated with Virginia USA, based Starr Hill Brewery to produce the limited edition, ‘Foreign Affair’ Red IPA.
Taste buds can get ready to party with their very own 4th July style fireworks, as this brew combines the best knowledge and practices of what both respective breweries have to offer, a collective declaration and assertion of brewing independence!
The hops:
Falconer’s Flight is a blend of hops all cultivated in the Northwest region of the United States. The unusual hop mixture uses specifically aromatic and citrusy hops, imparting scents of lemon, grapefruit, other citrus fruits and pine, and was designed to impart aroma and flavor to IPAs and American pale ales.
The brewing process:
Master brewers Robbie O’Cain (of Starr Hill) and Conor Donoghue (of Carlow Brewing Company) agreed on a collaborative Red IPA brew, using malt from Ireland and hops from USA. The result is a beer with massive amounts of flavour from liberal uses of speciality malt and Falconer’s Flight hops.
The look:
Copper red with a slightly tanned head.
The smell:
There is an immediate rich citrus aroma from the Falconer’s Flight hops. This initial hit of lemon and grapefruit is also complimented by pine and tropical fruit notes. It doesn’t take much to pick out the malt which adds a caramel and biscuit aroma while also accentuating the sweet aroma from the hops.
The taste:
At first the hops are strong with citrus and pine. This combines perfectly with the malt flavours to give a complex yet balanced lasting flavour. The caramel from the malt adds just enough sweetness to carry the hops through to a long finish where more subtle tropical and coconut hop flavours come through.
The Menu Combo:
If you are planning an ‘All American’ style BBQ, on July 4th, or any good summers day, this is the perfect accompaniment! Foreign Affair pairs well with spicy dishes, barbequed and grilled meats or salmon, so fire up the grill! The red IPA works well with roasted Mediterranean vegetables, green salads, and Gruyère cheese.
O’Hara’s limited edition, ‘Foreign Affair’ is available to purchase nationwide from leading independent off-licences and retailers, RRP €3.25.
