O’Hara’s Win

O’Hara’s Barrel Aged Leann Folláin Wins ‘Best Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Irish Craft Beer’

O’Hara’s® Brewery is celebrating yet another accolade for its multi-award-winning Barrel Aged Series winning the ‘Best Irish Whiskey Barrel Aged Irish Craft Beer’ at the recent Irish Whiskey Awards.

 The awards comprised of a series of blind tastings of all entries by members of the Celtic Whiskey Club and also by the Irish Whiskey Society.

Seamus O’Hara, CEO of Carlow Brewing Company commented on the win, “The brewery is delighted with the recognition bestowed upon us by the members of the Celtic Whiskey Club and the Irish Whiskey Society, it’s a wonderful acknowledgement of the hard work and dedication of our team in Carlow. We’re always looking for innovative ways to give the customer the most interesting and flavoursome taste experience and an award like this gives us encouragement to continue to push boundaries. Ireland is renowned for its stout and its whiskey, combining the best qualities of both might be a no-brainer but it’s also a challenge to do them justice.  I’m delighted that our Barrel Aged Leann Folláin not alone holds its own but was winner of the top prize following a blind tasting.”

The O’Hara’s Barrel Aged Series has already won a number of awards including the Concours M Biere Pierre Celis Platinum Medal at Mondial de la Bière (September 2014) in France and was a Gold Medal winner at the Irish Whiskey Awards (October 2014).

The latest edition of the Barrel Aged Series will again use O’Hara’s Leann Folláin Extra Irish Stout and is now available in leading off-licences.  It is the first beer in the O’Hara’s range to utilise the new cork and cage bottling line which was recently installed in Bagenalstown. Each bottle is individually numbered and is one of only 8500 bottles produced.

 The Brewing Process:

This beer is crafted by filling casks which were previously used for Irish Whiskey with O’Hara’s Leann Folláin Extra Irish Stout. The rich, full bodied stout is aged in oak Irish Whiskey barrels for up to three months where it picks up the flavours of whiskey and oak cask. After ageing the beer is then bottle conditioned to give a gentle carbonation, bringing out the best of both the stout and the whiskey.

The Look:
Opaque black with a medium carbonated head.

The Aroma:
Light whiskey notes complement the rich stout aroma.

The Flavour:
This is a very smooth beer due to the wood ageing, which also adds some vanilla and oak. There is a good deal of sweetness balanced by the bittering hops while the whiskey flavour lingers throughout providing a gentle heat.

The Food Pairing:
Pairs well with dark meats such as beef and lamb. The rich stout makes a good combination with blue cheeses and cured meats. This is an excellent desert beer.

The fifth edition of O’Hara’s Barrel Aged Series is available in select independent off-licences and retailers in a 75cl cork and cage bottle, RRP €12.99.

Style: Barrel Aged Extra Irish Stout

ABV: 8.1%

IBUs: 40

Plato: 20°

Best served: 8-10°

Fermentation: Top Fermentation, Oak Whiskey Barrel Aged

Availability: Occasional cask, 75cl cork & cage bottle