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DRINKS The Battle of the Black Stuff Has Beamish
set its sights on Guinness domination? In the realm of dark brews, Guinness has long reigned supreme. Its rich history, distinctive flavour, and iconic status have made it not just a beer but a cultural touchstone, particularly in Ireland and increasingly in the UK. However, as the saying goes, every king has its challengers, and this year, Beamish is poised to challenge the Guinness throne, at least in Ireland. For years, Guinness has soared in popularity, becoming not just the go-to pint in Ireland but also claiming the title of Britain’s most popular beer. With one in nine pints sold in the UK being Guinness, its presence is undeniable, especially in London, where it accounts for one in six pints consumed. The rise of Guinness has been attributed to various factors, from nostalgia to hipster appeal, but with popularity comes scrutiny, and critics have not been shy in pointing out the pitfalls of poorly poured pints. The popular social media account shitlondonguinness tracks the worst examples of the pint you can find in London. But whenever something catches fire like that, there is always a backlash among the culture from which it originally came. Yes, we will always be home to the best Guinness in the world despite Nigeria having three times the amount of breweries, but are we married to it? Redditors think not. If Reddit is one thing it’s an eerily accurate harbinger of trends to come, much like the Simpsons. Some on the r/Dublin SubReddit have been turning away from the OG Black stuff, with one avid poster saying they recently came ‘to the conclusion that both Beamish and Murphy’s are nicer than Guinness’. This shift in consumer preference signals a potential turning of the tide in the stout wars. So here comes Beamish, the dark horse of the stout world. While Guinness may have the lion’s share of the market, Beamish is steadily gaining ground, particularly in the heartland of Ireland. After we collectively banded together, somewhat independently, to make Island’s Edge flop, Heineken has realised their error and seems now to be pumping money into Beamish and Murphy’s. One only has to go to any working man’s bar and see Beamish getting a €3 pint push these days. Now I’m talking actual working man’s pub, not ‘The Workmans’. Hit up your local GAA bar and see if I’m not wrong. It’s also been creeping up on special in more millennial-focused spots such as Juno for only a fiver. But what sets Beamish apart from its formidable competitors? Some argue it’s the authenticity of its Cork roots, with Beamish being brewed in County Cork since 1792. Others praise its smoother, less bitter taste, making it a more palatable option for those looking to switch up their stout game. Less romantically, by under-pricing Guinness, they may get a lot of stout devotees to switch teams from Diageo. Is this the year we, as a city, embrace the rebel stout? As Beamish continues to gain traction, it presents a unique opportunity for drinkers to embrace the rebel stout, challenging the status quo and redefining what it means to enjoy a pint of dark beer. Whether Beamish will dethrone Guinness remains to be seen, but one thing is certain: the battle of the black is heating up, and stout enthusiasts are in for an exciting ride. 40 Midleton Very Rare turns 40 Midleton Very Rare is hitting the big 4-0! Yep, since 1984, this premium Irish whiskey has been wowing palates, and now, it’s time to celebrate its iconic journey. To mark this momentous occasion, Irish Distillers is rolling out the Midleton Very Rare 40th Anniversary Ruby Edition. It’s a blend of single-pot still and singlegrain Irish whiskeys aged for four glorious decades and finished in a ruby port cask. They’ve even roped in the spirits of past Master Distillers to craft this masterpiece, with each drop bringing a taste of history and innovation. Now, it’ll set you back €20,000, but hey, I’m sure you can taste the history in every drop. It comes complete with a bespoke crystal decanter from Waterford Crystal and a ruby-encrusted case. Oh, and there’s even a one-of-a-kind NFT bottle up for grabs because why not add a sprinkle of digital sparkle to the mix? So Happy Birthday MVR, thanks for 40 glorious years! midletonveryrare.com Dingle Launch Cónocht an Earraigh Cónocht an Earraigh is here to shake up your notion of whiskey sampling. Graham, their Master Distiller, is a bit of a mad scientist, except instead of bubbling potions, he is forever crafting the perfect blend of whiskey and vibes that scream, “Hey, we’re Dingle, and we do things differently!” So, what’s the deal? Dingle of all the 42 plus Irish whiskey distilleries now fermenting on the island of Ireland are the most aligned with ancient Irish traditions. This Single Malt, aged in Bourbon and Cabernet Sauvignon casks, is inspired by the March Equinox for which it’s named. The 6th in the Wheel of the Years Series, this release honours the ancient celebration when night and day align, and the earth’s energy comes into balance. The bottle costs €85 and will be available locally and nationally from March 20. shop.dingledistillery.ie Ireland makes world’s first Solera whiskey Roe & Co is making waves with the world’s first Solera-style whiskey. Solera is an ageing method that is typically associated with sherry. It’s sort of complicated, but if you imagine you’re making whiskey, but instead of just ageing it in one barrel and calling it a day, you decide to use a bunch of barrels stacked on top of each other like a boozy game of Jenga. Every year, you take some whiskey from the bottom barrel (the oldest stuff) and replace it with new whiskey. Then, you move up the chain, refilling each barrel with the whiskey from the one below. How Head Distiller Lora Hemy managed to talk Diageo into following her vision is beyond me, but this manically intense process has made some solid juice. This release is only available from the distillery for €85, but it’s definitely worth a punt. roeandcowhiskey.com Paddy’s Day Spirits at ALDI Dive into the true taste of Lá Fhéile Pádraig with Ardfallen Irish Whiskey reduced to the legal minimum of €22.09. Crafted by the legends at West Cork Distillers exclusively for ALDI, this whiskey is as premium as it gets for a score. Triple-distilled and aged in bourbon casks for that extra oomph. It even snagged a shiny 1 Star at the Great Taste Awards 2022, so you know it’s legit. Sip it neat, mix it up in a cocktail, or throw it over ice with your go-to mixer—whatever floats your shamrock. They’re also slinging Jameson for the same price from March 11th to 18th. Raise your glasses to that bargain this bank holiday. aldi.ie