Irish lagers/Pils vs established german/czech styles

[irish_goat]

I've not seen O'Hara Helles about, is it tap only?

For the time being it is, they're still rejigging the recipe too. I would imagine bottles are on the agenda though.

[mr hoppy]

I see Beer Nut didn't care for it, but one of his gripes was that it was too much like a pils. 

[Eoin]

I see Beer Nut didn't care for it, but one of his gripes was that it was too much like a pils. 

Yeah, he is against the yellow fizzy stuff, but meh, his opinion is but one.
I don't tend to like the motor oil like stuff that he likes to drink.

<edit> I eat my words, he says helles is one of his favourite styles. If he says it is too pils like then it has missed the softness that is inherent in a helles.

[mr hoppy]

In fairness I think he's right when he says it's not a Munich Helles style beer, but it's still pretty tasty and it's definitely a lager. Given the state of play in terms of home grown lagers that's more than enough. I think something like that which, like Schiehellian, tastes good but doesn't slavishly (and unsuccessfully) imitate imports which are readily available anyway, is probably a good thing.

[Eoin]

In fairness I think he's right when he says it's not a Munich Helles style beer, but it's still pretty tasty and it's definitely a lager. Given the state of play in terms of home grown lagers that's more than enough. I think something like that which, like Schiehellian, tastes good but doesn't slavishly (and unsuccessfully) imitate imports which are readily available anyway, is probably a good thing.

Yeah horses for courses and all that, but if something has a style on the label it should at least fit that style......no?

[mr hoppy]

I guess that depends. I know what you mean, but on the other hand I think the idea of style has it's limits and I think commercial brewers are probably more interested in making a (hopefully) quality product, with available materials which they can sell at a profit than hitting a style guideline.

For instance, you could say Galway Hooker is flawed because it's too bitter to be an English pale ale and not high enough ABV to be an APA :.

On the other hand calling a beer something which means nothing to the average lager drinker and is only going to annoy people for whom it does actually mean something is an interesting marketing strategy, even if Helles only means light in German.

[mr hoppy]

You're absolutely right - I see that similarly, Carlow are calling Helles a "craft lager" as well rather than a "munchener helles" or a pilsner or something like that.

[Eoin]

You're absolutely right - I see that similarly, Carlow are calling Helles a "craft lager" as well rather than a "munchener helles" or a pilsner or something like that.

Ein Helles in Germany only means one thing...there is not the ambiguity that you are implying, you can't redefine an established style while using the style name.

[mr hoppy]

Ein Helles in Germany only means one thing...there is not the ambiguity that you are implying, you can't redefine an established style while using the style name.

I think they are more defining a new style to suit themselves while abusing an existing style name. . Wouldn't mind visiting their pub though.

[irish_goat]

It's also interesting that Carlow have their first tied house. Didn't know they owned any pubs.

It's their only pub, so far. Was chatting to Seamus and he said they'd consider opening more if the Kilkenny pub goes well. Would be great to see them open one in Dublin.

I'd not judge their lager just yet as they're apparently still tweaking the recipe.

[Eoin]

I think they are more defining a new style to suit themselves while abusing an existing style name. . Wouldn't mind visiting their pub though.

Therein lies my issue, if you sell you a car and hand you a bicycle on receiving your cash....I think you'd see the problem.

[Eoin]

What's in a name?

[mr hoppy]

Do try it though if you get a chance, even if it's not a proper German style lager and doesn't have any biscuits in it, it's a nice pint.

[Eoin]

Do try it though if you get a chance, even if it's not a proper German style lager and doesn't have any biscuits in it, it's a nice pint.

As you can see from my other post on lagers I am going through the Irish offerings and giving an honest opinion. I am rarely in a pub, so unlikely to get that too fast, but I am willing to try.

[mr hoppy]

Looking forward to dry hopping my next lager attempt with biscuits. Can't decide between chocolate digestives and jaffa cakes.