Beer Review: Dungarvan Copper Coast Red Ale

I have really enjoyed the two beers from Dungarvan brewing that I have tried so far (Black Rock Stout and Helvic Gold). Next up was Dungarvan's take on the traditional Irish Red Ale.

Irish Red Ale, not a style I
can get excited about



The beer pours a rusty red colour with a thin off-white head. Aroma is subdued with sweet malts being the only dominant aroma. Medium bodied with a nice level of carbonation. A nice beer, however it does not provide any standout characteristics. The hops are very subdued, almost invisible (which many will say is in keeping with the style), while the malts are there but don't offer enough of a punch. Also I discerned a very slight metallic aftertaste which didn't help.

Overall very dissapointing after I really enjoyed their stout and blonde beers.

To me, Irish Red Ale is just not a style of beer that you can get excited about. A nice change would be for some of the Irish brewers to go more the route of an American Amber Ale crossed with an Irish Red, this would provide you with the chewy malty background but then also give a nice hop punch that would balance everything out.

Beer Review: Dungarvan Helvick Gold, Blond Ale

Following on from the delight that was Dungarvan's Black Rock Stout it was with anticipation that I opened the seond of their three offerings, Helvick Gold, a bottle conditioned and unfiltered blonde ale. I was not to be dissapointed.

Dungarvan's Helvick Gold,
highly recommended

Helvick Gold pours a light golden amber with a thick white head. It has a very hoppy aroma with hints of pine needles and citrus, it is a very enticing aroma. Light bodied with a very smooth clean taste on the palate. Very refreshing. The malt profile offers a good platform for the hops to shine and like the aroma the pine and citrus are present in the taste with a nice subtle level of bitterness on the end.

As with their Black Rock Stout, Dungarvan have brewed a very high quality, complex beer. The piney/citrussy flavour and aroma, coupled with the clean refreshing mouthfeel, make this the perfect summer session beer. Highly recommended.