Islay Ale!

by **Mr Fjeld** » Fri Aug 26, 2005 3:36 pm

Just wondering if any of you - particularly those who attended the whisky festival in Islay - have tasted Islay Ales? Looks like they've got quite a selection, especially for being a newly established (micro-) brewery!

http://www.islayales.com/

Oh, and I'd like to refer to the "whisky & beer-thread" too - do you know if there are/have been a peated ale around?

Skål!
Christian

by **Deactivated Member** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 5:29 am

I had Islay Ales last October, Christian. They are decent, serviceable cask ales--nothing really special, but a most welcome addition to the pub scene in Islay. I had a chance to talk to one of the two partners; they are semiretired lads (at least one military) who were looking for something to do while waiting for their pensions. I heartily applaud their efforts, and think that they will improve their product with experience--they've only been at it for a year and a half.

I'm sure I've had a peated beer somewhere or other. I'm not sure it's a good idea, though. The only specific beer I can think of is Raftman, made by Unibroue in Quebec from whisky malt, but not peated, I don't think. Unibroue make some fantastic beers, but I didn't think this was one of them. Then again, they brew in the Belgian tradition, and I am not the best judge of that sort of thing.

by **kallaskander** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 8:03 am

Hi there,

the German "Keeper of the Quaich" Prof. Walter Schobert, a well known whisky writer, expert and lecturer in Germany has a hand in the enterprise. How come? He bought a house on Islay, next to Bruichladdich and lives there part-time. I ask him next time he comes to my favourite whisky shop to do a tasting in December, if they use distillery malt and if they plan to use peated malt.

I tried their beer. I found the Nerabus to be the best. The Ardnave was too bitter for me but the Dun Hogs Head was a fine pint.

Cheers!

Greetings
kallaskander

by **Deactivated Member** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 4:23 pm

Kallaskander, your post causes me to think that the lads have already moved well past the stage I saw them at. They'd started in the spring last year and I think they spent the summer just trying to keep up with demand. Perhaps the winter season has allowed them to fine-tune a bit. I'm looking forward to seeing how they're doing.

Too bitter? Impossible!

I've never had a pint that was too bitter, or a dram that was too peaty. That's the good stuff! Traditional Scottish beers like Caledonian 80/ are malty with little bitterness, as hops aren't generally grown in Scotland. But for my money, there's nothing better than a Yorkshire bitter, such as Timothy Taylor's Landlord. There are good Scottish versions, like Deuchar's IPA and Orkney Red MacGregor.

Professor Schobert didn't buy the Abbotsford, did he?

by **Mr Fjeld** » Sat Aug 27, 2005 9:20 pm

Thanks Kallaskander and Mr T for your responses. I'm quite eager to try the ales of Islay and hope I'll get the chance in a not too distant future!

Skål!
Chrisitan

by **kallaskander** » Mon Aug 29, 2005 7:56 am

Hi there,

Mr T I love the English bitters but I loath (most) German beer for too much bitternes. The Ardnave reminded me of German beer, that is why I think it is the odd one out.

Greetings
kallaskander