Siberia by The Ilkley Brewery.

My parents had a bedroom at the end of their house, nicknamed Siberia.
This was, for many years, where I resided.
Long after I have moved out of home, I continue to spend a lot of time in Siberia, not literally but metaphorically it just seemed to stick...

Siberia, unlike my general status, is a quite delicious rhubarb Saison from Yorkshire.
By definition, a Saison is a broadly defined P.A, by this I mean pale ale, not pain in the a*$
It's generally a beer around 7% and by this I mean ABV, not sense.
It's Highly carbonated with fruity and spicy characteristics and I'm all of the above!

Siberia seemed to be an apt beer to taste today 'cause, I yet again find myself residing in the metaphorical Siberia, with no ride home and no fur coat... However, this liquid version is far more pleasant.

So, for all those that find themselves relating to this post, buy a bottle of Siberia instead of living in it.

It's a golden Ale, thin white head  with a nice spritely carbonation.

It has a sweet fruit nose, slightly perfumed with fresh peaches and stoned fruits.

The palate has a lovely subtle sweetness with tangy residual rhubarb flavours and a kind of lavender finish.

FAR more appealing than the icy bedroom or that commonly experienced freezing cold shoulder.

It's available alongside the Mary-Jane IPA in Deveney's of Dundrum, both by the Ilkley Brewery, Yorkshire.

See you in Siberia,
Ruth.

Flying Dog The Dead Rise & SuperTramp,

I don't know about you guys but, longer days and summer beers couldn't have got here soon enough.

I was getting a little tired of Porters, Stouts, Christmas spiced ales and microwavable soups, the first sign of day light after 5.30pm and I was digging out the sun lounger and last years parasol, I'm testament to this as, as I write this I don shorts whilst straddling a plug-in radiator my granny lent me...

In my book, there are 2 seasons, Winter and Summer, the latter being a quarter of the length of the first but, 10 fold more fun, you get to drink alcohol at lunch without being high-browed, it's perfectly acceptable to have a gin and tonic at 12pm and summer seasonal beers become both as consumable and available as Italian sparkling water.

So, the first of the season...
The Flying Dog Brewery.
I have a serious soft spot for this brewery, apart from their beers being great, Ralph Steadman's artwork is worth the bottle price alone.

The dead Rise Summer Ale. A 5.6% Spiced summer ale. Lovely carbonation, fresh hoppy flavours and some jalapeno residue on the finish. Floral and crisp, a touch of sweetness, an all round grass-cuttin' beer.
Golden ale, thin white head, nose of tropical fruit and fresh hop...
Drink me cold with a hot barbecue of lobster and crab, decent company and dogs.

SuperTramp, Tart Cherry Ale.  A 5.7% Dry cherry flavoured ale. It pours with a fleck of red and a thin white head. The nose is fresh cherries and malt. The palate drinks like a geuze lambic with a fine dry cherry flavour, tart...? Most definitely but a little residual sugar on the finish.
Drink me cold with a lamb kebab, some hot coals and an Alpine fleece.

I didn't get action photographs, I was a little distracted and also, by the time I thought of it, the alfresco dining had numbed my fingers.

Get down here and avail of the new season beers, to celebrate, I'm selling them at 4 bottles for €10.00, a steal and if you collect the 5 tokens, there's a distinct possibility (not a promise) of sunshine.
(T&C's apply)

Kindest,
Ruth.