Before I even tasted the beer, I was really
hoping I would like the N17 rye ale. I had heard about this new brewery last
summer who were strong on the ethos of minimising waste and maximising the
potential of everything from their grain to the people who work there.
Their website currently claims to have
found eight uses for the byproducts of their beer, from dog biscuits to
mushrooms. It really shows how creative thinking can cut down on waste. N17 also see potential where others may not,
in their hiring of people who might otherwise find it difficult to find
employment, such as those with learning or intellectual disabilities.
I was delighted last year at the Irish craft beer and cider festival in the RDS when I finally got to try one of their beers,
only to discover that good people do in fact, make good beer.
In your glass the beer settles with a clear
amber to brown colour, with a decent off white head resting on top for the
first few minutes. The smells are mainly of grass and sweet toffee and I personally
wouldn’t pick out the rye if I hadn’t seen the label. The taste is where this
beer really shines, caramel up front and gentle sweet fruits on the finish.
I’ve had a few bottles of this fella over
the last 12 months and my advice would be not to drink it too cold. The sweet
malty flavour, especially towards the end, will really shine through when the
beer is just a tad warmer than usual serving temp. Just give it half an hour in
the fridge, to drop a few degrees from room temperature and you should be ready
to go.
I’ve only seen N17 beer in some of the better
stocked off licenses around town; so if you do see a bottle, make sure to grab
it. This is another flavoursome and drinkable Irish beer and I look forward to
trying their new Summer Ale, although I might have to give up on waiting for a
sunny day to drink it on.
