Life

Craft Beer: Ulster Exiles brew a bready taste of home in Mesca Uladh

Coming in a 660ml bottle and north of 8 per cent avb, Mesca Uladh is probably best shared
Coming in a 660ml bottle and north of 8 per cent avb, Mesca Uladh is probably best shared Coming in a 660ml bottle and north of 8 per cent avb, Mesca Uladh is probably best shared

THOSE guys who opened that pop-up crisp sandwich café last year were certainly on o something. The crunchy crispy and the soft bread combo were one thing, but the evocative flavour of a packet of Tayto cheese and onion was also sure to prove popular.

Whether it's Tayto crisps, soda farls or tattie bread, there some tastes of home which prove of comfort to 'Norn Iron' folk when they find themselves away from home. Five such exiles who found themselves working for breweries in England decided to get together to produce an imperial stout inspired by another taste of home – Veda bread.

The beer called Mesca Uladh, which means the intoxification of the Ulstermen, is an 8.4 per cent barrel aged stout which has had a hefty dose of Veda added during the mashing process.

Brewed at Weird Beard Brewery in London under the collaborative label of Ulster Exiles, the beer was unleashed on the local drinking public a couple of weeks ago, it is a mighty brew and, given that the name is also a nod old Irish mythology about feasting Ulster warriors, is best shared.

I say this because it comes in a 660ml bottle and is north of 8 per cent, so it could prove a bit much for one.

It pours a jet black colour with a tan head and, as expected, there are bready aromas. But you also get a good whiff of dried stone fruits, coffee and molasses.

Flavour-wise, there's a lot going on. It's very boozy to begin with and there is a distinct woody, whiskey flavour which comes from the barrel ageing. But there's a richness to it too. The Veda comes through with notes of treacle and brown sugar and, helped by a slightly creamy mouthfeel, there's slight buttery edge to it.

As I say, it's definitely one to share, given the size of bottle, strength and richness of flavour. It comes across a like a strong Belgian ale, with a definite yeasty undertone – not surprising given it's get a double helping of yeast from the bread and fermentation.

It's a lovingly crafted stout, which won’t be around for long so grab this comforting taste of home while you can, even if you're planning on leaving these shores any time soon.