Life

Craft Beer: Electra and Brimstone, double and sessions IPA from Mourne Mountain

Electra, a double IPA which clocks in at 8 per cent
Electra, a double IPA which clocks in at 8 per cent Electra, a double IPA which clocks in at 8 per cent

WHEN Mourne Mountains Brewery first introduced itself to world five years ago, one of the features of its beers was that they were called after places in the celebrated mountain range itself. So they had the names of peaks, walking trails or other interesting places in an area which sparked the imagination of Narnia chronicler CS Lewis.

They’ve maintained that link to the land despite churning out what seemed like a thousand new beers in the past six months, and even added some arresting photographs to their stunning canned range.

Not being able to get myself along to their recent taproom, I snapped up a home delivery box instead (which arrived suitably chilled) and two beers stood out for me.

Electra is a double IPA which clocks in at 8 per cent. In order to get IPAs into the ‘double’ territory, brewers will ramp up the amount of malt in the brew because that’s what produces the sugar that the yeast feasts on to produce alcohol. There are also a fair amount of hops in this one too, namely Mosaic, Cashmere, Idaho7, Chinook, Columbus and Comet.

The result is a thick and chewy DIPA, bursting with tropical flavours. That thick mouthfeel is a fair indication that this is a double, but the drinkability of this beer wouldn’t suggest a higher abv.

Cramming a truck load of hops into an IPA is sure way to get bold aromas and flavours too, with the plant doing a lot of legwork to bring not only a bitter finish to many beers, but also some nice fruity wafts and tastes. Different hops have different characteristics, which can even vary depending on when they are added.

Brimstone is a session IPA from Mourne Mountain clocking in at 4.5 per cent and is hopped in various ways with Chinook, Idaho7, Comet, Columbus, Cashmere and Mosaic.

These help to impart some sweet and juicy flavours. However, the yeast is also invited to the flavour party here too, with Verdant yeast used in the brew. This can contribute flavours of stone fruits such as apricots and peach.

All this goes together to make Brimstone a hazy light amber colour in the glass with a fluffy white head which fires out the sweet and juicy aromas that carry into the flavours flooding your palate seconds later. There’s also a hint of orange peel bitterness too, kind of like marmalade on piece of warm toast.