Helvick Gold Irish Blonde Ale - Beer of the Month

KRISTIN JENSEN - co-author of Slainte! The complete Guide To Irish Craft Beers and Ciders - introduces us to Dungarvan Brewing Company Helvick Gold Irish Blonde Ale

ABOUT THE BREWER

Dungarvan Brewing Company was founded by brothers-in-law Cormac O’Dwyer and Tom Dalton along with their wives, Jen and Claire, with a view to offering the Irish beer drinker a greater choice in craft beers, with an emphasis on quality, craft and tradition. They have become noted for their cask ales and bottle-conditioned beers.

Launched in April 2010, the brewery is located in the historic market town of Dungarvan, which has a rich history of brewing as well as a strong food culture, both in food production and a thriving restaurant scene.

All the beers are brewed in small batches using only four ingredients – barley, hops, yeast and water – and are vegan friendly. The beer is kept in its purest form by bottle-conditioning it, which means that a natural carbonation process occurs within the bottle that eliminates the need for the addition of further gas to the beers. It isn’t filtered or pasteurised, so there is minimum interference between the raw ingredients (including the limestone-rich water of west Waterford) and the finished product.

The draught offering is cask ale, dispensed by traditional hand pumps, which the brewery supplies to select pubs throughout Ireland as well as at a range of festivals and events during the year.

The core range started off with Black Rock Irish Stout, a dry stout; Copper Coast Irish Red Ale, a fruity red ale; and Helvick Gold Irish Blonde Ale, a generously hopped blonde ale. New additions include Mine Head American Pale Ale and Mahon Falls Rye Pale Ale, while seasonal beers include Comeragh Challenger Bitter and Coffee and Oatmeal Stout. They also make limited edition beers for festivals, such as a recent seaweed saison. Check their website for suggested beer and food pairings and recipes.

Dungarvan Brewing Company beers can be found throughout Ireland. The brewery is happy to accommodate tours as long as you contact them beforehand to arrange your visit.

ABOUT THE BEER

Beer style: Blonde ale
ABV: 4.9%
Colour: Cloudy orange
Serve in: Mug, pint glass or stange

Are you new to craft beer and don’t know where to start without overwhelming your taste buds? Give this blonde ale a go. Or if you’re a regular craft beer drinker, this blonde ale will come into its own now that warmer weather is beckoning and you’re looking for something refreshing to sip or to pair with your seafood or serve at your next barbecue. At this point, Dungarvan Brewing Company is a seasoned pro in the Irish craft brewing scene and their Irish Blonde Ale is an oldie but goodie.

Blonde ales are a light ale ranging in colour from straw to deep golden. They tend to be only slightly bitter and a bit toasty, but as the brewer says themselves, ‘our blonde ale is not a bland ale’. This one has sharp citrus aromas of kumquat and lemon with a resinous, floral undertone. The taste is of marmalade, malt and biscuits with a hoppy sting in the tail that keeps things interesting.

The flavour is given added complexity by the fact that it’s bottle conditioned, which means it has a yeasty sediment in the bottom of the bottle and is naturally carbonated. Do you drink that sediment or pour it down the drain? It’s up to you, but it does contain some B vitamins, amino acids and minerals – a nicer way of getting your RDA than taking a pill.

Blonde ales are great thirst-quenchers when the sun comes out, but their mild flavour means they also pair beautifully with the lighter dishes you’ll want to eat now, like seafood, salads and chicken, as well as spicy food. They also complement mild cheeses like a fresh goat’s cheese or Toonsbridge Buffalo Mozzarella or a semi-soft white rind cheese like Cooleeney, St Killian or Wicklow Baun. But if it’s a contrast you’re after, then the brewery recommends a smoked cheese.

Kristin Jensen is a freelance editor specialising in cookery and food books and has worked with many of Ireland's top food writers and chefs.  She writes the Edible Ireland blog and is a co-founder of the Irish Food Bloggers Association and, together with Caroline Hennessy, is joint author of Slainte! The complete Guide To Irish Craft Beers and Ciders .