Metalman Pale Ale - Beer of the Month

KRISTIN JENSEN - co-author of Slainte! The complete Guide To Irish Craft Beers and Ciders - introduces us to Metalman Pale Ale, from the first Irish microbrewery to can their beer instead of bottling it

ABOUT THE BREWER

Born of a desire to see more beer produced by independent brewers in Ireland, Metalman Brewing is the brainchild of beer enthusiasts Gráinne Walsh and Tim Barber, who wanted to see better availability and choice of tasty, authentically Irish beer.

The name of the brewery is inspired by the famous Metal Man navigational aid on the Waterford coast, which was erected in 1823 and stands on one of three pillars overlooking the bay.

The first beer, Metalman Pale Ale, was brewed under contract at the White Gypsy Brewery and launched in March 2011. Production then moved to their own Waterford brewery in May 2012, housed in what used to be an old jute factory just outside the Waterford city centre.

In the spring of 2015, Metalman became the first craft brewery in Ireland to can their beer instead of bottling it. Their flagship Metalman Pale Ale, which is brewed all year round, is currently the only beer being canned. Their Hardknott Yerba Porter is available in bottles, the result of a collaboration brew with the Hardknott Brewery in Cumbria.

Regular seasonals (released around the same time every year) include Metalman Windjammer, an amber beer; Metalman Alternator, a wheat beer; Moonbeam, a dark beer with a light body; and Heat Sink, a smoked porter with a touch of cayenne pepper that was introduced in 2015.

The Chameleon range is their vehicle for experimentation – when they want to try something a bit different or a variation on a theme, they brand it under Chameleon. So far the range has included ginger, chilli, lime, wheat and lager 'and a multitude of dry hops'.

They brew something different every month, so check their website for current offerings as well as a list of the pubs and stockists where you can find the beers. You can also catch them at craft beer festivals around Ireland throughout the year, where they’re sure to have something interesting and unusual on offer.

ABOUT THE BEER

Beer style: Pale ale
ABV: 4.3%
Colour: Hazy dark gold
Serve in: Mug or pint glass

Matches well with: Burgers, cold meats, creamy pasta sauces, grilled meats, roast beef, roast chicken, ploughman’s lunch, quiche, Thai food

Metalman has been around long enough (since 2011) to be an old pro now, but they are back in the news again for being the first Irish microbrewery to can their beer instead of bottling it. And what gorgeous cans they are too, with their distinctive Art Deco branding.

Metalman brews a seasonal range of different beers, but this American-style pale ale is their flagship, produced all year round, and is currently the only one that’s available in cans.

It’s a hazy dark gold in the glass with a delicate white head that pours thick but then quickly bubbles away. That cloudiness is because the beer isn’t pasteurised or finely filtered, letting more of the flavour shine through.

The aroma is a direct forerunner to the flavour – both are fruity and floral. A first whiff is of peaches and apricot jam, giving way to the hoppy pine resin as it warms up after a few minutes. The flavour is a zesty grapefruit with grassy notes too, and an upfront, bracing bitterness. It’s very drinkable and refreshing and you’ll find yourself popping open a second can altogether too easily.

Pale ales are a great beer for matching with food because they pair well with so many different things. Try it with burgers, cold meats, creamy pasta sauces, grilled meats, roast beef, roast chicken, quiche, Thai food or my personal favourite, a hearty ploughman’s lunch.

When it comes to cheese, try a pale ale with a semi-soft white rind cheese, such as a Camembert or Brie. Closer to home, look for the Cooleeney, St Killian or Wicklow Baun Irish farmhouse cheeses. The hoppy bitterness of a pale ale is a good contrast to the buttery richness of the 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 .