‘Opsession IPA is the newest beer from Carlow’s O’Hara’s brewery. This is their twentieth year in business and they are celebrating by releasing a lot of special beers. This one strikes me as a very good English style Bitter Ale. It certainly smells like one with a dankness to the aroma. They didn’t spare the hops with this one which means it is quite dry and bitter. I’m well impressed with this 4% session beer. When I visited P. Egan’s in Moate the other evening I was able to test out the sessionabilty of this Session Ale and it passes the ‘no hangover after a few bottles’ test! This beer is available in all good off licences now.

The next in the ‘Hop Adventure’ series of Single Hop IPAs is Aramis. This one is a more mellow lightly spicy hop. The hop hails from the Alsace region of France. It has some subtle lemongrass and maybe even a little tea in the mix. Very nice beer but it comes in a little stronger at 5%. I think ‘Obession is my pick of the pair, and I can’t wait to see it on draught, pick up an ‘Obession yourself this weekend and keep an eye out for Aramis which is coming soon. I was given these for review purposes, but I have also bought more ‘Obession which I think speaks for itself. Sláinte!

