The dark side of beers

[moijk]

When I started drinking after moving away from my rather religious parents, I went straight to the local "karsk", which is home brewed 98% mixed with coffee. A bit like a tougher version of russian coffee. Bought three beers to my first party, and they tasted like crap. it was beer usually known to be "easiest" to drink for us new to such things. Didn't taste any before the army two years later where I was offered two pints and drank them just to be nice. So fast forward 15 and so years and my new neighbor invites me for a beer tasting evening.

Well, they have chosen almost only ales by local brewers. IPA, Lager, Stouts etc. everyone labeled something with chrismas. Most was 9% and thereabout.

But I have to say, after that tasting I've started to get a liking for beer. Now, I still find the typical lager they drink here to taste like crap but I'm trying out every stout, porter and brown ale. Usually just one or two each weekend, but I prefer it to be about the taste. So the important part is that has one.

Now beside getting recommendations, my favorite so far is irish beers (or ales, I'm still confused about that). So I was thinking about inviting some friends over for an irish "evening".

But all I know about what the irish eat is stuff I don't want on my plate. I'll not be serving black pudding (from pig blood I presume), crubeens (pigs feet) or skirts and kidneys anytime soon.

So beside the story about a new born ale drinker, I'd like to know if there is good irish food (as in dinner and dessert) and an idea what they drink to that. Only requirement that one or the other suits a good stout or porter.

 

[sir_beaker]

Seriously, people in Ireland eat that? Well Black Pudding with a fry-up sure, it's just oats and herbs soaked in pigs blood. Sounds horrible but tastes delicious. The main ingredients I've come across that are used in Ireland are cabbage, bacon and potatoes (and sea food).

Starters
Soups or a chowder is normally served as a starter, so you could go for something like leek and potato, or a sea food chowder (the best restaurants sell them in a hollowed out cobs) - my favourite. Make sure to serve whichever with soda bread for the authentic Irish taste. Alternatively if you like the ales, Oysters and Guinness is nice.

Main Meal
If you want a themed Irish night the national dish is pretty much boiled bacon and cabbage

Desert
I don't think the Irish have a specific desert but you can always finish up with an Irish coffee

 

[protek]

When I started drinking after moving away from my rather religious parents, I went straight to the local "karsk", which is home brewed 98% mixed with coffee.

I don't think you can reach 98% by just brewing. Nice though that you can legally do your own moonshine in Norway.

 

[r0jaws]

Mince, boiled potatoes and cabbage are my enduring memories of eating at my Grandparents and Aunties in Belfast. Pudding, if any, was usually some sort of steamed pudding with custard.
As for drinks, Harp lager is not bad, if you like lager but I don't really enjoy any of the Irish Ales like Caffreys myself. Far too gassy and "artificial". Once you've enjoyed English Ales, of which there are thousands, everything else is kind of thin and our Gaelic cousins, the Irish Scots and Welsh have never really got to grips with real ale.
Bushmills whisky is very good though, I always have a bottle in the house.
Next time, have an English themed night, Roast Beef with roast potatoes rosemary and garlic with roast pasrnips and carrots glazed in honey boiled peas and gravy, For afters any number of treacle puddings with custard and take your pick of real ales to accompany. Lovely.

 

[RichyV]

When I started drinking after moving away from my rather religious parents, I went straight to the local "karsk", which is home brewed 98% mixed with coffee.

I don't think you can reach 98% by just brewing. Nice though that you can legally do your own moonshine in Norway.

Yes, you'd be lucky to see 25% ABV from just brewing alone...

 

[moijk]

When I started drinking after moving away from my rather religious parents, I went straight to the local "karsk", which is home brewed 98% mixed with coffee.

I don't think you can reach 98% by just brewing. Nice though that you can legally do your own moonshine in Norway.

Well, brewed was the wrong term. It's the stuff you make with a still, distill and end up with 90% something if you're good at it.

They joke about how to make karsk like this:

but karsk is popular in other parts of scandinavia too. I think it is called kaffeplörö or kaffeblörö in finland.

The legality is rather questionable, but the quality was superb. Where I come from they have a long tradition and a very slack attitude from the police.

Anyway, for someone who likes coffee it tasted way better than beer.

---------- Post added at 00:43 ---------- Previous post was at 00:22 ----------

I'll test the irish dishes that sounds a bit weird when I visit ireland, but if I'm going to make something i've not tasted how it is properly made it better sound good to start with.

sea food chowder looks easy to make and looks great, same with soda bread beside the fact we don't have buttermilk here. so either I have to make my own butter and use the milk from that, or use something else.

Bacon and cabbage. now that sounds nice. Not far from Norwegian cousine. would fit beer well. And I have to admit, bacon is a sure winner.

 

[Ed.D]

A friend of mine who's parents are Irish once told me that when he has a meal with them they often have white pudding, like black pudding but without the blood.

Moijk, you would probably enjoy some of the real ales available. I hardly ever drink now but I do like Carlsberg Export and Peterman's Artois.

Ruddles beer is another, if you can get it.

In my teens (18+) I used to enjoy a pint of JC and a packet of cheese and onion or two.

:beer:

 

[protek]

but karsk is popular in other parts of scandinavia too. I think it is called kaffeplörö or kaffeblörö in finland.

Kahviplörö means actually used coffee grounds.

 

[cugar124]

Irish food and drink

Irish food and drink

Hi Guys
Just to stick my bit in being an Englishman in Belfast Northern Ireland for the last 25 years LOL.

Champ this is mashed potato with chopped spring onions, then use some butter and milk to mash it into a nice thick smooth mash.
http://allrecipes.co.uk/recipe/5155/irish-champ.aspx

Veg here seems to be carrots cabbage onions and cauliflower.

Meat well have a look for Irish Stew its amazing or a good Northern Irish Steak check its Northern Irish none of the southern stuff its just not up to scratch

Receipt from the BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/irishbeefstew_73826

Or this one http://www.hairybikers.com/recipes/white-irish-stew/1127

as for drinks if you can get them Guinness or these guys http://www.whitewaterbrewery.com/index.php/beers there are others like harp but its like drinking water out of the Lagan (not recommended)

as for desert try Fifteens ( http://daydreamingfoodie.com/?p=307 )with a nice drop of Irish coffee I am biased and have to say Bushmills or Coleraine whiskey but Powers or one of the southern ones can be nice with a good strong coffee.

Hope it goes well

AL