About This Beer
Ballykilcavan An tSiur Barrel Aged Saison 50cl 6% is a limited-release Irish craft beer from Ballykilcavan Brewery in Stradbally, County Laois. It began life as Ballykilcavan's Lemon Drop Saison before undergoing an exceptional 24 months of ageing in Chardonnay barrels.
That combination makes An tSiur an intriguing meeting point between farmhouse-style beer and wine-barrel ageing.
The starting beer is a saison, a style traditionally characterised by a dry, refreshing profile and expressive fermentation character. In An tSiur, the Lemon Drop Saison brings a bright citrus dimension to that foundation before the extended barrel maturation adds another layer entirely.
Twenty-four months is substantial ageing time for beer. During its time in Chardonnay barrels, the saison has had an opportunity to develop additional oak and vinous complexity while integrating the original beer's citrus and farmhouse character.
The result is very different from the heavily roasted imperial stouts often associated with barrel ageing. Here, the base beer is lighter, brighter and drier, allowing the influence of the Chardonnay barrel to sit alongside citrus and saison character rather than dark malt.
At 6% ABV, An tSiur also remains relatively restrained in strength. Its complexity comes from the combination of beer style and extended maturation rather than a particularly high alcohol content.
For anyone exploring Irish craft beer, it offers a particularly unusual expression from an independent Irish brewery and a chance to see what extended wine-barrel ageing can bring to saison.
Tasting Notes
- Aroma: Bright citrus accompanied by expressive saison character, wine and oak.
- Flavour: Lemon-led freshness and dry farmhouse notes develop into vinous Chardonnay-barrel character and oak complexity.
- Mouthfeel: Refreshing and lively, with the extended barrel maturation bringing additional depth.
- Finish: Dry and persistent, with citrus, wine and oak lingering after each sip.
The key to An tSiur is the relationship between the original Lemon Drop Saison and its two years in Chardonnay barrels. Rather than covering the underlying beer, the barrel ageing adds complexity to an already characterful saison.
Serve it cool rather than ice cold. Allowing the beer a little time in the glass should give its more delicate fermentation, wine and barrel aromas an opportunity to open up.
About the Brewery
Ballykilcavan Brewery is an independent Irish craft brewery based on Ballykilcavan Farm near Stradbally in County Laois. The Walsh family has lived and farmed at Ballykilcavan since 1639, with the current generation combining that agricultural heritage with brewing on the farm.
The brewery itself is housed in the farm's original stone grainstore, which dates from around 1780. Ballykilcavan grows its own barley, uses water from its own well and mills its barley on site before brewing.
Provenance is a particularly important part of Ballykilcavan's approach. The brewery states that its beers are matured for longer than standard and are packaged unfiltered and unpasteurised, an approach intended to preserve flavour and complexity.
The farm's barley is malted nearby in Athy before returning for use in Ballykilcavan's beers. The brewery also maintains its own hop garden and has used hops grown on the farm for limited seasonal releases.
An tSiur shows another side of the brewery's approach. Instead of focusing solely on fresh ingredients and hop character, this release uses time and Chardonnay barrels to transform an existing saison over a full 24 months.
That makes it an interesting addition to the wider range of Irish craft beer produced by independent breweries around the country.
Food Pairings
An tSiur's combination of citrus, dry saison character and Chardonnay-barrel influence makes it particularly versatile at the table.
Try it with roast or grilled chicken, particularly dishes incorporating lemon and fresh herbs. The citrus character in the beer complements the food while its dry finish helps keep the pairing refreshing.
Seafood is another natural option. Grilled white fish, prawns or mussels should work particularly well with the beer's brighter character and wine-barrel influence.
Soft cheeses such as goat's cheese provide an interesting contrast, with the beer's acidity and dryness balancing the richness of the cheese. A simple goat's cheese salad with citrus or fresh herbs would make an especially suitable pairing.
It can also work well alongside lighter charcuterie, farmhouse-style dishes and foods that would ordinarily suit a dry white wine.
Given the unusual nature of the beer, however, An tSiur is equally worth drinking by itself. Pour it into a stemmed beer or wine glass and give it time to develop as it warms.
Try More Like This
If An tSiur appeals to you, explore our Other Beer selection for speciality styles that sit outside the more familiar IPA, lager and stout categories.
For more beer brewed around Ireland, browse our Irish craft beer range. TheCru.ie currently receives Google visibility for searches around both Irish craft beer and Ballykilcavan Brewery, making the Irish range the most relevant route for discovering similar locally brewed releases.
You can also browse the full Craft Beer & Craft Cider collection for limited releases and speciality beers from Ireland and around the world.
Ballykilcavan An tSiur stands out for a simple reason: a Lemon Drop Saison matured in Chardonnay barrels for a full 24 months. At 6% ABV, the result brings together citrus, saison fermentation character and extended wine-barrel ageing in an unusual Irish release.
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