About This Beer
Ballykilcavan Clancy's Cans #17 After Party Fruity Lager 44cl 4.4% is a limited-edition Irish craft lager from Ballykilcavan Brewery in County Laois. Part of the brewery's Clancy's Cans series, After Party was brewed as a fresh, easy-drinking lager with an extra addition of hops providing hints of melon and strawberry.
The idea behind the beer is deliberately straightforward: a refreshing lager for summer drinking with just enough additional hop character to make things interesting. Ballykilcavan originally introduced After Party at the end of August, describing it as ideal for the final summer music festival.
Unlike a fruit beer made using fruit additions, the fruity character here comes from the hops. They bring delicate melon and strawberry notes while allowing the clean, refreshing lager character to remain at the centre of the beer.
At 4.4% ABV, After Party sits firmly in easy-drinking territory. It's a very different proposition from intensely hopped IPAs or heavily flavoured fruit beers and should particularly appeal to lager drinkers looking to explore something from an independent Irish brewery without moving too far away from the crisp, refreshing style they already enjoy.
As Clancy's Cans #17, this is part of Ballykilcavan's rotating series of limited releases rather than a permanent core beer. For anyone exploring Irish craft beer, the series offers an opportunity to try some of the brewery's more limited and experimental creations.
Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Bright and refreshing in the glass.
- Aroma: Gentle fruity hop aromas led by melon and strawberry.
- Flavour: Clean lager character with subtle melon and strawberry notes from the additional hops.
- Mouthfeel: Light, refreshing and easy-drinking.
- Finish: Crisp and clean with a lingering touch of fruity hop character.
After Party isn't intended to drink like a fruit juice or heavily fruited beer. Its melon and strawberry character comes from the additional hops, giving the lager a fruitier edge while retaining the refreshing character of the underlying style.
Serve it well chilled, particularly on a warm day, and allow it to warm slightly in the glass if you want the softer fruity hop aromas to become more noticeable.
About the Brewery
Ballykilcavan Brewery is an independent Irish craft brewery based on Ballykilcavan Farm near Stradbally in County Laois.
The brewery is closely connected to the farm on which it operates, with Ballykilcavan combining its agricultural heritage with modern independent brewing. Its range spans approachable core beers alongside seasonal and limited-edition releases such as the Clancy's Cans series.
That makes After Party a particularly good example of the more playful side of the brewery. Rather than producing another conventional lager, Ballykilcavan has kept the familiar easy-drinking foundation of the style while using additional hops to introduce the distinctive melon and strawberry character.
The beer's connection with summer music festivals is also particularly appropriate given Ballykilcavan's location near Stradbally, home of Electric Picnic. After Party was originally released towards the end of the summer festival season as a fresh lager suited to exactly that kind of occasion.
For more independently brewed beer from around Ireland, browse our full Irish craft beer selection.
Food Pairings
The light, refreshing character of After Party makes it an easy beer to pair with food. Rather than requiring rich dishes to match its intensity, it works particularly well with casual summer food and lighter flavours.
Try it with grilled chicken, where the clean lager character refreshes the palate while the subtle fruity hop notes provide a contrast to lightly charred flavours.
Burgers, sausages and barbecue food are similarly straightforward pairings, particularly when served with fresh salads or lighter sauces. The crisp finish can cut through richer or fattier foods without overwhelming them.
For something lighter, pair it with fish tacos, grilled prawns or a fresh summer salad. The hints of melon and strawberry can also complement dishes incorporating fresh herbs, citrus or gently sweet flavours.
It is equally at home without food: this is fundamentally an easy-drinking lager designed for relaxed summer drinking.
Try More Like This
If you enjoy the crisp base and subtle fruity hop character of After Party, explore our Lager, Pilsner & Helles range for more refreshing lager styles from Ireland and breweries around the world.
After Party is also a good starting point for lager drinkers interested in discovering more independent brewing. Our Irish craft beer collection brings together beers from breweries around Ireland across lager, IPA, stout, red ale, sour and other styles.
You can also browse the wider Craft Beer & Craft Cider range when looking for new and limited releases online.
Ballykilcavan Clancy's Cans #17 After Party keeps things deliberately uncomplicated: a 4.4% lager, extra hops and gentle hints of melon and strawberry, brewed for easy drinking and the last of the summer festival season.
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