Author Archives: Rob Nesbit

About Rob Nesbit

Beer drinker and all round annoyance. Likes drinking, football, cricket and having a good time.

Rascal Brewing Lemon and Lime Sour

Rascal Brewing

https://rascalsbrewing.com/

Brewed by Rascals Brewing Co
Style: Fruity Sour  
Inchicore, Dublin, Ireland

Emma Devlin and Cathal O’Donoghue were living and working in New Zealand and developed a taste and passion for the Kiwi craft beer industry which was booming at the time. In the spirit of adventure, they decided to change careers entirely and try their hand at making beer back in the old country. A bit crazy but sure why not, and that’s exactly what they did in 2014 setting up their own microbrewery in Dublin.

Ten years later and they are producing World Beer Award-winning beers in a state-of-the-art  brewhouse, with an off-licence and a very popular brewpub, serving great food and even better beers – offering twelve taps of their very own finest beers. Now that’s what I call progress! 

Review: 440ml can of Rascal Brewing Lemon and Lime Sour: 3.8% vol.

A Lidl special that the brewery do for the supermarket chain, which is exclusive to the German retailer.  

Comes in a very nice and snazzy can. Recommended to store in fridge beforehand – “Stone cold, drink fresh”-  which I did. 

Looks good on the pour, a light lemony colour. Some nice carbonation going on, nice on the pour, a small white head develops but dies quick but what remains is a smooth looking hazy yellow colour…..not bad on the eye. 

On the nose, the aroma is sweet but faint, can definitely get the hint of the lemon and the lime, albeit its not strong, but its there.

For the taste, with nice big mouthfuls, it is as it looks. It looks like a lemon and lime so tastes as such but it also is very Interesting as it has the depth of a real beer but better than many of the fruit beers I have drank before, as in its not so sweet to give me heartburn, but good enough to feel like its a proper beer and not a beer with added fruit. It’s a serious effort here. 

Not over bearing, lemon at back ground, good for a beer drinker who is worried about a fruity drink, i.e. ME! 

The expected kick from the lemon and lime was not as intense as I had expected – which I was happy about. This was more nuanced, more downplayed. And the expected kick is on the back burner, its there but at the back end. 

Surprisingly good. One – because I wasn’t expecting much from Aldi, if I am honest and two, wasn’t expecting to get much enjoyment from a fruit beer. Much calmer for me than I had expected, clean and composed, not all fizz and chemicals, which meant it was more drinkable. 

The lemon and lime are the main flavours naturally, but they are downplayed. They don’t hit you straight away, but as the beer settles it gets more lemony, more citrusy and more sweet.

I also 100% agree with what they recommended on the can about drinking it cold from the fridge – it meant such a difference when chilled, nice and cool direct from the fridge. 

Overall, I really liked this beer. So much so that I regretted not getting more than the two cans I had bought. Would have easily drank a skinful of these, very sessionable. 

Next time I am in Aldi I will have a look out for this and other beers from their brewery. 

Good, good, all good! Like it. A perfect summer beer! 

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Who was St. Patrick?

St Patrick’s Day Shenanigans

 

 

St Patrick's Day Shenanigans. The story behind St Patrick's day
 

Saint Pat

March 17th every year, millions of people wear the green, hold big parades and drink bucket loads of beer, all in the name of an old Irish saint. But why? What is the history of this much loved holiday, and why do we celebrate it in all corners of the world with shamrocks and alcohol?

While many people mainly use the day as a justification to drink a countless quantity of booze, it is still—first and foremost—a day to celebrate Irish heritage and culture.

Let’s go over some of the reason why we celebrate paddies day and look a little closer into the myth and realities of St. Patrick.

Who was St. Patrick?

St. Patrick is well known for being the patron saint of Ireland and having a day named for him that most of the world uses as an excuse to get incredibly drunk. However, contrary to popular belief, St. Patrick was not actually Irish! St. Patrick was the son of Romans who were living in Britain, around 385AD. As a boy of 14 he was kidnapped and taken as a slave to Ireland where he spent six years herding sheep. He returned to Ireland in his 30s as a missionary among the Celtic pagans. Rather than replacing pagan Irish rituals, he incorporated them into his teachings, hence the shamrock. (Halloween is another Irish festival that we all know and love so well)

St Patrick's Day Shenanigans. The story behind St Patrick's day
 

Shamrocks

The shamrock is the traditional symbol because St. Patrick used it to explain the connection between the father, the son, and the Holy Spirit (the Trinity) in the Christian religion. It is the symbol of Ireland, and wearing and displaying shamrocks has become a widespread practice on St. Patrick’s Day.

Why green?

Wearing green is associated with St. Patrick’s Day to commemorate his use of the shamrock. Although blue was originally the color of his vestments, green has become symbolic of the holiday. Green represents spring, a season celebrated by the ancient Irish to honor their harvest gods and the arrival of spring. Additionally, Ireland’s lush, green landscape and the green shamrocks contribute to this association. Wearing green also helps distinguish the Irish from the British.

You don’t have to wear green clothes on St. Patrick’s Day, a sprig of shamrock on your clothing can do.

Parades and celebration?

St Patrick's Day Shenanigans. The story behind St Patrick's day
 

St. Patrick Day Parade

Well, you might not have noticed, but the Irish are everywhere, and so are Irish bars. The Irish are a sentimental bunch, and they often miss their homeland when abroad. In fact, more Irish people live outside Ireland than on the island itself. It’s estimated that around 100 million people of Irish descent reside in countries like the UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Brazil, Argentina, and Mexico. Notably, over 36 million Americans claim Irish ancestry.

Celebrating St. Paddy’s Day is a way to honor Ireland and its culture. Many cities worldwide host parades to mark the occasion. The first St. Patrick’s Day celebration in America took place in Boston, Massachusetts, in 1737. New York City’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade holds the title of the largest parade in the world. On the other hand, the world’s shortest St. Patrick’s Day parade occurs in the Irish village of Dripsey. It stretches just 100 yards, covering the distance between the village’s two pubs.

And the 17th of March is when St Patrick died, supposedly!

The snake?

One of his most famous miracles attributed to St. P was the driving of serpents out of Ireland. However, evidence suggests post-glacial Ireland never had any snakes in the first place. That’s a pity!

 

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The Imperfect Individual Speaks

Had an insightful conversation with David about his book, The Imperfect Individual. We discussed the challenges of being a first-time author, the core themes of the book, and reflected on the turbulent Covid years.

The Challenges of a First-Time Author

David shared his personal struggles in writing the book. He faced issues with finding the right voice and navigating the complex publishing world. Many first-time authors can relate to these challenges. His journey highlights the perseverance it takes to complete a thought-provoking book like The Imperfect Individual.

Exploring the Themes of The Imperfect Individual

The book raises important questions about modern society. Why is the West so confused and lacking direction? Why do we seem to value groupthink over individual insight? David explores how society has been influenced by powerful forces like media and large corporations. The book examines why many people follow external influences blindly and what dangers this poses. However, it also offers hope. David suggests that by embracing values like courage, authenticity, and freedom, individuals can regain control.

Reflecting on the Covid Years

We also reflected on the global impact of the Covid pandemic. David shared how the pandemic accelerated societal change. He noted how individuals seemed quick to follow government and media narratives without questioning their freedom or thinking critically.

Expectations and Hopes for the Future

We closed the conversation by discussing hopes for the future. David remains optimistic. If individuals reclaim their independence and embrace open-mindedness and truth, there is hope for a better future. Personal freedom and insight can once again guide society

You can purchase David’s book at Authorhouse

The Imperfect Individual

 

or on Amazon

 

David’s youtube channel is: The Imperfect Individual 

 

And you can contact David at theimperfectindividual@outlook.com

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Boris Yeltsin: Russian Hell Raiser and Sometime Leader of Men

Hell Raiser *1 Boris Yeltsin

Boris Yeltsin. Russian hell raiser and sometime leader of men

 

Boris

Boris Yeltsin, the old Russian leader who often seemed ‘pished as a fart,’ is the subject of this hell-raising tribute. Boris was fun; he had that old uncle vibe who might embarrass you at Christmas, but was endearing nonetheless. Today, Russia has the much scarier Putin, a man who exudes toughness (with arguable homoerotic issues) and is a rather stark contrast to Obama’s ineptitude and classless moments (like that selfie during a commemoration).

Boris Yeltsin, born February 1, 1931, was the first freely elected President of Russia. His political standing soared after he led the protesters against the August 1991 coup attempt to oust Gorbachev. Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991, he remained in power as president of the Russian Federation. As a leader, he wasn’t the most effective; he faced criticism for his handling of Chechnya, rampant corruption, and rising prices under his governance, but hey, that’s politics.

But if you asked the average person about Boris, they’d likely remember his legendary, drink-induced antics.

Boris

It’s the Way You Tell Them

One of the classic tales is from a state visit to Washington in 1995. Yeltsin got so drunk he was found outside the White House in his underpants, trying to catch a cab for a pizza run. The next night, he was mistaken for a drunken intruder, stumbling around his guest house, trying to get back to bed. Imagine if the Secret Service had taken him out!

Boris

Groove Rider

Another memorable Yeltsin moment was in 1994 during a visit to Berlin. Meant to oversee the departure of the last Russian troops from Germany after WWII, Yeltsin, who had been drinking since midday, he found himself conducting a military orchestra where he just couldn’t resist trying to be a conductor, grabbing the baton, dancing like he was in a boy band, and singing as bad.

Then, during a 1997 conference on nuclear weapons in Sweden, Yeltsin kicked off with a champagne lunch. He rambled about Swedish meatballs and how they resembled tennis star Bjorn Borg, all while trying not to fall off the stage during the photo op. He even mistakenly praised Finland, which didn’t go over well with the Swedish hosts. Good man Boris.

Boris

Beer and Lots of It

Yeltsin also made headlines with his offhand remarks, such as proclaiming to reduce Russia’s nuclear arsenal by a third without consulting anyone back home, or urging Germany and Japan to dismantle their non-existent nuclear weapons.

In Ireland all the local dignitaries were looking splendid in their shiny suits waiting for the leader of Russia to arrive in Shannon airport. Its not every day  the head of such a great nation as Russia comes into town. The plane landed.

Boris

 

And they waited. And waited. And waited a bit more. This went on for a few hours. Then the plane left. This was all carried live on Irish TV, showing Albert Reynolds, head of the Irish government hanging around in the pissing rain, while Boris was on the plane getting pissed. Don’t blame him, made the right choice as well

Legacy of a Booze Hound

Boris Yeltsin passed away at 76 on April 23, 2007, in Moscow. Considering that the average life expectancy for a Russian male at the time was 58, Yeltsin lived a full life. He is remembered not only as the leader who oversaw Russia’s economic and political reforms but also as a larger-than-life figure with a legendary love for the bottle.

We salute you, Boris Yeltsin.

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Mary Fitzgibbon

Running as an Independent with Mary Fitzgibbon

Mary Fitzgibbon: Independent

A very nice and relaxing chat with Mary Fitzgibbon, who ran as an independent in Ireland South in the very recent European Elections.

Although Mary wasn’t successful in the Euros, she still did relatively well for a candidate that ran as an Independent and without any party backing – getting a total vote of 8328 votes – something that is very difficult to do in Ireland for a variety of reasons – money, support, lack of media attention and general voting apathy. 

We chat about the difficulties running as an Independent in Ireland, plus her views on the election results, immigration, the loss of our sovereignty and the family…..

 

Mary Fitzgibbon

Twitter: MaryforEurope2024 @MEurope20249511

Mary’s Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marye.fitzgibbon1666

Mary Fitzgibbon

Independent

Mary Fitzgibbon

I’m a Nurse, Midwife & Lecturer in Nursing & HealthCare Sciences. We’re experiencing rapid demographic changes with large scale emigration of our young people & falling birth rates. My EU focus is on sovereignty, immigration, neutrality, family life, the right to life, agriculture & small business.

Priorities

  • Immigration

    Ireland is experiencing unprecedented migration both legal and illegal and it is threatening social cohesion, impacting services, health & housing.

  • Defence

    Ireland is a neutral country and we need to be at the forefront of efforts to bring about peace. War is a defeat for humanity. Let’s work for peace.

  • Agriculture

    Irish farmers are struggling with over-regulation, environmental unfairness & removal of the nitrates derogation. I will prioritise farming in Europe.

    Read my other interviews with the great and the good here 

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