Kinnegar Brewery was delighted with the results of the Brussels Beer Challenge 2020 late last year, where three of its beers received a gold medal in their category. Thumper Imperial IPA was judged best in Pale and Amber Ale, Donegal Lager won a gold in Light Lager, while Black Bucket triumphed in the Dark Ale category.
Libby Carton is one half of the team that runs Kinnegar Brewery in Co Donegal. “We enter very few competitions, only when we feel the jury is good and standards are high. We’ve got a couple of medals in the past, but to get three, and in those particular beer styles, was great,” she says.
“There is a lot of competition in the Imperial IPA, a classic style that every good brewery tries to do, so to come out on top was fantastic. Plus, with the Donegal Lager, to win the lager class with so many out there was pleasing. There is no hiding place when you make a lager; they are cleaner and less complicated than an ale.”
The new release is the excellent Shuttle Bucket Double Rye IPA. “We’ve never done anything for St Patrick’s Day, but this year there is not much else going on. We felt the need to celebrate, put a smile on people’s faces and thank our customers. Our brewers have been wanting to make a Double Rye IPA for a very long time. Our Rye was the first beer we ever made, so a double was the obvious thing to do.”
Kinnegar has just released its first multipack, featuring eight different styles of beer including two of the award-winners. It sells for about €24 in off-licences.
