Ballykilcavan

Microbrewery in Stradbally, Laois, Ireland 🇮🇪

Established in 2016

Contact
Ballykilcavan, Stradbally, R32 Y0PK, Ireland
Description
David and Lisa Walsh-Kemmis set up Ballykilcavan Brewing Company on their tillage farm at Ballykilcavan, Stradbally, Co. Laois in 2016.

Ballykilcavan Farm has been the home of our family for 13 generations. We have lived and worked here since 1639, and diversification has always been important to keep our farm viable for future generations. When I took over Ballykilcavan from my father in 2004, my motivation was to try to sustain it so that someone else would be able to take it over from me.

Our brewery is installed in the original stone grainstore for the farm, which was built in around 1780. In previous centuries, the building was used to store barley and oats after harvest, and then to mill them for bread making, feeding animals and maybe even making beer. Like most of the buildings in the 240-year-old farmyard, it is too small for modern farm equipment, but it is the perfect size to fit a small craft brewery.

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6.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6
Can at home, from Craft Beer Central.ie, 03/05/24. Amber with a reddish glint topped with a good sized beige head. Nose is fruit slice, herb, biscuit, toffee Taste comprises biscuit malts, brown bread, stewed fruits, dates. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close. Fine for the style.
Tried from Can on 03 May 2024 at 16:33

6.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 7 Texture 6 Overall 7
440ml can from Craft Central, Dublin. Shared with bladdock during a successful mega-tasting at his gaff. Quick slurp before leggin it for the train. Pours a clear copper, large off-white head. Twiggy malt impressions, some brown bread and toasted malt elements. That's all I could get from the amount I had.
Tried from Can on 11 Apr 2024 at 19:36

6.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 7.5
Last beer of the night, mega 'Panda and tasting session' with Mat at my place. The Lions share of a 440ml can on 10th April 2024, Minutemat who brought the can had to leave for the train mid-pour, all good for me though! Nice, foaming tanned head on a clean dark copper body. Malty front, pretty sweet really, light chocolate notes, but mostly subdued caramel flavours, nice!
Tried from Can on 10 Apr 2024 at 21:22

6.6/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6.5
Can at home, from Yards & Crafts Online (RIP), 22/09/23. Clear golden to light copper with a good sized lasting just off white head. Nose is orange zest, grass, light perfume, toasted malts, melon. Taste comprises Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close spiked with light juicy come grassy hop bitterness. Okay clean drinker but a touch on the pedestrian side.
Tried from Can on 22 Sep 2023 at 18:44

7/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 7 Texture 8 Overall 7
Can at home, from HOTM online, 19/08/23. Moderately hazed orange with a decent white head. Nose is orange zest, grass, melon, papaya. Taste comprises orange pith, mandarin, grass, melon, light perfume. Medium bodied, fine carbonation, semi drying close splahsed with balanced juicy hop bitterness. Decent enough easy drinking IPA if lacking any Nelson presence.
Tried from Can on 19 Aug 2023 at 16:24

7/10
Diots à midi! With a nice cool session ipa.
Tried from Can on 15 Aug 2023 at 13:48

5.8/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 5
16oz can pours a muddy orange, white head. Nose is malt and perfume, light coconut. Flavor is chewy malt and oats, tropical fruits. It's flabby on the finish. Weird.
Tried from Can on 11 Aug 2023 at 18:58

6.5/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 6
Mahogany with a short tan head. Aroma of toffee and maple. Flavour is Dark fruits, burnt coffee, dry roasted malt on a burnt background.
Tried on 04 Jul 2023 at 21:25

6.4/10 Appearance 8 Aroma 6 Flavor 6 Texture 8 Overall 5.5
Murky orange with a frothy head. Aroma of grapefruit. Flavour is lime, coconut citrus, bitter base, lingering finish.
Tried on 24 Jun 2023 at 22:22

6.4/10 Appearance 6 Aroma 7 Flavor 6 Texture 6 Overall 6.5
Panda courtesy of Theydon_Bois, cheers Colin! Orange amber colour, white foam head and aroma of ripe fruits, floral, mellow citrus, hops. Taste is malt, caramel, fruity, citrus, with tangy hop bitterness. Medium bodied, soft carbonation, drying atringent bitter finish. Quite drinkable.
Tried on 24 Jun 2023 at 17:18