A pre-Christmas visit to the Rascals taproom in Inchicore turned up a couple of new releases, their first for me since the summer.I'm old enough to recall when microbreweries making something they described as "Mexican lager" meant a beer which was crisp and, often, a dark-ish amber colour, drawing influence from central European lager traditions. At some point they seem to have collectively decided that "Mexican" means there's lime in it, as though the habit of sticking a lime wedge in clear-glass longnecks wasn't something we beer snobs deride. Rascals Lime Light is 4% ABV and includes lime zest in the recipe. Lime and light: I see what they did there. My expectations weren't high, but they've done a good job with the concept. For one thing, the citrus is not especially prominent, adding quite a subtle tang to the whole. It's a bit of character, rather than the beer's whole deal. The beer behind it has a decent malt substance, maybe not quite like an Austrian lager, but certainly no clone of mass-market, brewed-under-licence, pseudo-Mexican crap. A lightly floral hopping is just as much part of the taste as the lime. This is a delightful summer refresher, and a ray of sunshine on a dismal winter evening.
Recently launched in cans, but on tap at the brewery, was Freewheelin', a hazy IPA with New Zealand hops. That's quite an interesting concept, and combines haze's sweet vanilla with a more spiky herbal hop bitterness. There's not so much of either that they clash, and the result is all very complementary and integrated. Although it's a substantial 5.8% ABV, I found this very straightforward and drinkable, entirely in keeping with the chosen name. Anyone looking for those big Kiwi flavours may be disappointed, but it's just not one of those beers. Think Trouble's Ambush with a bonus antipodean spicy twist. As far as I know, it's a special edition, but Rascals has form on making such things permanent. This could be a candidate.I had just missed the apricot double IPA so was a little disappointed there was nothing properly strong to finish. Instead, there was the welcome return of Breakfast of Champions coffee stout for dessert. Something for everyone (by the pint) at Rascals.
