Tanora and Cork pale ale... a match made in Rebel heaven!

SUMMER is around the corner - honestly - and taste buds are tingling as thoughts turn to the prospect of sipping a nicely chilled brew on balmy evenings.

Over at Original 7 Beverage Co, the brewery team are getting ready for the long, hazy summer nights too.

Head Brewer, Páidí Scully, has crafted a new beer that couldn’t be more Cork, like: Tanora Pale Ale!

Yes, you read that right: the Original 7 Beverage Co have collaborated with the makers of iconic soft drink, Tanora, to create what could be the most perfect summer beer for Corkonians.

With some of the city’s most experienced brewers in one place, and the core range of beers (Revolution IPA, Hazy Pale Ale, Wonderland Red, Rockafeller Weisse and Irish Lager) firmly established on taps in some of Cork’s best craft beer bars, this promises to be a great addition to the scene.

The tangerine-flavoured Pale Ale, formulated by Scully, takes inspiration from the classic Cork tangerine beverage.

A mix of Irish Ale Malt, Crystal Malt, Wheat Malt and Roasted Barley have been selected to give the beer its colour, emulating the orange-red hue of Tanora, and Magnum, Ozacca, Mosaic, Mandarina Bavaria and Simcoe hops to replicate that summery citrus hit of tangerine.

Memories of sipping Tanora as kids have a special place in the hearts and minds of many a Corkonian, and now Original 7 Beverage Co has given us adults an excuse to relive those memories in a more grown-up drink, with this fun yet sophisticated brew.

And despite the wacky - and original - idea, Tanora Pale Ale fits right in with the range of beers, all of which revel in the retro days of brewing on Leeside.

Managing Director of Original 7, Steve Guiney, is evidently very pleased with their new beer, which will be hitting taps in 20 bars around Cork over the May bank holiday weekend.

“Tanora is a drink that for me is synonymous with growing up in Cork in the 1990s. In particular, the summer months,” says Steve.

“The nostalgia is off the charts whenever I see a bottle of it!

While thinking of recipes for our next special brew, I figured, why not emulate the quintessential Cork beverage and create a tangerine-flavoured Pale Ale?

“I contacted the guys in Tanora to see if they would be happy to partner up with us on this, and they were so helpful all the way!”

Steve also discovered historical and geographical links between the two brands.

“Tanora was first formulated in John Daly and Co - Mineral Bottlers based on Kyrl’s Quay, only a couple of hundred metres from Original 7’s base on the North Mall.

“Brewing, distilling and bottling are entwined with the history of that area, and it is fitting to see old neighbours partner together in the modern age.

“The old entrance to the John Daly and Co Bottling Plant can still be seen on Kyrl’s Quay, near the rear entrance to the North Main Street Shopping Centre.”

It just goes to show that, even when something seems new, in Cork we don’t have to look far to see a historical link to fresh, new ideas.

This refreshing summer beer is a Limited Edition brew from the guys at Original 7 Beverage Co, and, if the weather plays ball over the long weekend, it could fly out the taps once word gets around that there’s a Tanora-flavoured Cork-brewed beer in town!

But, although a limited edition, there are hopes Tanora Pale Ale will garner the brew crew more awards to add to their growing collection at Original 7 HQ.

Brewery founder, Shane Long, has his fingers crossed that their new beer will be the next medal winner at this year’s World Beer Awards, and at Blas Na hÉireann, too.

“We had an unbelievably successful year last year at our first ever beer awards, winning Gold for Revolution IPA, Silver for Wonderland Red Ale, and Bronze for Original 7 Lager at the World beer Awards, as well as and Silver in Blas Na hÉireann also for our Wonderland Red Ale,” says Shane.

I’m certain this beer can compete at the highest levels, and I am looking forward to the feedback from the people of Cork.

If nothing else, the simple pleasure of being able to ask for a Tanora Pale Ale in the bars of Cork this summer, and that such a thing exists in the word, is enough to make us all giddy!

Tanora Pale Ale launches on Friday, May 3, to celebrate the official start to the summer. Find out where to get it on www.original7.ie/tanorapalealetrail.

• Drink Tanora Pale Ale responsibly.