National Lager Day is December 10, and Raglan Road Irish Pub & Restaurant at Disney Springs is celebrating some of its most popular brews. The Irish-run pub, which recently raised a glass to its 12th birthday, serves Guinness Blonde Lager, Harp Irish Lager, and its new locally brewed “Blagger” Organic Blonde Lager, along with a menu of beers, whiskeys, wines and cocktails.
The “Blagger,” created by Orlando Brewing for the pub’s annual Great Irish Hooley, is a signature lager made with organic malts, organic Hallertau hops and organic yeast and will be featured December 10 in a buy-one-get-one offer. The Blagger name holds special meaning, says pub General Manager Alan Delahunt, who hails from County Offaly, Ireland.
“The name works well because it’s a blonde lager, but also because a blagger is a person who is full of it – they possess the gift of Blarney,” says Delahunt, adding with a wink: “Generally, Ireland is rife with blaggers.”
The lager is the most popular beer style worldwide, he says, and the Irish take great pride in pouring the “perfect pint.”
“Lagers are particularly popular in this market,” Delahunt says. “Lagers are light and crisp and, generally, when people think of beer, the ‘classic’ beer that would come to mind would be a lager. It’s a drink certainly worth celebrating its own special day.”
Craft lagers, Delhunt says, are “on the rise, and people now are a lot more adventurous in their choices.” He says they are versatile for pairing – “straightforward, clean-tasting and refreshing brews with a little bite that won’t overpower delicate, subtle and bright flavors.”
Delahunt suggests these perfect pub pairings from the Raglan Road menu:
- Guinness Blonde Lager with the Mighty Mussels – Fresh Blue Hill Bay mussels in a coconut infused curry broth. Lagers are traditionally good with shellfish – the delicate flavors of these mussels complement the light crispness of the lager.
- Blagger Organic Blonde Lager with It’s a Porker – Grilled lollipop pork chop, root vegetable mashed potato, pork crackling with a port & cider jus. This chop is subtly seasoned and herbed, grilled simply with a root vegetable mash. It provides a nice contrast to the flavors of the Blagger, which is organic with natural flavors and is my type of “healthful meal,” Delahunt says. Another great pairing for the Blagger is the Boaring Burger — grilled wild boar burger, Cashel blue cheese, crispy onion strings, arugula, port & pear chutney with herb aioli served on a floury potato bun. (Attached photo of burger and Blagger by Christina Thomas)
- Harp Irish Lager with the Cashel Castle – Red and green oak leaf tossed with Cashel blue cheese, caramelized pecans, grape tomatoes, raspberries prosciutto crisps, crostini & a raspberry vinaigrette. Option to add chicken or shrimp. “The lager plays well with the contrasting sweetness and smokiness of the candied pecans, crisp prosciutto and the rich creaminess of the Cashel blue cheese,” Delahunt notes. “It’s a lovely balance.
In addition to its popular lagers, Raglan Road serves a broad range of beers including fruit beers and ciders, European style ales, hoppy beers, craft bottled beers, draught beer imports, flights including “The Four Provinces” and the “Raglan Road Signature Collection,” local brews from Orlando and Tampa and more.