Pub Guide

BeerNut · 08-06-2015 11:19pm

There's generally a token tap or two from one of the other micros.

Zaph · 26-07-2015 11:39pm

Was in the Bull & Castle for the first time in a good while the other night. Wtf have they done with the place? Full of kids, crap chart pop music, pitchers of cocktails and a beer menu that's only a fraction of what it used to be. I can't see myself returning any time soon, which is a shame because I always liked it.

ben.schlomo · 27-07-2015 12:34pm

Zaph wrote: »

Was in the Bull & Castle for the first time in a good while the other night. Wtf have they done with the place? Full of kids, crap chart pop music, pitchers of cocktails and a beer menu that's only a fraction of what it used to be. I can't see myself returning any time soon, which is a shame because I always liked it.

That sounds horrendous, myself and herself always like going there as the range of beer has always been great.

Creamy Goodness · 27-07-2015 12:51pm

The selection is still great, however they've chopped it down a bit. There's now a guinness and heineken tap, cask is no longer at the bar or has to be pumped up from the 2 flights from the cellar (haven't ordered cask in there in a long time). As uncomfortable as the long wooden benches were the new seats are awful especially the high seats, me thinks they're designed to get people in and out after 2-3 pints.

That being said the food is still great, and in fairness their cocktails are fairly heavy hitting ones and not like the watered-down ones you get elsewhere.

Hopefully they'll realise some of this and with the opening of the beer market hopefully the competition will give them a nudge back in the right direction.

BeerNut · 27-07-2015 12:57pm

Creamy Goodness wrote: »

cask is no longer at the bar or has to be pumped up from the 2 flights from the cellar

The barrel is kept under the counter upstairs, I'm told. €4.50 a pint for the cask, which isn't bad.

Creamy Goodness · 27-07-2015 1:00pm

ah must have changed since so. I remember Dave telling me that it was pumped up the two flights. I'll retract that now

.

BeerNut · 27-07-2015 2:10pm

In fairness, Dave would know better than I would.

Creamy Goodness · 27-07-2015 2:27pm

nah I'm beginning to think my info is out of date tbh. I heard that the first week of them re-opening, he did mention they were planning to bring it back upstairs so I can only assume they've done that

.

irish_goat · 27-07-2015 2:50pm

Gone downhill since I left you'se are saying? :pac:

I still like it but I admit that it's probably mainly for nostalgic reasons and cause I know the staff. The focus has definitely shifted from the beer but they seem to do a roaring trade on the cocktails so I can't imagine they'll change that aspect anytime soon.

quadrifoglio verde · 01-08-2015 7:18pm

irish_goat wrote: »

Gone downhill since I left you'se are saying? :pac:

I still like it but I admit that it's probably mainly for nostalgic reasons and cause I know the staff. The focus has definitely shifted from the beer but they seem to do a roaring trade on the cocktails so I can't imagine they'll change that aspect anytime soon.

A bar that was lets face it renowned for its craft beer selection, stops focusing on the beer etc and focus's instead on cocktails.
Im confused as to why they didn't stay doing what they were good at and add in the cocktails and do them well as well....I like bars that do good cocktails, they're easy on the eye

my friend · 29-09-2015 2:26am

Zaph wrote: »

Was in the Bull & Castle for the first time in a good while the other night. Wtf have they done with the place? Full of kids, crap chart pop music, pitchers of cocktails and a beer menu that's only a fraction of what it used to be. I can't see myself returning any time soon, which is a shame because I always liked it.

guess your first time in a good while doesn't pay their bills? They have to do what does

MonkstownHoop · 24-10-2015 2:08pm

Does The Port House in Dundrum do any craft?

BaZmO* · 24-10-2015 3:39pm

MonkstownHoop wrote: »

Does The Port House in Dundrum do any craft?

The Tapas place? I would imagine it's all wine and maybe some cocktails.

MonkstownHoop · 24-10-2015 3:43pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

The Tapas place? I would imagine it's all wine and maybe some cocktails.

I seen someone say they have Porterhouse bottles, I'll find out anyhow

BaZmO* · 24-10-2015 4:07pm

MonkstownHoop wrote: »

I seen someone say they have Porterhouse bottles, I'll find out anyhow

I've been there a couple of times but only ever had wine.

kevmcnamara · 24-10-2015 4:16pm

Briody's on Marlborough St is my favourite in the city. No fuss but no nonsense either. Just a small comfortable space for drinking great Guinness as well the usual options. Mind you, they do have Hophouse 13 and Clonmel 1650 on tap. Although those are probably becoming more widespread options. At least you can get them for a fiver in Briody's, which is more reasonable than most other places. And they also have Tuborg on tap for €3.90 a pint, which is a great economy option.

BeerNut · 24-10-2015 10:53pm

BaZmO* wrote: »

I've been there a couple of times but only ever had wine.

They had a licensing issue a couple of years back which meant they had to stop selling beer. Dunno if that's still the case.

andekwarhola · 26-10-2015 10:00pm

MonkstownHoop wrote: »

Does The Port House in Dundrum do any craft?

Was in there the other day and asked what beer they had and it was draught Estrella.

Nice place though.

Cast Iron · 31-10-2015 9:53pm

The Cross seems to have the only reasonable level of craft beer offering in Drogheda. Particular bonus points for the presence of Founders and Beavertown beers. However it has bugged me for a while now that they harp on about local produce for their food offering however not a Jack Codys or Bru beer in sight. It's a shame.

The Hill Billy · 04-02-2016 6:49pm

Thread has been dead for a while, but I thought that the pint of Guinness I had in Mulligan's of Poolbeg St the other evening was worth mentioning. Quite possibly the best pint I have had in years. It even pips The Balrothery Inn just outside Balbriggan & that's saying something.

Slattsy · 04-02-2016 8:58pm

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Thread has been dead for a while, but I thought that the pint of Guinness I had in Mulligan's of Poolbeg St the other evening was worth mentioning. Quite possibly the best pint I have had in years. It even pips The Balrothery Inn just outside Balbriggan & that's saying something.

Cant comment on Co Dublin pubs!! But yeah Mulligans has always been unbelievably consistent. Been one of the best in Dublin for as long as i've been drinking.

If you're there again, pop over to Bowes on Fleet St, consistently a smashing pint also.

FWIW..... The Auld Dubliner - best pint in Dublin right now, and i dont care how much it costs, its quality.

Buckfast W · 08-09-2016 11:46am

I think that the pints in Bowes are better than Mulligans on Poolbeg street ekkk

Slattsy · 08-09-2016 12:04pm

Buckfast W wrote: »

I think that the pints in Bowes are better than Mulligans on Poolbeg street ekkk

A smashing pint.

Buckfast W · 08-09-2016 2:25pm

Slattsy wrote: »

A smashing pint.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it :pac::pac:

thegeezer · 08-09-2016 3:21pm

Get yourselves to the three tuns (weatherspoons) in Blackrock. Milestone Boston bitter at 2.75 per pint. Ace beer garden, what's not to like ?
Btw, looking forward to this weekend's craft beer fest at rds - some tickets still left 15 euro inc free glass. Great live music, food stalls, cider, spirits, great craic last year.

Trond · 14-09-2016 3:51pm

The Whitworth Pub (formerly Porterhouse North)

Couldn't recommend this place to anyone unfortunately. Major teething problems. Saw people walk out over delays with food. Otherwise its basically the exact same pub with a slightly upgraded food menus and cages around the lights :rolleyes:

There so much competition in the area I dont see this place lasting long at all.

irish_goat · 14-09-2016 4:32pm

Has it been open long? (very English sounding name too)

RasTa · 14-09-2016 4:59pm

Trond wrote: »

The Whitworth Pub (formerly Porterhouse North)

Couldn't recommend this place to anyone unfortunately. Major teething problems. Saw people walk out over delays with food. Otherwise its basically the exact same pub with a slightly upgraded food menus and cages around the lights :rolleyes:

There so much competition in the area I dont see this place lasting long at all.

That's being opened awhile and was very busy when I was there. Although it was the night of the beyonce gig. It's more aimed at the cocktail crowd.

It seemed to be printing money

Buckfast W · 14-09-2016 8:54pm

Place was grand when it was the Porter house, still the same owner as far as I know, does it still have the late licence??

Gmaximum · 17-09-2016 8:47am

The Swan on Aungier st is great for Guinness. They're also doing quite a few craft beers and have different casks on rotation

Hotblack Desiato · 17-09-2016 7:28pm

Presumably that isn't the old Swan Bar beside the flats, it was up for sale recently without a licence.

BeerNut · 18-09-2016 9:15am

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

Presumably that isn't the old Swan Bar beside the flats, it was up for sale recently without a licence.

It wasn't. The Aungier House is for sale and some gobdaw at the Irish Times thought that was The Swan. The article has since been corrected.

offalyred · 18-09-2016 10:06am

Brickyard has opened in Dundrum, where The Rockfield lounge used to be. Gastropub, I was there on Friday night. Really buzzing. 18 taps mostly Irish craft beer with a couple of top German lagers. A Lagunitas IPA and a Brewdog too. Quite a change in style from the previous establishment. Not doing the full food menu when I was there but told it will be coming shortly (though the snacks were lovely). Right beside the Balally Luas stop, so really handy if you are near that line.

Hotblack Desiato · 18-09-2016 4:34pm

BeerNut wrote: »

It wasn't. The Aungier House is for sale and some gobdaw at the Irish Times thought that was The Swan. The article has since been corrected.

That was called the Swan in the 80s though.

BeerNut · 18-09-2016 4:55pm

Hotblack Desiato wrote: »

That was called the Swan in the 80s though.

What was The Swan called?

Gmaximum · 18-09-2016 11:35pm

Hotblack Desiato wrote:

Presumably that isn't the old Swan Bar beside the flats, it was up for sale recently without a licence.

That's the one as Bearnut said the Times made a mistake in the commercial property section

Gmaximum · 18-09-2016 11:37pm

offalyred wrote:

Brickyard has opened in Dundrum, where The Rockfield lounge used to be. Gastropub, I was there on Friday night. Really buzzing. 18 taps mostly Irish craft beer with a couple of top German lagers. A Lagunitas IPA and a Brewdog too. Quite a change in style from the previous establishment. Not doing the full food menu when I was there but told it will be coming shortly (though the snacks were lovely). Right beside the Balally Luas stop, so really handy if you are near that line.

Good news Dundrum really needs a good pub. Shame it's not closer to the village

harry Bailey esq · 20-09-2016 3:16pm

The Hill Billy wrote: »

Thread has been dead for a while, but I thought that the pint of Guinness I had in Mulligan's of Poolbeg St the other evening was worth mentioning. Quite possibly the best pint I have had in years. It even pips The Balrothery Inn just outside Balbriggan & that's saying something.

The Guinness in the balrothery is certainly up there,but in the same neck of the woods The Milestone bar has consistently great Guinness.I cant comment on the lounge though.

jamo2oo9 · 20-09-2016 8:28pm

Where would I find nice spots in Dublin City that sell Corona/Sol that isn't dearer than a pint of a Guinness? Was charged 5.50 for one in Workmans on the quays! :eek:

30-01-2017 3:14pm

The hill pub, Ranelagh

carmo13 wrote: »

I see the Hill got a v. good review in the Irish Indo Barfly column.
Was there last thurs night for the trad session and would have to agree with
the 4 star rating. great pint too!

just posting this 'cos this used to be a great authentic pub. It was "done up" in the last while and completely ruined. It's now modernised into some nothingness abomination, with no redeeming features. was just thinking that some of the authentic pubs should actually be protected so this can't happen.

BeerNut · 30-01-2017 3:54pm

glasso wrote: »

with no redeeming features.

€4.50 a pint on Wednesdays = redeeming feature.

Personally I think The Hill is much better with a bit of light in it. I remember it in the '90s as dark, smoky and unfriendly.

30-01-2017 4:58pm

BeerNut wrote: »

€4.50 a pint on Wednesdays = redeeming feature.

Personally I think The Hill is much better with a bit of light in it. I remember it in the '90s as dark, smoky and unfriendly.

light could have been introduced without completely altering the character of the place.
the last time I was there they had ran out of Guinness and the only options were random craft beers - I ordered one and it turned out to be over 7 euro.

BeerNut · 30-01-2017 5:17pm

They have the prices chalked in front of the taps. More pubs could do with having that sort of transparent pricing.

30-01-2017 7:05pm

BeerNut wrote: »

They have the prices chalked in front of the taps. More pubs could do with having that sort of transparent pricing.

pretty sure there weren't prices marked when I was there.

DelmarODonnell · 31-01-2017 11:34am

glasso wrote: »

pretty sure there weren't prices marked when I was there.

Yeah €4.50 any pints, any % is pretty brilliant. The prices are always very clearly marked for what you are ordering. The food is excellent too. Loyalty cards in place too.........

If you are in again, try a pint of O'Haras Leann Follain instead of Guinness.

I was only in it the once before it was taken over, friendly pub, really liked the design of the pub. Good traditional boozer. But to be honest, other than the massive lick of paint and the kitchen put in, I don't think it lost much of its original design. The bar is still beautiful.

rubadub · 31-01-2017 12:00pm

I was upstairs in whelans on wexford street a few weeks ago. I saw an unusual looking guinness tap there. I ask for a pint tapping on this unusual tap and the barman says "oh you want the nitro guinness" I looked at him confused and then at the tap, and he was making out like it was somehow different from regular guinness. He went to pull a pint and it was empty and he says "do you just want the regular guinness instead of the nitro one".

As it was busy I just said yeah grand. A lad beside me was equally confused saying to me "but normal guinness is nitro" and I nodded.

So I wonder if this "special" tap was a non-nitro guinness or somehow different.

BeerNut · 31-01-2017 12:13pm

rubadub wrote: »

I saw an unusual looking guinness tap

Unusual how?

rubadub · 31-01-2017 1:09pm

BeerNut wrote: »

Unusual how?

I had had a few by this stage! but the signage display on it was quite large, maybe 3 or 4 inch diameter, think it was perfectly circular and had white writing on it, or there was a fair bit of white. The tap was at the end of the bar and I think it really stood out on its own. It possible had "dublin" in the writing, I see a dublin porter bottle but I think I would have remembered if it said porter. While the guinness he ended up pouring from was a bog standard tap in amongst a line of others.

irish_goat · 31-01-2017 1:49pm

rubadub wrote: »

I had had a few by this stage! but the signage display on it was quite large, maybe 3 or 4 inch diameter, think it was perfectly circular and had white writing on it, or there was a fair bit of white. The tap was at the end of the bar and I think it really stood out on its own. It possible had "dublin" in the writing, I see a dublin porter bottle but I think I would have remembered if it said porter. While the guinness he ended up pouring from was a bog standard tap in amongst a line of others.

This it?

matrim · 31-01-2017 2:14pm

rubadub wrote: »

I was upstairs in whelans on wexford street a few weeks ago. I saw an unusual looking guinness tap there. I ask for a pint tapping on this unusual tap and the barman says "oh you want the nitro guinness" I looked at him confused and then at the tap, and he was making out like it was somehow different from regular guinness. He went to pull a pint and it was empty and he says "do you just want the regular guinness instead of the nitro one".

As it was busy I just said yeah grand. A lad beside me was equally confused saying to me "but normal guinness is nitro" and I nodded.

So I wonder if this "special" tap was a non-nitro guinness or somehow different.

It was probably the nitro IPA

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