Beer Club!!

squonk

Any of you see this in TheJournal over the weekend about a newly founded beer club in Wicklow? Lookis like a pub that's trying to drum up interest in craft beers by holding a tasting session for punters.

I've been to a tasting session before myself which was fun but I was kind of 'on the way' to craft beer before I started to to discover places like The Salt House. I developed a taste for the non staples during trips to Belgium. Not sure I'd be up for craft becoming the new Wine Tasting. There's enough inherent snobbery in the scene at the moment without outscourcing it from the wine drinking community.

While I say that, I'm not pointing fingers. We all have out particular bug bears i think. Looking at their tasting list below triggers some of mine...

Dingle Brewing Co.’s Tom Crean Lager
Porterhouse Red
Brewdog’s 5am Saint
Brewdog’s Punk IPA
Hardknott’s Azimuth IPA
Brewdog’s Libertine Black Ale
Brooklyn Brewery’s Local 2 (not available from the bar, Tom’s special treat for us!)

First off, the good ones, Porterhouse Red, 5AM Saint, Punk IPA. Now for the bad points. Creans is pisswater. I'd have gone for the Trouble Ór myself if I wanted an Irish lager type drink. There's also too much Brewdog on there. I don't really worship at the alter of all things Brwdog but 5AM saint is great. For an alternative I'd have gone for Proper Job there instead of the Punk IPA. I'd class that list as 3 IPAs as everything Brewdog produce is hopped to hell. If I wanted to go that route, I'd be damn sure to substitute one IPA for Of Foam And Fury. I'd have drawn up a list like the following:

Trouble Ór
Porterhouse Red
5AM Saint
Proper Job
Of Foam And Fury
Harvieston Bitter And Twisted
Leann Follain, or as a treat, Beoir Choirce Dhuibhne Carraig Dubh.

I haven't had that Brooklyn Local 2. I wouldn't mind tryig it. I'd be itching for the next night though to get people onto things like Buried At Sea, Mikkeler Milk Stout and Nogne O Imperial Porter .

What would your list be for round one of a beer club night?

Seaneh

Lad I know from Athlone set up a "beer Club" a few months back, they meet once every month and try a few beers, he talks about them and the group gives their opinions. He runs a blog which I won't link because rules is rules, I haven't been able to attend yet myself but will be at the next one as I finish college and work in the next few weeks so will have no excuses.

Seems like a good way of introducing people to a few beer styles over the course of a night.

The biggest problem with doing these in pubs is you are limited by the selection of the particular pub.

Saruman

A few places have a "mug club" such as Purty Kitchen in Monkstown. You have your own personalised mug and there's certain beers to get through and incentives for doing so.