30 Irish Beers to try in 2015

BaZmO*

30 FANTASTIC IRISH BEERS YOU HAVE TO TRY IN 2015 (AS SUGGESTED BY IRELAND’S BEER GEEKS AND EXPERTS)

1. DEVIL’S BACKBONE (4.9% ABV) – KINNEGAR BREWING
2. GRAFFITI (3.6% ABV) – TROUBLE BREWING
3. GINGER PORTER (4.8% ABV) – RASCAL’S BREWING CO
4. O’HARA’S LEANN FOLLÁIN (6% ABV) – CARLOW BREWING COMPANY
5. METALMAN PALE ALE (CANNED) (4.3% ABV) – METALMAN BREWING CO
6. PUCK PILSNER (4.5% ABV) – JACK CODY’S
7. BLACK BOAR (10.2% ABV) – THE WHITE HAG
8. SCRAGGY BAY (5.3% ABV) – KINNEGAR BREWING
9. LOCAVORE BLONDE (4.8% ABV) – WICKLOW WOLF BREWING CO.
10. SHMOAKE GRÂTZER (4.7% ABV) – BROWN PAPER BAG PROJECT
11. THE FULL IRISH (6% ABV) – EIGHT DEGREES BREWING
12. BOUNDARY IPA – BOUNDARY BREWING CO-OP
13. DASH AWAY (5.7% ABV) – TROUBLE BREWING
14. OF FOAM AND FURY (8.5% ABV) – GALWAY BAY BREWERY
15. FULCRUM (5% ABV) – CLEARSKY BREWING CO.
16. BÉAL BÁN (5% ABV) – BEOIR CHORCA DHUIBHNE / WEST KERRY BREWERY
17. SHEEP STEALER (5.5% ABV) – BLACK DONKEY BREWING
18. DARK ARTS (4.4% ABV) – TROUBLE BREWING
19. VIA MARIS (3.5% ABV) – GALWAY BAY BREWERY
20. WESTPORTER STOUT (5% ABV) – MESCAN BREWERY
21. IRISH BLOND (4.5% ABV) – REEL DEEL BREWERY
22. BLACK BUCKET (6.5% ABV) – KINNEGAR BREWING
23. CLOTWORTHY DOBBIN (5% ABV) – WHITEWATER BREWERY
24. CHIEFTAIN IPA (5.5% ABV) – FRANCISCAN WELL
25. TWO HUNDRED FATHOMS (10% ABV) – GALWAY BAY BREWERY
26. THE HURLER (4.2% ABV) – FOUR PROVINCES
27. ST. MEL’S BROWN ALE (5.2% ABV) – ST. MEL’S BREWING COMPANY
28. GALWAY HOOKER IRISH PALE ALE (4.4% ABV) – GALWAY HOOKER BREWERY
29. N17 RYE ALE (5% ABV) – N17 BREWING
30. CARRAIG DUBH (6% ABV) – BEOIR CHORCA DHUIBHNE / WEST KERRY BREWERY



There are actually quite a few that I haven't tried yet, but the list is an embarrassment of riches really, especially when you consider how quickly we got here.

Losty Dublin

BaZmO* wrote: »

30 FANTASTIC IRISH BEERS YOU HAVE TO TRY IN 2015 (AS SUGGESTED BY IRELAND’S BEER GEEKS AND EXPERTS)

1. DEVIL’S BACKBONE (4.9% ABV) – KINNEGAR BREWING
2. GRAFFITI (3.6% ABV) – TROUBLE BREWING
3. GINGER PORTER (4.8% ABV) – RASCAL’S BREWING CO
4. O’HARA’S LEANN FOLLÁIN (6% ABV) – CARLOW BREWING COMPANY
5. METALMAN PALE ALE (CANNED) (4.3% ABV) – METALMAN BREWING CO
6. PUCK PILSNER (4.5% ABV) – JACK CODY’S
7. BLACK BOAR (10.2% ABV) – THE WHITE HAG
8. SCRAGGY BAY (5.3% ABV) – KINNEGAR BREWING
9. LOCAVORE BLONDE (4.8% ABV) – WICKLOW WOLF BREWING CO.
10. SHMOAKE GRÂTZER (4.7% ABV) – BROWN PAPER BAG PROJECT
11. THE FULL IRISH (6% ABV) – EIGHT DEGREES BREWING
12. BOUNDARY IPA – BOUNDARY BREWING CO-OP
13. DASH AWAY (5.7% ABV) – TROUBLE BREWING
14. OF FOAM AND FURY (8.5% ABV) – GALWAY BAY BREWERY
15. FULCRUM (5% ABV) – CLEARSKY BREWING CO.
16. BÉAL BÁN (5% ABV) – BEOIR CHORCA DHUIBHNE / WEST KERRY BREWERY
17. SHEEP STEALER (5.5% ABV) – BLACK DONKEY BREWING
18. DARK ARTS (4.4% ABV) – TROUBLE BREWING
19. VIA MARIS (3.5% ABV) – GALWAY BAY BREWERY
20. WESTPORTER STOUT (5% ABV) – MESCAN BREWERY
21. IRISH BLOND (4.5% ABV) – REEL DEEL BREWERY
22. BLACK BUCKET (6.5% ABV) – KINNEGAR BREWING
23. CLOTWORTHY DOBBIN (5% ABV) – WHITEWATER BREWERY
24. CHIEFTAIN IPA (5.5% ABV) – FRANCISCAN WELL
25. TWO HUNDRED FATHOMS (10% ABV) – GALWAY BAY BREWERY
26. THE HURLER (4.2% ABV) – FOUR PROVINCES
27. ST. MEL’S BROWN ALE (5.2% ABV) – ST. MEL’S BREWING COMPANY
28. GALWAY HOOKER IRISH PALE ALE (4.4% ABV) – GALWAY HOOKER BREWERY
29. N17 RYE ALE (5% ABV) – N17 BREWING
30. CARRAIG DUBH (6% ABV) – BEOIR CHORCA DHUIBHNE / WEST KERRY BREWERY



There are actually quite a few that I haven't tried yet, but the list is an embarrassment of riches really, especially when you consider how quickly we got here.

No red ale? Sacrilege, I tells ya :pac:

BaZmO*

Losty Dublin wrote: »

No red ale? Sacrilege, I tells ya :pac:

#26?

cunnifferous

Is Trouble brewing graffiti still available? Was a big fan of it but thought it was on a limited run and haven't seen it in months.

Son0vagun

Great collection of beers. Great to see how far we have come in such a short space in time. I've tried most, some of them aren't/weren't available in bottles. I'd have put Double Irish and perhaps Crazy Horse in there.

Also this year The Beer O'Clock Show podcast will be featuring 6 Beers from Ireland in their upcoming season. They start with Of Foam & Fury on February 6th.

BeerNut

cunnifferous wrote: »

Is Trouble brewing graffiti still available? Was a big fan of it but thought it was on a limited run and haven't seen it in months.

I'll hold my hands up and say a big reason I chose it for the list was to encourage (blackmail) them into brewing it again. They'll likely be re-jigging the hops slightly due to a shortage of one of the varieties, but I understand it will be back.

Halfbaker

There's at least 10 beers there that I haven't tried. Must get cracking!!

Lovely Bloke

What about Dash Away, was that not a Xmas Seasonal?

Missed trying it, and disappointed to to have missed it too.

BeerNut

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

What about Dash Away, was that not a Xmas Seasonal?

At the moment there are plans to have a Christmas in 2015 as well. Though obviously it's early days at this stage.

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Missed trying it, and disappointed to to have missed it too.

I'd say there may be some still knocking around. The Galway Bay pubs are usually a good bet, and Beer House tweeted they had it at the beginning of the month.

Creamy Goodness

Dash Away was in the Bull and Castle as of last Thursday if that's any help.

Lovely Bloke

Possibly, thanks. I'm going to the Olympia tonight actually, see if the wife wants to go there before or after.

Thanks.

drumswan

Dash away was very nice indeed. Graffiti will be back at some stage this year, there is even talk of bottles this time around. Would be a nice summer sessioner.

Thats a really great list.

BaZmO*

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

Definitely, thanks. I'm going to the Olympia tonight actually, I'll tell the wife that we're going there before and after.

Thanks.

FYP

Lovely Bloke

BaZmO* wrote: »

FYP

Hahaha, yeah.

No.

Insect Overlord

I've tried 8 of them, have one more from the list in the fridge and another to be delivered soon (I hope!) Plenty of others to look forward to after January.

schemingbohemia

Anyone know anywhere in Dublin that has Black Bucket in stock? Foolishly only bought 2 before Christmas and would love it to be my first drink after Dryanuary!

RasTa

Drinkstore had it around new years. Ring and ask or check online

drumswan

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Anyone know anywhere in Dublin that has Black Bucket in stock? Foolishly only bought 2 before Christmas and would love it to be my first drink after Dryanuary!

Pretty sure I saw a bottle in Redmonds the other day.

P.S. Dryanuary me hole

drumswan

Boundary the only one I havent had from that list, didnt see any in The Vineyard when I was in there before xmas. Has this made it to Dublin anywhere?

BeerNut

It doesn't exist yet.

anncoates

No Shanco Dubh porter?

Thanks for the recommendations. Looking forward to tasting that Ginger Porter. Rascals are based in my area. Have only tried Wit Woo of theirs.

Insect Overlord

White Gypsy are another notable name missing from the list.

BaZmO*

An File wrote: »

White Gypsy are another notable name missing from the list.

Why so? It's just made up of individual recommendations. There's no right or wrong.

n97 mini

If you read the original article it's kind of funny. Distributors recommending beer they distribute, brewers recommending beer they (contract) brew, people recommending beer brewed by their mates.

There are a few I would drop off it, having had them, and others not on it I would put on. Although I suppose it does say "beers to try" rather than "best beers".

Aongus Von Bismarck

A comprehensive list! Are all these widely available, or are some of them seasonal beers? I was back in Ireland for Christmas, and had a glass of Of Foam and Fury in Oslo in Galway. A fine beer, despite the 'venture capitalist' prices.

It might be considered commonplace at this stage, but Galway Hooker is a damn fine pale ale that you can have a few pints of. Most of the pubs we went to had it on tap.My brother works in Dublin and says the Hooker tap has gone from a novelty to an expectation in many of the joints he frequents with his friends.

In other news, Leann Follaín is now available in my local supermarket here in Germany. I know O'Hara's have always targeted the export market, but finally I have an Irish beer that I can pick up and serve to my German friends - without feeling I have to apologise for the lack of taste thing they get so disappointed about.

n97 mini

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

In other news, Leann Follaín is now available in my local supermarket here in Germany.

What's the price?

Passenger

Great to see Irish brew's such as Leann Follaín (and by extension O'Hara's) getting some international appreciation. I've been championing it to all and sundry for a few years now. Hopefully the likes of O'Hara's, Eight Degrees, Trouble Brewery (and others) don't sell out to some international conglomerate once they start enjoying some international success and keep their business in Ireland to encourage more people to join the ever burgeoning craft brewing sector. We're producing some quality beer and long may it continue.

Lovely Bloke

O'Hara's is already an international product.

BeerNut

Baldy Conscience wrote: »

O'Hara's is already an international product.

Always has been: the brewery was set up primarily to export. Not that long ago 80% of the product went abroad.

dregin

Hard to get down south at the minute, but I reckon Farmageddon brews will be featuring on the 2016 list!

drumswan

dregin wrote: »

Hard to get down south at the minute, but I reckon Farmageddon brews will be featuring on the 2016 list!

I enjoyed all three of the Farmageddon brews Ive had. Ken in drinkstore says they'll have some early this year

Lovely Bloke

I actually ended up going to the B&C last evening before the play, had a couple of pints of Dash Away, and a pint of Black Perle from Wicklow Wolf.

Dash Away is such a nice stout, the cherry is really only noticeable on the nose, but the deep dark chocolate bitterness in the taste is absolutely brilliantly done.

Went to The Norseman afterwards and had a Sheep Stealer, the style is just not for me - it's a take on a Saison, right? "Irish Farmhouse Ale". Don't like it.

jsa112

Its a poor version of a saison to be fair, wouldn't give up on that style just yet.

Lovely Bloke

I've had a couple of others and found they all had this weird off taste in the back of my throat

Aongus Von Bismarck

n97 mini wrote: »

What's the price?

I can't remember exactly. I'll check the next time I'm down there. Wouldn't have been more than €3 I'd say. While there are a wide selection of German beers available in the supermarkets, it can be difficult to get foreign beers. You'll have your Guinness and even your Murphy's. But I hadn't seen O'Hara's before.

And stout is a beer style that the Germans don't really give a whole amount of time to. Lovely alternatives of course, but cannot beat that dry Irish style the odd time.

TheMadBrewer

Aongus Von Bismarck wrote: »

...In other news, Leann Follaín is now available in my local supermarket here in Germany. ...

It shows up now and then here in Los Angeles at the better beer shops. Draft O'Hara's Stout appears from time to time as well.

sarkozy

I've had most of those. Good list. And great to see Sheep Stealer on it. That was one of the highlights for me at the Beer Fest last year.

Redsoxfan

The Hurler? I've tried nearly everything everything on the list but wouldn't recommend this one.