RDS Craft Beer festival

BeerNut

Losty Dublin wrote: »

it is a large crowd event so the H+S elf's will get their spoke in somewhere or other and last years glasses are a dang side better than the plastic glasses we get at many other events in Ireland.

I'd rather have thin clear plastic than the opaque plastic-tasting Ecocups. I suggested the clear polycarbonate glasses after last year's so there's an outside chance of an improvement there.

Losty Dublin wrote: »

What I would like to see gone most of all are the pushy and borderline rude security guards who go out of their way to scare you into leaving.

Usually only after the festival has ended, though They come with the venue so I doubt they'll change.

RasTa

Nice glasses for the London beer festival

BaZmO*

the beer revolu wrote: »

What was the last beer festival at which you had a glass vessel?

I bet you're sorry you asked that now!

the beer revolu

BaZmO* wrote: »

I bet you're sorry you asked that now!

Me?
I never asked that.
My account was hacked.

ciaran76

I'll got free tickets last year so that why I went.
This year I'm not sure I'll bother.

Everyone has already explained the reasons but also I find the place gets very warm. I end up standing out the back with the food to keep cool.

snowblind

All beer fests I've been to have glass.

This festival, this is not my kind of festival. 2 years ago I don't think I had a beer that was better than average; last years lineup looked as bad. It's a rugby fans night out

Blut2

snowblind wrote: »

All beer fests I've been to have glass.

This festival, this is not my kind of festival. 2 years ago I don't think I had a beer that was better than average; last years lineup looked as bad. It's a rugby fans night out

It did start off as a beer festival to be fair to it. Real glasses, reasonable prices, an essentially empty hall just full of beer stands, and a far better selection of beer than was available at the time anywhere else in Dublin.

Its just in the intervening few years that they've added ear splitting music, mainstream spirits brands for some bizarre reason, plastic glasses, and upped prices. And in the meantime craft beer has gotten much more available in normal pubs across the city, reducing that novelty too.

If it still sells out though I can't see them reversing course. Money talks.

snowblind

Blut2 wrote: »

It did start off as a beer festival to be fair to it. Real glasses, reasonable prices, an essentially empty hall just full of beer stands, and a far better selection of beer than was available at the time anywhere else in Dublin.

Its just in the intervening few years that they've added ear splitting music, mainstream spirits brands for some bizarre reason, plastic glasses, and upped prices. And in the meantime craft beer has gotten much more available in normal pubs across the city, reducing that novelty too.

If it still sells out though I can't see them reversing course. Money talks.

Oh yeah absolutely. Not expecting this festival to be my thing at all. The good years were when it was still unusual to actually find a decent irish IPA.

There will be other festivals that will fill the void. This year I went to Alvinne's fest in Belgium, highly recommended! Even in Ireland, the white hag one looked good & the italian beer fest is great, happy enough to not mind this one!

BeerNut

For those of you who manage to tear yourselves away from the silent disco, this might be of interest:

Brewers Association wrote:

Approximately 17 small and independent American craft breweries will be represented by the Brewers Association’s Export Development Program at the Festival, pouring approximately 65 different beers that demonstrate the innovation, skill and flair of America’s small and independent craft brewers and offer a rare opportunity to sample world-class quality American craft beer at the vanguard of the craft brewing movement.

Breweries include (subject to change):
Coronado Brewing Co
Epic Brewing
Hardywood Park Craft Brewery
Harpoon Brewery
Lakefront Brewing Co
Left Hand Brewing Co
Mill House Brewing Co
New Belgium Brewing Co
New Holland Brewing Co
No-Li Brewhouse
Odell Brewing Co
O’Fallon Brewing Co
Port City Brewing Co
Saugatuck Brewing Co
Ska Brewing Co
West Sixth Brewing Co
Wormtown Brewery

A diverse range of the highest quality beers will include a variety of styles, strengths and flavours ranging from tart and juicy sours to big and bold imperial stouts. Full-flavoured, East and West coast IPAs and IPA variants will feature prominently as well as pilsners, saisons, witbiers, kolschs, porters, tripels and everything in between. Whatever your preference, there is a style of American craft beer to suit both novice craft beer lover and aficionado alike.

I should have a list of beers from them next week.

Blut2

Thats very cool. It'd be great if Enterprise Ireland or someone similar started doing the same for Irish craft brewers at foreign festivals.

BeerNut

There was the equivalent at the Great British Beer Festival this year when a group from the ICBI set up a bar of Irish beers. There was the bizarre situation of the UK's national festival having a range of beers from the Republic and none from Northern Ireland.

BeerNut

And here's the full list:

Coronado Brewing Co Coronado, California

Guava Islander IPA 7%
Centennial, Chinook and Columbus hops with a hefty dose of guava puree
12oz can

Orange Ave Wit 5.2%
Orange zest, coriander and orange blossom honey give a refreshing, light bodied brew with citrus zing and a hint of earthy spice
12oz can


Epic Brewing Co Salt Lake City, Utah

Brainless on Peaches 11%
French oak white wine casks with organic peach puree are used for a secondary fermentation and maturation of this Belgian Golden Ale
22oz bottle

Hopulent IPA 8%
A big beer with a complex malt flavor & excessive hops. A hop head’s delight!
22oz bottle

Elder Brett 9%
A rich, barnyard character typical of Brett yeast plus white wine & peaches picked up from secondary fermentation in used Brainless on Peaches barrels
22oz bottle

Big Bad Baptist 12%
Rich imperial stout aged in whisky/bourbon barrels infused with real coffee & cocoa nibs.
22oz bottle


Hardywood Park Craft Brewery Richmond, VA

Singel 6.2%
Tropical fruit esters balance perfectly with spicy hop aromatics behind a veil of Belgian yeast. Unfiltered & unpasteurised
12oz bottle

Pils 5.2%
Crisp, clean & quaffable. Hand-crafted with the finest European pilsner malt & German noble hops.
12oz bottle

VIPA 5.2%
Alluring tropical aromatics, a refreshingly delicate body & a bright, juicy finish combine in this ‘Virgindia Pale Ale’
12oz bottle

Cuvee Peach 8.2%
A blend of Peach Tripel aged in white wine barrels at varying levels of maturation. A beautifully complex beer with yeast derived stone fruit esters and juicy peach undertones.
22oz bottle


Harpoon Brewery Boston, Massachusetts

Take 5 Session Ale 4.3%
Simcoe & Amarillo hops provide a vibrant citrus and pine hope aroma with a distinct malt profile
12oz can

UFO White 4.8%
A hazy, yellow, refreshing wheat beer with orange peel and coriander. On the sweeter side, but light on the palate
12oz can

Harpoon IPA 5.9%
Combines hops, malt & yeast so that no single ingredient dominates. The sturdy malt backbone provides depth of body, balanced by a pleasantly hoppy finish
12oz can

Flannel Friday 5.7%
A bright, hoppy amber ale with hints of citrus & pine from late hop additions and a strong malt backbone
12oz can


Lakefront Brewery Milwaukee, Wisconsin

East Side Dark 5.6%
A Bohemian Schwarzbier. Rich & dark in colour, roasted malts & German lager yeast rounds out this brew with a smooth complex finish
12oz bottle

Organic Fuel Café Coffee Stout 6.4%
Coffee aroma dominates with roasted malts balanced by fine organic hops to make this an unforgettable brew
12oz bottle

Lakefront IPA 6.6%
Cascade, Chinook & Citra hops dominate this radiant copper American IPA giving a citrusy, floral bouquet
12oz bottle

SHOP – Centennial 7%
A single hop IPA using a generous Centennial dry hopping to give grapefruit & orange blossom aroma with floral & citrus zest flavors
12oz bottle


Left Hand Brewing Co Longmont, Colorado

Milk Stout 6.0%
Dark and delicious, America’s great milk stout has roasted malt and coffee flavors to build the foundation of this creamy, sweet stout
12oz bottle

Study Abroad 5.5%
Belgian yeast gives this light-bodied ale a distinct spiciness with mild fruit esters
12oz can

Travelin’ Light 4.8%
A golden, crisp, dry and refreshing Kolsch style ale with Willamette & Mount Hood herbal hops
12oz can

Chokecherry Saison 6.8%
A dry and crisp farmhouse style ale
16oz cans


Mill House Brewing Co. Poughkeepsie, New York

Köld One 4.6%
An award winning classic German style Kölsch that quenches the thirst with a crisp Noble hop finish, and Pilsner and Vienna malts
16oz can

Cucumber Blessings 5.2%
An award winning, crisp, dry and refreshing brew with cucumber, inspired by a Cucumber Blessings ceremony to help the village through the long hot days of summer
16oz can


New Belgium Brewing Co. Fort Collins, Colorado

Fat Tire Belgian Style Ale 5.2% A fine malt presence, fresh herbal hop balance and a touch of fruity yeast offer a rare blend of balance & complexity
12oz bottle

Citradelic Tangerine 6%
Pure tropical-fruit pleasure abounds in this IPA with Citra hops and tangerine peel. Citrusy Mandarina Bavaria, tropical Azacca & fruity Galaxy hops make for a colourful explosion
12oz bottle

Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA 9%
An explosion of fresh-cut pine and citrus flavors for a complex, rich and delicious flavor
12oz bottle

Voodoo Ranger IPA 7%
Bursting with tropical aromas and juicy fruit flavors, this golden IPA is perfectly bitter with a refreshing, sublime finish
12oz bottle


New Holland Brewing Co Holland, Michigan

Mad Hatter 7%
Floral aromatics & a bright, hoppy body from Centennial, Citra and Michigan grown Cascade hops give this mid-West IPA a citrus bitterness & balanced finish
12oz bottle

The Poet 5.2%
Oats bring a creaminess and soft mouthfeel to the rich, roasty malt character of this oatmeal stout
12oz bottle

Dragons Milk 11.0%
An Imperial stout with roasty malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones all dancing in a Bourbon barrel- aged bath.
12oz bottle

Black Tulip 8.8%
A Belgian Tripel ale brewed with Mt Hood and German Magnum hops. Mysterious, alluring and seductive
12oz bottle


No-Li Brewhouse Spokane, Washington

Born & Raised IPA 7.1%
A Northwest IPA showcasing Munich and Crystal malts for a big, bold body overlayered with Washington hops
22oz bottle

Spin Cycle Red Ale 5.75%
Specialty malts give aromas of lightly toasted bread and caramel while Noble hops add a herbal flavor for balance
22oz bottle

Wrecking Ball Imperial Stout 9.5%
Five types of dark, roasted malt give complex flavors of coffee, chocolate and brown sugar. Two large late hops additions prevent the malt from totally dominating.
22oz bottle

Big Juicy IPA 6.1%
A hop-forward golden IPA with Citra, El Dorado, Belma and Azacca tropical and citrus flavors
12oz can


Odell Brewing Co Fort Collins, Colorado

Drumroll 5.3%
An unfiltered American Pale Ale that looks & tastes like pineapple, orange, mango & grapefruit. Bold, juicy, citrus-inspired and tropically hoppy.
12oz can

Myrcenary 9.3%
Brewed with hops containing the highest levels of Myrcene (essential oil in hops flowers) this DIPA has a tropical, fruit-like flavor, pungent floral aroma & clean getaway
12oz can

90 Shilling 5.3%
Odell’s smooth and complex flagship beer. A medium-bodied amber ale with a distinctly burnished copper colour & deeply pleasant aroma
12oz bottle

Odell IPA 7%
An American style IPA with highly aromatic hops giving a distinctive bitterness profile and incredible hop character
12oz bottle


O’Fallon Brewing Co st Louis, Missouri

Show Me IPA 6.5%
Citra & Mosaic hops give fruity notes that balance perfectly with the light malt profile
12oz bottle

Smoked Porter 6%
A smoked version of a robust porter. Malty sweetness and burnt chocolate notes balance the bitterness of the hops and the smokey flavor & aroma
12oz bottle

STL Red 5.6%
A beer perfectly balanced with nut flavors from barley malt with soft spice & floral notes from the hops
12oz bottle

Pumpkin Beer 5.5%
Like pumpkin pie in a bottle! Real pumpkin is added to the 3-barley mash & seasoned with cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves
12oz bottle


Port City Brewing Co Alexandria, Virginia

Downright Pilsner 4.8%
A brilliant, gold-lager, medium-bodied with a soft, round malt profile and crisp, spicy hop character
12oz bottle

Monumental IPA 6.3%
Rich, clear and copper in colour, this IPA exhibits floral aromas & flavors of citrus in combo with piney-resin and malty, toasty caramel background notes
12oz bottle

Porter 7.2%
Dark chocolate brown in colour with a complex malt character that enhances the aromas and flavor of roasted coffee and dark chocolate
12oz bottle

Essential Pale Ale 5.5%
Intense, fruity aroma of peaches and apricots. Refreshingly crisp with a clean finish
12oz bottle


Ska Brewing Co Durango, Colorado

Modus Mandarina 6%
A unique twist on Modus Hoperandi, this citrus IPA is dry hopped with Mandarina Bavaria hops and brewed with sweet orange peel
12oz can

Pink Vapor Stew 5%
A sour ale made by blending Citra and Belma hops with beets, carrots, ginger and celery turning this brew into a stew!
12oz can


West Sixth Brewing Lexington, Kentucky

West Sixth IPA, 5%
A hop-forward American IPA with citrus & resin notes, balanced by a nice bready and toasty malt backbone
12oz cans

Pay It Forward Cocoa Porter 6%
A big & roasty American porter with cocao nibs lending a complementary chocolate character and a unique mouthfeel
12oz cans


Wormtown Brewery Worcester, Massachusetts

Be Hoppy 6.5%
A West coast IPA style. Huge aromatics and big citrus forward flavors from copious amount of hops used during the double dry hop and hop back processes
12oz bottle

Bottle Rocket 5%
An American pale ale brewed with Local Valley malt rye and fruity American hops lending tropical and citrus notes
12oz bottle

Blonde Cougar 5%
An American blonde ale brewed with American grown pale malted barley and locally grown heirloom corn and wheat
12oz bottle

Ales for ALS IPA 6.8%
A New England style IPA, heavy on flavor and aroma hops
16oz can

Albert_Camus

Lot of American breweries I don't know in that list. Any must try recommendations? Thanks.

Also as they are all bottles and cans, will there be an option to buy some to go. Or will they just be pouring into your glass. Wouldn't mind some smaller measures to taste a few!

BeerNut

Albert_Camus wrote: »

will there be an option to buy some to go.

Seems not:
https://twitter.com/IrishBeerFest/status/905085259095605248

n97 mini

BeerNut wrote: »

Seems not:
https://twitter.com/IrishBeerFest/status/905085259095605248

RDS has a National Sporting Arena licence, so that may well be true. The (one off) Convention Centre licence certainly doesn't permit off-sales.

There are easy ways to get around it legally if they really wanted to.

BeerNut

Plenty of events at the RDS permit off sales. Posh ones. I would say it's an insurance thing: punters are not to hold any glass at any point.

testaccount123

n97 mini wrote: »

RDS has a National Sporting Arena licence, so that may well be true. The (one off) Convention Centre licence certainly doesn't permit off-sales.

There are easy ways to get around it legally if they really wanted to.

I've bought take away from altech, it's a couple of years ago now mind

MonkstownHoop

Bought a few old chub and brought them home from the RDS last year

n97 mini

testaccount123 wrote: »

I've bought take away from altech, it's a couple of years ago now mind

Their permanent licence doesn't allow off sales, but nothing to stop them (or the RDS) getting an occasional licence too, which can allow it.

Doodah7

Did anyone go last night? Any good?

BeerNut

I had great time. Some good American beers, lots of great stuff from Lough Gill, including what I think is the first Irish mead, and an excellent debut from Larkin's of Kilcoole: their unfiltered German lager was brilliant. And much else besides.

matrim

Went last night too and similar to BeerNut I had a good night. It was busy but not packed so you could easily get a chance to talk to people.

I didn't try any of the American beers as I was saving them for Saturday but had some nice stuff from Lough Gill, Costellos, Trouble and 8 Degrees. I only had the IPA from Larkin's and it was only ok. I wanted to try their sweet stout but it wasn't on yet and they only have a small keg of it for tomorrow.

My main grip was the food. There were only 3 stands. Wood fire pizza, jane russle sausages and a fish place. The fish place was charging 4 tokens (€12) for a small enough fish and chips. Because of that nobody was going there so the queue for jane russle was long even though the venue wasn't that busy.

aaronm13

Can you go out and come back in again to get food? Those options don't sound great and bloody expensive. Will be a lot busier too tomorrow.

matrim

aaronm13 wrote: »

Can you go out and come back in again to get food? Those options don't sound great and bloody expensive. Will be a lot busier too tomorrow.

You could leave and come back other years so I assume you can again this year.

Losty Dublin

aaronm13 wrote: »

Can you go out and come back in again to get food? Those options don't sound great and bloody expensive. Will be a lot busier too tomorrow.

There isn't a lot of options close by, that's the problem. There's the Embassy chipper but the next best is Baggot Street or Donnybrook and they're not exactly beside the RDS. Last year there was a lot of options, including real Blaa's and even stretch blaa's!

Matrim, were you looking at the front for the food or at the back of the hall?

matrim

Losty Dublin wrote: »

There isn't a lot of options close by, that's the problem. There's the Embassy chipper but the next best is Baggot Street or Donnybrook and they're not exactly beside the RDS. Last year there was a lot of options, including real Blaa's and even stretch blaa's!

Matrim, were you looking at the front for the food or at the back of the hall?

At the back of the hall outside. I think there might be more today as there seemed to be a bit of space for another one or two stands outside

aaronm13

Thanks for that. Guess I might just have to have a big feed before I go in.

washiskin

what did people think of this year's glass?

jsa112

BeerNut wrote: »

I had great time. Some good American beers, lots of great stuff from Lough Gill, including what I think is the first Irish mead, and an excellent debut from Larkin's of Kilcoole: their unfiltered German lager was brilliant. And much else besides.

Had a Bunratty mead which I'd imagine is the first, it's nice.

The Hound Gone Wild

jsa112 wrote: »

Had a Bunratty mead which I'd imagine is the first, it's nice.

It's not real mead. It's a blend of wine, mead and herbs.