Irish Craft Beer Festival 2016

slayerking · 04-09-2016 11:42am #1

The annual All-Ireland craft beer festival is almost upon us. http://www.irishcraftbeerfestival.ie/

Sept 8th - 10th in the RDS.

Odell & Beavertown will be there as well.

I hope they improve the food options, which are always a bit lacking.
It looks like they've increased the beer bucks to 3 euro, so pints will be 6 euro - which is a tad steep IMO.

quadrifoglio verde · 04-09-2016 5:10pm

I didn't think you could get a pints last year, half pints or 2/3rd pints only. Found if you went for a half pint, you got a good but more though and you get to try lots of different ones.
I'll probably head on Thursday to avoid the madness

L1011 · 04-09-2016 6:21pm

quadrifoglio verde wrote: »

I didn't think you could get a pints last year, half pints or 2/3rd pints only. Found if you went for a half pint, you got a good but more though and you get to try lots of different ones.
I'll probably head on Thursday to avoid the madness

I have the fancy glass from last year - used it earlier actually - and its lined (under the top) to 1/2 and 1/3 - the thirds were for higher abv% product. I'm pretty sure that the "normal" glass was 1/2 to full and lined 1/3.

Most breweries filled the glass for a half, though.

Any Beoir entry discounts this year?

BeerNut · 04-09-2016 6:32pm

L1011 wrote: »

Any Beoir entry discounts this year?

Half price on the door with a valid membership card. Get there early.

L1011 · 04-09-2016 7:32pm

Card's in date. My usual festival buddy is having a month off all drink but there's others that'll likely be there that I know and you always meet someone new in the smoking area (although I don't smoke so would need an excuse to go out there).

slayerking · 04-09-2016 9:20pm

Defo recommend arriving early for anyone planning on going the Saturday. Last year, they actually closed the gates around 5 or 6. Stopped selling tickets and only let people in who had pre bought.

Ronan|Raven · 04-09-2016 9:47pm

Shame to see an increase in the price of tokens.

Blut2 · 04-09-2016 9:58pm

Are there any free tokens with the entry fee? I think I remember that being a thing in past years? Don't see any mention of it on the site, though.

BeerNut · 04-09-2016 10:10pm

Blut2 wrote: »

Are there any free tokens with the entry fee? I think I remember that being a thing in past years? Don't see any mention of it on the site, though.

Not usually. Sometimes Carlow has tokens for their stand only with some tickets but it's logistically awkward otherwise.

L1011 · 04-09-2016 10:25pm

Blut2 wrote: »

Are there any free tokens with the entry fee? I think I remember that being a thing in past years? Don't see any mention of it on the site, though.

Alltech fest usually has that. Not this one.

BeerNut · 04-09-2016 11:28pm

L1011 wrote: »

Alltech fest usually has that. Not this one.

If only Bruce had Pearse's money

Losty Dublin · 04-09-2016 11:44pm

I'll be there on the Thursday; easier night all round to work the room and to chew the fat but it's far more comfortable as a whole.

cruhoortwunk · 05-09-2016 3:56pm

BeerNut wrote: »

Half price on the door with a valid membership card. Get there early.

My baby dropped my membership card in her ****ty nappy, is it possible to get a replacement?

me_irl · 05-09-2016 3:59pm

cruhoortwunk wrote: »

My baby dropped my membership card in her ****ty nappy, is it possible to get a replacement?

:pac:

Amazing.

You could email / contact beoir either through email or twitter (I'd say you might get a faster reply on twitter).

http://www.beoir.org/index.php/component/contact/category/12-contacts

https://twitter.com/BeoirOrg

EDIT! Which reminds me O Brother Brewing are running a competition to win two tickets (https://twitter.com/OBrotherBrewing)

ciaran76 · 05-09-2016 4:01pm

Took a half day for Friday and going to drop in Friday afternoon.

slayerking · 05-09-2016 10:54pm

I malfunctioned last week and booked both Thursday and Friday off work in a moment of excitement before I realised the doors don't open until 5pm. Feic it anyway.

ciaran76 · 06-09-2016 6:36am

slayerking wrote: »

I malfunctioned last week and booked both Thursday and Friday off work in a moment of excitement before I realised the doors don't open until 5pm. Feic it anyway.

Yep took a half day too then saw the times. Going to be there bang on 5 Friday.

c - 13 · 06-09-2016 10:39am

Heading up to this on Friday. Looking forward to it now, had a great time at it last year. I do think that e3 per token is a tad bit steep though.

matrim · 06-09-2016 10:41am

Is there a list of specials available yet? It normally comes out a day or two before the festival starts. I'll be heading in on Thursday and Saturday

Also for anyone buying tickets online you get a 10% discount with the promotion code OBRIENS

Ruben Remus · 06-09-2016 1:07pm

€3 for a half, on top of the admission price, is very steep. I won't be going.

Blut2 · 06-09-2016 1:25pm

L1011 wrote: »

Alltech fest usually has that. Not this one.

Hmm. I've never been to the Alltech festival, so it was definitely this I was thinking of. Might have been 3-4 years ago though. I think it was only 5eur of tokens or something but it made paying the entry fee a bit more acceptable. Oh well.

I'm sure the festival will be rammed even without any free tokens though to be fair to them, it does seem to only be getting more and more popular each year.

Creamy Goodness · 06-09-2016 1:29pm

I was seriously contemplating not going this year due to it being incredibly uncomfortable sweat box last year. Tokens going up to €3 has sealed the deal unfortunately. Look forward to trying to specials that spill out into local pubs instead.

ciaran76 · 06-09-2016 1:52pm

Ruben Remus wrote: »

€3 for a half, on top of the admission price, is very steep. I won't be going.

My friends and I organised to attend this some time ago. When the pricing was announced there was plenty of grumbles and we all agreed that this is the last one.
Its got too expensive for what it is.

Ronan|Raven · 06-09-2016 2:06pm

slayerking wrote: »

I malfunctioned last week and booked both Thursday and Friday off work in a moment of excitement before I realised the doors don't open until 5pm. Feic it anyway.

Even the Saturday opening time looks later than previous years? 2pm?

Uriel. · 06-09-2016 2:08pm

yeah this will be my first year not going. I think it's lost the run of itself to be honest.

me_irl · 06-09-2016 2:14pm

I don't really mind the 50c increase in the 1/2 pints. I'm going solely to taste new brews, or ones that I overlooked. I'd probably have a great time on 20e (yes I'm a lightweight :pac: ).

Wonder is the increase to stop any attitudes of this being a "binge" event? Heard they introduced the half pint glass two years ago.

noby · 06-09-2016 2:27pm

It's a pity ( but completely understandable) to see regular festival-goers not attending because of the price increase.

slayerking · 06-09-2016 8:23pm

6 euro per pint make me sad

.

I won tickets for Thursday, so I'll head along to suss it out (I've never missed it since it began). I usually do an all weekend job, but cost a fortune now without full weekend tickets as well.
I don't normally do this, but I can see myself asking for lots of samples before I pull the trigger to get more bang for my buck. :P

quadrifoglio verde · 06-09-2016 11:01pm

Price doesn't bother me, being able to try the different specials make it worthwhile. At the end of the day I've paid a tenner into coppers at 3 in the morning and spent way more than 6 quid on a drink just so I could eat the face off some one whose name i didn't know. And beoir membership does get you a discount.

What will stop me going on thursday is this bloody bus strike, I just can't justify 50 quid on a taxi home :mad: I'll have to save my drunken chats with noby and drunk posts on here for another time :pac:

noby · 06-09-2016 11:07pm

Ha! I won't be there Thursday myself anyway, but will be available for drunk chats on Saturday.

Lovely Bloke · 07-09-2016 8:41am

20% increase in the price of drink is off the charts really, and is actually price gouging/money grabbing

There used to be free drinks with the entry on the Saturday, gone now.

This will be my last year, barring a change of policy.

It's also pretty sad to see the breweries announcing pretty underwhelming "specials". One particular brewery announced a "special" festival beer which is in the style of every beer they've released since last year's festival for example. Hardly innovative.

The only thing this still has going for it is the fact that the brewers are available, but the Saturday is so ridiculously packed these days that you may as well be on a production line of half pint glasses.

Look at the line up of breweries at ABV for comparison. The quality there is unbelievable. I'll be going there next year, brewers or not, instead of this. I never get to speak to them anyway in the RDS so their presence is no longer a draw.

I think the organisers perhaps need to lose the "Irish" tag, and be a bit more discerning when it comes to which Irish brewers are allowed in. A lot of more recent entrants to the Irish market are mediocre at best and their attempts at even the simpler styles do not leave me waiting with bated breath for their specials, if they even exist.

I've also heard a story or two about one of the "newcomers" not paying an artist for designing their label, so I'll be avoiding that stall.

Clearly the cost of a stand has gone up, if it hasn't then it's the breweries themselves driving the cost increase, which is not on.

Lovely Bloke · 07-09-2016 8:46am

Just to add, the beoir discount is nice and all, but what's the point if doors close incredibly early on the Saturday?

I also wish there was a stipulation that breweries and other associated acts should have their competitions over and done with before the day before the opening day of the festival.

I don't want to miss out on going on Saturday, so I've bought my tickets, pretty much excluding myself from entering the comps.

That leaves a bad taste too. Meaning the people who actually win the competition have a smaller interest in actually being there than someone like me.

It's weird.

Hotblack Desiato · 07-09-2016 9:19am

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

Meaning the people who actually win the competition have a smaller interest in actually being there than someone like me.

Isn't that usually the way with competitions though, people who wouldn't be bothered to pay in enter them?

Thought this was later in the month so a bit late to arrange Friday, and no buses, and it starts too late, Saturday afternoon & early evening would be ideal but between it being so packed according to posters here, and the hefty prices, I won't bother.

noby · 07-09-2016 10:31am

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

Clearly the cost of a stand has gone up, if it hasn't then it's the breweries themselves driving the cost increase, which is not on.

The prices are set by the festival organisers, not the breweries.

Lovely Bloke · 07-09-2016 10:37am

noby wrote: »

The prices are set by the festival organisers, not the breweries.

are the stands/kiosks more expensive this year?

noby · 07-09-2016 10:48am

I don't think so.

Edit: Actually, I don't know. Would have to check.

jsa112 · 07-09-2016 11:02am

Got free tickets otherwise I wouldn't be going. Only plan on checking out 5 breweries, 2 of which are not Irish, so definitely agree with the point about ABV Fest. Really hoping the beavertown/odells wont be your run of the mill stuff.

Am little concerned that have seen no talk of special once-off brews for the fest

BeerNut · 07-09-2016 12:21pm

jsa112 wrote: »

Am little concerned that have seen no talk of special once-off brews for the fest

New beers and specials have been advertised by Carlow, Carrig, Mountain Man, Eight Degrees, Dungarvan, Wicklow, Wicklow Wolf, Metalman and O Brother, that I've seen so far. Check their respective social media.

Lovely Bloke · 07-09-2016 12:23pm

In previous years a list appeared on the Beoir Forum before the Festival afaik.

All breweries and beers.

BeerNut · 07-09-2016 12:26pm

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

In previous years a list appeared on the Beoir Forum before the Festival afaik.

All breweries and beers.

It didn't just appear, quite a lot of work went into putting it together and updating it

vicwatson · 07-09-2016 12:27pm

Ever any "freebies" likes hats tshirts etc at this?

matrim · 07-09-2016 12:44pm

vicwatson wrote: »

Ever any "freebies" likes hats tshirts etc at this?

You get a glass with entry. But for other swag you normally have to pay.

matrim · 07-09-2016 1:07pm

BeerNut wrote: »

New beers and specials have been advertised by Carlow, Carrig, Mountain Man, Eight Degrees, Dungarvan, Wicklow, Wicklow Wolf, Metalman and O Brother, that I've seen so far. Check their respective social media.

Just based on who's mentioned here and what I can easily find on twitter I've come up with the following list:

O'Haras

Wild Side Sour Cherry
Barrle Aged Leann Foalin
FestMalten Hefeweizen
Barrle Aged Red
Grapefruit IPA

West Kerry Brewery

Uncle Columb's Mild

Metalman

Blaagar Lager Brewed with Blaas
Summer Uk style pale ale
Autumn Raspberry Chilli Sour

8 Degres

Supernova Double IPA

Carrig

Barrel Aged Whiskey beer
Coalface Zest IPA
Feile Spraoi Belgian Wit
Game Changer Red Ale
Tripple Hopped Grand Soft Day IPA
Tripple Hopped Poachers Pale Ale
Shepard's Delight Red IPA

Mountain Man

Raised By Wolves - Cascadian IPA

Dungarven
??

Wicklow Wolf

Raspbery Pale Ale
"Cookies & Cream" Kolsch
Sorachi Red
Easy Lover IPA

O'Brother Brewing

Bonita India Dark Ale
The Preacher Session IPA

Wicklow

Pineapple Head - Gose
Chocolate Brown
Aurora IPA

me_irl · 07-09-2016 2:13pm

matrim wrote: »

Just based on who's mentioned here and what I can easily find on twitter I've come up with the following list:

Thanks a mil for putting that together!

I had a system last year. Very basic (and by "basic" I mean a smiley face! :pac: ), I'm not a blogger or a connoisseur (yet), but I know what I likes, but also want to venture away from my comforts.

Here's what was on offer last year.

Albert_Camus · 07-09-2016 2:27pm

That list has me pretty interested now.

Lovely Bloke · 07-09-2016 3:13pm

Some of those Carrig beers mentioned by matrim are not specials

but Bonita is back?!

deadly.

BeerNut · 07-09-2016 3:27pm

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

Some of those Carrig beers mentioned by matrim are not specials

They're "triple hopped" versions, apparently.

Lovely Bloke · 07-09-2016 3:38pm

TRIPLE hopped?

bethehokey

matrim · 07-09-2016 3:38pm

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

Some of those Carrig beers mentioned by matrim are not specials

but Bonita is back?!

deadly.

I wasn't sure aobut that. As the BeerNut pointed out, the tweet said they were specials but I didn't know why

matrim · 07-09-2016 6:00pm

I've put together an updated list while waiting for some software to compile.

This includes all the breweries and any beers I could find that they have mentioned on twitter / facebook that will be at the festival

I haven't included beers that are likely to be there but not confirmed e.g. The White Hag Session IPA, Black Donkey Sheep Stealer etc

Beers with a * beside them are specials:

8 Degrees

Amber Ella - Americal Amber Ale
The Full Irish - Single Malt IPA
Summer Days - Seisiún IPA –
Going out out - Kölsch-Style
Amarillo - Single Hop IPA
*Supernova Double IPA

Arthurstown

Beaky Dargus

Black Donkey

Blacks Brewery

*Blackberry Infused Saison

Boyne Brewhouse

Carrig Brewing

*Barrel Aged Whiskey beer
*Coalface Zest IPA
*Feile Spraoi - Belgian Wit
*Game Changer - Red Ale
*Tripple Hopped Grand Soft Day - IPA
*Tripple Hopped Poachers Pale Ale
*Shepard's Delight - Red IPA

Dew Drop

Dingle Brewing Company

Dungarven

Galway Hooker

*Double IPA
*Cask Double IPA

Hope Beer

Independent

Cherry Sour
*Festival IPA
Wheat Beer

Killarney

Kinnegar

Citrus Kettle Sour
*One for Ronan - Belgian Amber

Manor

Metalman

Zwickel - Smoked Lager
Pale Ale - Americal Style Pale Ale
*Blaager - Lager Brewed with Blaas
Heatsink - Smoked Chilli Porter
Equinox - Citrus Wheat Lager
*Summer - Uk style pale ale
*Autumn - Raspberry Chilli Sour

Mountain Man

*Raised By Wolves - Cascadian IPA

N17

Cask ??
Chilli Porter

O'Brother Brewing

*Bonita - India Dark Ale
*The Preacher - Session IPA

O'Haras

*Wild Side - Sour Cherry
*Barrel Aged Leann Follain
*FestMalten Hefeweizen
*Barrel BAtch Series Irish Red
*Grapefruit IPA

The PorterHouse

Rascals

Station Works

Finn Pilsner
[/LIST/

Sullivan's Brewing Company

Trouble Brewing

West Kerry Brewery
- *Uncle Columb's Mild
- *Black Elder
Western Herd

The White Hag

Wicklow
- *Pineapple Head - Gose
- *Chocolate Brown
- *Aurora IPA
Wicklow Wolf
- *Raspbery Pale Ale
- *"Cookies & Cream" Kolsch
- *Sorachi Red
- *Easy Lover IPA

baron von something · 07-09-2016 6:21pm

I'm just about to buy tickets for the Friday. Was it not on Saturday and Sunday last year? The prices don't bother me too much. The guys are normally generous with the samples and even rarely take tokens anyway

Irish Craft Beer Festival 2016

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