Off Topic Thread 3.0

dregin wrote: »

4 pack of punk ipa cans for a tenner round the corner. Had those tonight. Feel dirty for loving McGargles Big Bangin IPA, but it's bloody awesome.

McGargles has a funny rep... but it is made by River Rye, a proper microbrewery ran by a great bunch of lads. Doesn't deserve the rep, but does deserve the awards they regularly pick up. It's a quality range once you get past the naff marketing.

.ak wrote: »

Nicest non-Guiness stout/porter I've had in a while is the Trouble Brewing's Dark Arts Porter... They had it in Square Ball a while ago as a nitro version on tap and it was divine.

Second that. Always wary of stouts and porters from bottles too tbh. They're rarely the same at all. Wicklow Brewery do a cracking stout too but it's impossible to find anywhere. Had it at the craft beer festival in the RDS last year.

dregin wrote: »

I know. I'm still not 100% on their "craft creds", but they were far more concerned about their image than their beer when they first launched and produced some utter muck. Their west coast IPA was amazing at the craft beer fest either last year or the one before and they've not looked back since.

Yeah I can defo vouch for their "craft creds", I know the lads that are the brewers for them, the head brewer is a very good mate of mine. They're a small outfit, that defo do it for the love of the product, they often spend time over night there and the lads have spent public holidays there working on new products etc. Now he didn't always work there so there's a good chance him coming in coincided with that turn around in terms of the product but it's always been a small operation and the idea they're not a craft beer is just some myth that the beer community somehow produced through Chinese whispers.

He actually runs the Rye River social media and it's worth watching his live streams in the brewery, they're a gas bunch of lads and you get a pretty open view of what they get up to. They also do open days afaik.

He's doing his own thing under his own steam as well, called Whiplash Brewing, very limited run but if you can get your hands on any of them... oh my.

Down in Devon/Cornwall Tribute is really common. Really nice. Quite a few others too to be fair.

Gin is where its at though. Ever tried fever tree tonic? It'll change your life

pickarooney wrote:

Only just got your name..

Your wife must be delighted.

Oh and for those craft beer fans/hipsters, have ye tried out the new pub in grangegorman? Called the barbers and it is a functioning barbers as well as a pub. Serious selection of beer, including dark arts porter (in bottles only) but they have a rye ale called rust bucket and it's amazing.

Good pub. Decent live music too. I'm biased cos I know the owner, but I had fun there. Decent screens for watching the rugby there too.

Stheno wrote: »

I like fever tree, apart from the time I got charged 6 euro for it in my local.

We should have a rugby beers in the Gin Palace.

The Tesco own brand finest tonic (not available down south but Tesco at banbridge stock it) is nice. As is the aldi version of fever tree.

I go fever tree for the first few while I can still taste the difference and then switch to whatever generic they have.

sullivlo wrote:

Oh and for those craft beer fans/hipsters, have ye tried out the new pub in grangegorman? Called the barbers and it is a functioning barbers as well as a pub. Serious selection of beer, including dark arts porter (in bottles only) but they have a rye ale called rust bucket and it's amazing.

Rust Bucket is from the Kinnegar Brewery in Donegal. Their beers are all excellent.

Was in Kelly's in Clontarf yesterday. They're stocking a few bottles of Sink The Bismarck, formerly the strongest beer in the world at 41%, made by Brewdog. A bottle costs €109! Asked the manager about it....tells me it's not pleasant. Collector's item only.