Supporting craft breweries

Thephantomsmask · 11-08-2021 01:01PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117736068#Comment_117736068

I had a great time. It was well organised with the marquee and a fantastic buzz even though there was only ~150 people. People were assigned tables in the marquee and menu samples came in flights but there was a bar and tap room to get extra servings from (so many samples came that it wasn't an issue!). My only gripe was that it wasn't obvious where the merchandise was for sale and what was available so I missed out on buying stuff that some of the breweries had sent.

L1011 · 11-08-2021 11:00PM

Most normal week I've had in 18 months - went to a match, went to pubs, went to a beer festival. I'm still not sure I've quite recovered...

Got a lift after in to Sligo with the mate of two of the lads at my assigned table who happened to be local (and not attending, hence sober) a bit before it ended, had one pint in the Swagman and taxied to the hotel so got to bed at a reasonable time, but I decide to drink the free wine in the hotel room which was a Bad Idea.

The taproom area was inside with a few well spaced out tables; the bulk of the crowd was in the tent with two and a bit open sides so loads of ventilation. DJ in a far corner as was allowed post-Zappone rules change. 15 beers on the tasting menu brought to you (but you could get more of most of them afterwards if the kegs hadn't run out) in 150ml; ~8 White Hag beers available in 330ml measures whenever you wanted. Fresh dishwashed glasses each time to avoid any cross-contamination problems.

There was a suggestion there'd be multiple food options but in the end it was just Tosta - but their food was good.

The indoor area that was used in the past is being eaten away by expansion to the brewery so I expect it will be all in tents next year.

Black Sheep · 12-08-2021 10:34AM

Sounds great to be honest, might try and make it next year.

I am double jabbed and can drink indoors I guess but I'm so out of the habit I haven't bothered doing it yet. I went up to Harry Byrne's the other day and had an outdoor pizza and a couple of pints*, really enjoyed it. To be honest, as long as the weather holds I'd still sooner be outside at the moment. There seemed to have been a noticeable shift indoors by the rest of the patrons though.

*Hope session ale, €6 a pint.

Brock Turnpike · 12-08-2021 01:07PM

I can't see anything on WH website about it. Was it email only invite for tickets?

Black Sheep · 12-08-2021 01:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117742365#Comment_117742365

At one stage it was just Clann members (WH beer club) being notified. I actually left Clann during the year, but I still got the email.

L1011 · 12-08-2021 01:31PM

Clann members and people who had gone before or bought Boxtravaganza last year were the initial sales groups and I'm not sure it went beyond that.

Hotblack Desiato · 12-08-2021 02:43PM

It did, because I've only ever bought one box of beer (so far) directly from WH but still got the email. I had zero chance of being able to go so didn't apply 😕

17-08-2021 09:22PM

Are mini kegs becoming a thing of the past? I was looking for a couple but the range and availability is really low compared to what it used to be.

L1011 · 17-08-2021 09:28PM

They were a trendy thing last summer, they started tailing off nearly immediately after that.

That they're generally a bit crap to use, you really do need people over to use one (which would have been a tad unacceptable to market for during lockdowns) and increased on-sales demand this year reducing available capacity have probably both reduced the number being sold.

Hotblack Desiato · 18-08-2021 04:11AM

They have a wife acceptance factor of zero.

"You don't mind if I dismantle half the shelves in the fridge so I can fit this yoke in, do you? BTW I'll be under a bit of pressure to get it all drunk before it goes flat. Oh and it costs up to twice as much as just buying individual cans. What's not to like?"

18-08-2021 07:12AM

I only had a couple but I liked them. Sounds like they're gone though so cans it is.

Pen Rua · 18-08-2021 09:00AM

To Ol only went and did it - not too long ago did they have a quad IPA out, they've one upped it to a quintuple [milkshake] IPA. €13.75, 15% ABV.

https://craftcentral.ie/collections/frontpage/products/to-ol-penta-quintuple-milkshake-ipa-orange-pineapple-440ml-can-15-abv?variant=39420908863523

BeerNut · 18-08-2021 09:41AM

It's pretty easy when the terms don't actually mean anything. Chances of failure = 0.

Macy0161 · 18-08-2021 10:10AM

We were in Athlone for a few days, so had booked Dead Centre for Sunday evening. Really top notch food (and service) as well as the beer. Great to sample their core beers on draft finally, and try a few of the current specials. Gentle Chaos the winner for me! The missus is also a decent beer convert, but even the teens were impressed with the food enough we'd have been back the Monday, if it had been open*.

*ended up in Sean's on the Monday evening, who had Seeking Sunshine on tap. Second hotel of the summer, and their two for two for not even having a pretend craft available either on tap or bottle/ can.

TaurenDruid · 18-08-2021 10:15AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770182#Comment_117770182

Only went and did what? Brewed a beer somewhat stronger than your average Belgian beer, then literally added orange and pineapple juice? 😐️

Pen Rua · 18-08-2021 10:45AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770444#Comment_117770444

I was just commenting on how they did a quad not too long ago. When I tried it and checked it in on Untappd, I commented wondering when someone will do a quintuple.

Also I don't think 15% is slightly stronger than your average Belgian. In my head the average is no more than 10%.

Brock Turnpike · 18-08-2021 01:37PM

Interesting. I've ordered a few:

https://twitter.com/RascalsBrewing/status/1427965917963689991?s=20

iamstop · 26-08-2021 08:24PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117770444#Comment_117770444

Why does this feel like the Gillette blades saga? Lol.

irish_goat · 03-09-2021 09:25AM

Has there been much of interest pouring in Urban Brewing recently? Will be in the big schmoke tomorrow so was thinking of calling in.

BeerNut · 03-09-2021 09:58AM

They've been keeping things ticking over to a certain extent but I haven't been in since the Before Times. Across the way, BrewDog seems to have been busy with its brewkit lately.

irish_goat · 03-09-2021 10:34AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117840918#Comment_117840918

Nothing from the brewkit listed on their Untappd menu though? https://untappd.com/v/brewdog-outpost-dublin/9595437

I've been a bit bored with BrewDog bars recently, the lineup of BrewDog beers has been near identical in each one. Lervig Tasty Juice could tempt me in though...

BeerNut · 03-09-2021 11:04AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117841088#Comment_117841088

Possibly more useful to look at the brewery's check-ins: https://untappd.com/BrewDogOutpostDublin. Back Order stout and Lighten Up pale ale seem to be the two newest.

In general, it's not a good time for beer ticking expeditions to the on-trade. I'm guessing the guest beer supply lines aren't running yet, even to reliable venues like the Porterhouses and Galway Bays. You might know more about that than me though 😉

Pen Rua · 14-09-2021 04:53PM

Hopfully have launched a Kickstarter to raise €15k.

The page goes on to detail their planned goals including upgrading branding and aiming towards international expansion.

Kickstarter doesn't allow them to promise alcohol, but they can promise an "extra item" that is alcohol.

https://hopfullybrewing.com/kickstarter

You need to commit to a contribution of €120 minimum before you get into the beer range.

Black Sheep · 29-09-2021 07:20PM

I'm not out in pubs too often these days, but I just want to lament that I've started to notice a phenomenon that I read about on here for the past few months.

There are pubs that a few years back would have had 3-4 craft beer taps (Maybe just things like Galway Hooker) and now when I revisit them the taps might or might not be there, but they're rarely running. I was in Ryan's on Parkgate Street last week, which would have had a few craft options in years past, and they had a few defunct Bru taps, a defunct Galway Hooker tap and the best option they still had was O'Hara's Pale Ale (Which I'm not really a fan of, frankly).

I've noticed this more and more, seems like as people have said on here, there has been a concerted effort by the bigger boys to push out newcomers?

L1011 · 29-09-2021 07:28PM

Multiple issues

1: The big boys releasing extra product lines to suck up lines. Rockshore/Rockshore Light/Rockshore Cider/Islands Edge (often multiple taps)/two types of Orchard Theives/two types of Cute Hoor/Outcider all come to mind from the past few years.

2: Reduced overall footfall in pubs without much/any outdoor due to distancing rules means a lot of places have less taps on. I've seen pubs where half the Diageo and Heineken taps are off even; and proper craft bars with bugger all guest product.

3: There may be some darker arts going on in terms of free kegs to take a competitor out but good luck getting anyone to admit to it.

irish_goat · 30-09-2021 08:56AM

Some places have just been a little slow to reactivate craft beer lines as well. I think there was a little trepidation by the pubs, not knowing if they would be busy etc. That seems to be easing now so we should see more craft beer taps emerging again.

magicbastarder · 30-09-2021 09:10AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117890795#Comment_117890795

this URL - the hop/fullybrewing dot com one is triggering a security alert on my system, a bad reputation domain alert

Macy0161 · 30-09-2021 09:30AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117957707#Comment_117957707

There could also have a been a bit of trepidation by the breweries to keg as well?

fwiw, in my village we've an additional pub with a Wicklow Wolf Elevation tap (Roundwood Inn) - and selling well when we went in to support the pub/ tap just because of the availability - with it staying in the other one (Byrne and Woods). The third one (The Coachhouse) was refurbished over covid and has the 3 taps back - Wicklow Brewery Helles, WW - Wildfire and Elevation. We managed to persuade a 4th to at least get bottles, but they got Bay Ale as they didn't think the WW 330ml "on trade" option would sell (and they are probably right in fairness, bizarre decision a few years back by WW).

However "the dark arts" mentioned by @L1011 definitely happens in fights between the macro's, so I've no doubt it wouldn't be beyond them.

L1011 · 30-09-2021 01:39PM

The Oireachtas library has reports from the 60s referring to anticompetitive but not illegal behaviour by the main brewery players at that time. The same has been true the entire time since and likely decades before!

Local to me, absolutely everyone has Rye River taps and a few added more on reopening and RRs rebrand away from McGargles. But the extra taps - Kelly's Clane - that many of them had a few years ago were eaten with Heineken lines. Lagunitas and Moretti mostly.

TaurenDruid · 30-09-2021 02:04PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/117958845#Comment_117958845

Lagunitas and Moretti mostly.

And when you ask if they've any craft beer, you'll be offered the Lagunitas or Moretti, or possibly a Cute Hoor. Through deliberate deception or ignorance ("they don't have TV ads, they must be craft"), I don't know.

Supporting craft breweries

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