I'm an absolute sucker for branded glassware, but my display cupboards already pretty full… there's a few duplicates in there though, could shove them in a cupboard for spares…
I was wondering. That would be a crazy price for three bottles.
Ditto. I am fast running out of space. I did treat myself to a Wicklow Wolf glass, and have chanced my arm asking DOT for a single glass (they sell a multi pack of glasses) and Galway Bay. DOT came back asking for my address, but nothing arrive. Galway Bay didn't reply.
fwiw, the Mescan glass isn't my favourite. I usually only use it for a Mescan beer, whereas most others got a lot of use.
Only ones I've got that aren't easily available are Dew Drop - pint glasses, not the stemmed one in their gift pack, which they gave me at the RDS - and Trouble, which I was given for letting them know about an issue with packaging they'd not noticed.
Trying to think without being at home to check - I've otherwise bought packs with glasses or got them in other promotional deals for Journeyman, a ceramic tankard from Rye River/McGargles, some different White Hag, multiple festivals at home and abroad (actual glass as well as the plastic tumblers - somehow got two Porto Beer Fest glasses back safe); on the whiskey side I've Talisker, Bushmills, Writers Tears. I'm sure there's more I've forgotten now
I've got some generic but "nice" beer and whiskey glasses in the cabinets that might get relegated to the normal glassware rotation instead.
By "dropped" you mean "launched"?
Yes. 😇
I have glasses from most Irish craft brewers and a few international ones. Saw this on craftcentral and thought lovely, another glass for the collection. Should've read the listing properly, didn't realise it's a 195ml which has no practical use outside of a festival 🤣 Maybe for drinking whiskey but I rarely do that these days
Mescan have launched (:pac) their Abalus releases for this year, with 4 variations limited to 100 bottles each.
The Red Tripel aged in Whiskey Barrels has piqued my interest, but €35 for a bottle of beer (albeit a large one) would by far and away the most expensive beer I've ever bought…
Is there a consensus as to whether these Abalus releases are worth the price tag?
Hagstravaganza 2025 confirmed for 9th August.
was there camping availible last year?
Don't remember mention of it last year but there was in previous years. Might be best to drop them a message on their socials.
Aldi have a new, super cheap IPA on the shelves - 99c for a 330ml can of "Cosmic Hops IPA" by "Big Bang Brewing." I can't find any details on it (maybe it is just that new). The labeling doesn't give away who brewed it. Picked one up anyhow - can't go too wrong to take a punt on a €1 beer.
must be low or zero alcohol at that price?
EDIT - actually checked the MUP calculator and it could be up to about 3.8%
Had a few of the Whiplash Northern Lights over Christmas - it's very tasty for a respectful 2.8% but at €4 upwards, it's a bit rich!
Yes, it's 3.8%. I think the Sainte Etainne Blonde 330ml can is the same ABV.
I'm glad to see a re-brew of Northern Lights. I picked up one can, but it is just not worth the price point on a regular basis.
Had a Lost & Grounded (Bristol) and Wicklow Wolf collab today which was really good and a bit of a surprising find in a pub in Tunbridge Wells. Same town also had a Galway Bay beer (which I didn't order) in a different craft beer pub full of Belgian beers in the town which was nice to see.
Rye River is taking over the production of Galway Hooker. The Galway Hooker facility is to wind down. Ownership of Galway Hooker will remain in the hands of The Connacht Hospitality Group.
https://independent.ie/business/rye-river-brewery-inks-deal-to-take-over-production-of-galway-hooker-beers/a1420540075.html
Rye River Brewing Company has agreed a deal that will see it take over production of the popular Galway Hooker beers over the coming months.
[…]
It will mean the eventual closure of brewery in Oranmore following a transition that is likely to take a number of months.
The Galway Hooker beers, which include ales, stout and lager, will then be brewed under contract, but ownership of the brand and distribution will continue to be under the control of The Connacht Group, it is understood.
The original Galway Hooker brewery was established back in 2006, and was among the very first craft or microbreweries to be established in the country.
It is understood that the lingering impact of the pandemic on drinking habits as well as rising costs across the industry have prompted the strategic decision to streamline the business and outsource production.
love Rye river stuff. good to see it doing well
That's two Galway breweries closed in the space of a year.
Who's left now? Galway Bay and Connemara?
Maybe GB might expand and use GH facilities 🤔. It's a pity they weren't a bit closer in the estate.
What is the name of the other closed brewery in Galway?
Bridewell in Clifden.
Land & Labour are still going, no?
Can't say I'd ever heard of them. No website or anything. Instagram seems to connect them to GB and a shop in Belgium 🤔.
Land & Labour still going but they are now bunking with Wide Street in Roscommon.
Their beers are only made in small batches, unfortunately, so can be hard to come across. Worth picking up if you like mixed ferm/sours.
Picked up a few cans of Cosmic Hops that caught my eye in Aldi at the weekend. €0.99c .. paid too much 😮
Brutal really. I'll try new beers but won't get any more of these. If in Aldi I'll stick to the NASC from O'Brother.
Got some yesterday. Very sweet. I think they are trying to compensate for the lower alcohol by making them taste more hoppy but instead they've made them taste sickly.
It's a pity as I was looking for a value IPA in a can. I don't drive and bottles are a bit heavy to carry.
The only craft beers I've tried have been from Wicklow Wolf, Rascals and The Crafty company (Lidl). Honestly I enjoy the different beers in spite of the fact they cost more.
The only beer from Rascals I didn't like is the Pink Lemonade. Happy Days and Jailbreak are good.
I got the a gift pack from Wicklow Wolf at Christmas. 8 beers in total. The two that sounded odd were the oatmeal stout and gluten free Even the gluten free lager, however both were very good..
Any recommendations for others?
Kinnegar and Lineman are good. As are the the Galway Bay ones and Hope too
Personally I really like the Kinsale stuff. Some of the Foxes Rock (even though they aren't really a small craft brewery) are widely available. I find their DIPA the nicest around at the moment.
My days of picking up a few bottles of anything I like the look of have finished for the moment due to the logistics of getting them home 😢 so it's mainly cans I try now. Luckily there's a Centra with a DRS machine but very limited choice of craft across the road from me 🍺.
