Category: Blacks of Kinsale

2016, BIPA, Blacks of Kinsale, Craft Beer, IPA, Kinsale, Mosaic, New Media Europe Awards, News, podcast, Special Edition

Podcast Episode 22 – Overkill & Mosaic IPA By Black’s Brewery Kinsale

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Podcast Episode 22 – Overkill & Mosaic IPA By Black’s Brewery Kinsale

With the blazing hot sun reigning down over Ireland this weekend, we got to sample two of the new beers from Blacks Brewery and their new Discovery IPA Series, we get to sample Mosaic IPA, and Overkill, an Imperial Black IPA.

We also look at the latest news including awards for Galway Bay, and little old us being nominated in the New Media Europe Awards

Please also spare a moment for Rye River Brewing and N17 who are currently hoping to pitch for Richard Branson on the VMBVoom Awards.

The link to N17 Pitch is here https://www.vmbvoom.com/pitches/n17-brewery
The link to Rye River is here https://www.vmbvoom.com/pitches/rye-river-brewing-company

Don’t forget you can find our podcast on iTunes, or using the RSS in your favourite podcast app http://irishbeersnob.libsyn.com/rss

The direct link to the MP3 file is here.
2015, 8 Degrees Brewing, Alltech, Beavertown, Blacks of Kinsale, Dan Kelly's, Hara PunkRo, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Kentucky Ale, Redwell, Rosita, Rye River Brewing Company, Trouble Brewing

Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair Feb 2015

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair Feb 2015

Now in it’s third year, we saw Alltech’s Craft Brews & Food Fair take place in Dublin’s magnificent convention centre. An evolving festival that has come on leaps and bounds since their first event. This has to be one of the best put together festivals in Europe.



Alongside the consumer and beer fan event, Irish Pubs Global held their Global Gathering Event which brings together people from all over the world who own bars in many countries around the world. More of a trade show, there was a number of interesting topics that were covered under the learning side, but it was here I saw one of the most interesting exhibits, Core Coffee. Chilled Coffee served on Nitrogen. Sounds mental. It is utterly delicious. The potential is huge. Many thanks to the guys who invited me to have a look. 


Now, onto the main event. The festival itself opened up on Friday at 5pm. There was music, there was people, and loads of beer. Needless to say I’d a great three days. What makes this event stand apart from others is the truly international feel to the event, with a large number of foreign breweries, as well as some of the best of our indigenous. 


First thing I noticed was the organisers had addressed a number of the concerns from the year before, namely the food options. This year there were plenty of options, including Donal Skehan’s Skoff Pies, Wrights of Marino, Ballymaloe, Sheridans, a veritable who’s who of the Irish Food Scene. I can attest to the deliciousness of the Skoff Pies, though was pining for Mash, Peas and Gravy (Northern boys love gravy!). The token system was quite simple, a token was €1.25, and you bought them in multiples of 4. Made a pint a fiver, but anyone who’s a festival veteran knows, its tasters, or halves at most if you want to truly enjoy the event. Tokens were used for both the Food and Beer! 

Now onto some of the stand out beers of the festival for me. In no particular order. Of ones i’d not tasted before.

  • Redwell – Steam Lager and White IPA
  • Rye River Brewing Company – Double IPA, Brown Ale, and Berlinerweisse
  • 8 Degrees – The Gasman Rye IPA
  • Beavertown – Bloody Ell, and Londerweisse (A collab with Dogfish Head)
  • Blacks of Kinsale – HiViz, Model T (Rum Barrel Aged particularly)
  • Dan Kelly’s Cider – Dan Kelly’s Draught Cider
  • Trouble Brewing – Beoir #2, and Indian Pale Lager
  • Hara Punk – Mi Ujsag, Wagner Ur? (Spiced Ale with Sour Cherry)
  • Rosita – Rosita White IPA (with Juniper)
  • Coisbo – 11 (Russian Imperial Stout aged in Sherry Cask)
  • Wicklow Wolf – Kentucky Common
  • Kentucky – Honey Barrel 
So thank you to all the brewers who brought so many great beers, but also a huge thank you to all the staff notably, the two Johns, Tracey and Maeve who as ever were great! Now, i’d really love to see what the Kentucky one is like if anyone wants to sponsor that one! 

Cheers.



2014, Alltech, Beer Festival, Blacks of Kinsale, Boyne Valley Food Series, Cotton Ball, Craft Beer, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Jack Cody's, McGargles, Meath, Navan

Craft Beer Bazaar in the Central Bar, in Navan

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Craft Beer Bazaar in the Central Bar, in Navan

So, I know this event took place a while ago now, but I delayed putting up my blog post to take the opportunity to give some feedback to the team in the Central after the event. 


Ok, so the event was on a Saturday, the 16th of August and it was in the Meryvn’s Yard section of this award winning pub. It was a space that I’d not seen before, but it was the perfect size, self contained, perfectly sheltered with everything you need for a festival.

All in all there was a great range of vendors there, including a debut from Jack Cody’s from nearby Drogheda. Local Brewer’s Brú were present front and centre, we also had Alltech’s Kentucky Ale, Blacks of Kinsale, Cotton Ball from Cork. There was cider from Dan Kelly’s and Cockagee from nearby Stackallen, just outside Slane. We also had Kilcock’s McGargles, and Dungarvan’s Dungarvan Brewing Company. A great turn out. 

There was a threat of rain throughout the day but it thankfully stayed away. But there were plenty of places to seek shelter. As always, the food didn’t let you down, BBQ is perfect to go with Beers, and the Chicken Burger I had was delicious. Served with great salads also. 



There were a few things that I think could have made the festival a little better such as kicking things off a little later in the afternoon, as it just seemed to be igniting when everyone was packing down for the evening. The price was a little on the high side too. There were some vendors from the macro world, which I felt didn’t really go with the tone of the festival.

There was some fun on the night with a homebrew competition, and the red ale that won was a superb beer. I forgot my own entry, however next time I wont. I’m also pleased to announce that The Central is going to become home to a new Homebrew Club, and the 1st meeting is going to be on Tuesday 7th October from about 8pm – if you are interested, please get in touch. I’ve also started a thread on the National Homebrew Club’s Forum, the link is here

But, for a first attempt, there was a lot right, however importantly, they’ve sought out feed back, and indeed i’d encourage anyone who was there, whether as a consumer or brewer that you get in touch with the guys, as they are hoping to make this a regular feature on the Meath calendar. And for that the lads deserve kudos for making it happen. Onward and upward!


11pm somewhere, 2014, Blacks of Kinsale, Craft Beer, european beer bloggers conference, Franciscan Well, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Ireland, N17, Norseman, The Church, Ugly Duckling Dublin, Vanguard Beer Collective

European Beer Bloggers Conference – Day One

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Now in it’s fourth year the European Beer Bloggers Conference came to Dublin last weekend for the first time. Following on from a successful event last year in Edinburgh, Dublin had big shoes to follow.

Dublin is undergoing a craft beer revolution at the moment and it was going to be interesting to see what foreign visitors from the UK, Europe and the USA thought of it.

The Thursday evening pub crawl was arranged by Reuben Gray who had a major part in getting the conference to Dublin this year, and this highlighted the best craft beer bars Dublin has to offer. Ian (11pm Somewhere Podcast) and I arranged to meet early to film a pre conference hangout, the videos are below. We were joined by Carol Dekkers from Tampa Florida, Eric & Flo of Brewsweplate and Brian of Irish Craft Beer Show. 

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/shWuWRIi1v8&source=uds

So along comes Friday and conference proper. The advice was to eat before we arrived as there was a trade show displaying the best of Irish brewing before events kicked off at 2pm. I could think of no better place than the Ugly Duckling Cafe in the Epicurean Food Hall. I went with the McWurly, which is a battered beef burger in a bun with cheese and salad. Accompanied with a side of chips. This set me up for the day. 


From here we made our way to the Church Bar, which used to be a Church funnily enough given the name. Arthur Guinness even got married there. Where we registered and made our way through the samples. It was great to see some of the newer brewers there especially Black Donkey Brewing who really came with a great farmhouse ale called “Sheep Stealer” (Review to follow) There were some other great beers including the Honey IPA by Sharps, the Big Brown Bear by Trouble Brewing and N17’s famous Rye Ale. 



The events kicked off with a history of brewing in Ireland which was fascinating to learn that it goes back thousands of years. Though it would explain a lot. Which lead onto a great discussion on the merits of Cask vs Keg, and Can vs Bottle. I expected this to get a bit heated, however it was a well delivered presentation which I think covered all the pros and cons in a balanced way but ultimately there are some styles that aren’t suited to certain packaging. There then the last talk for the afternoon which had a panel discussion with Sarah of N17, Cathal of Rascals, and Paul from Trouble Brewing. A wide range discussed, including the topical pricing issues. I think Sarah summed it up best when she said as a brewer she wants to “keep it in the hands of the people!”

From here we had a break before the big festivities of the evening, Dinner in St James’ Gate hosted by Guinness, and the legendary Pilsner Urquell party. Taking the opportunity a few of us recently acquainted bloggers went to the Norseman to try the Kinsale Pale Ale which was pouring through a Randall. We caught up with the group as they continued along Fishamble St on the Way to St James’ Gate. 

I’m going to leave this post here, as I feel the Guinness event and Pilsner Urquell event really deserve a lot more detail. 

All in all, Day 1 was a fun day. Met some really interesting people, Sarah, Sean, Richard and Carol. The craic was mighty all day. We had some fantastic drinks. And it meant the second day was also going to be great. 


2014, Beoir, Black IPA, Blacks of Kinsale, Brewday, Cork, Day out, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Indiegogo, Kinsale, Sharers

Beoir Brewday – Blacks of Kinsale #Beoirbrew

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Beoir Brewday – Blacks of Kinsale #Beoirbrew


As a lot of you will know there are more and more breweries opening up in Ireland these days, but some are taking different approaches. Sam from Blacks of Kinsale who last year served up his delicious Kinsale Pale Ale through a Randal at the Irish Craft Beer & Cider Festival in the RDS, needed to get his own kit, so he went about it via Crowdfunding. He chose indiegogo to raise the coin for his Kit. 

Those familiar with Kickstarter et al will know the way it works, but basically in exchange for a donation you got a perk, ranging from having your name on the wall, to being able to brew beer. The members of Beoir decided to follow the National Home Brew Club who raised enough to name a fermenter. Initially there was 20 of us donating €50 each in return for the opportunity to brew beer on Sam’s pilot line. The 20 places were snapped up, so another 20 places were made available when Sam said we could brew a 1200L batch. Each person who donated would received 10L of the beer, and Sam would get to sell the rest of the batch. I’m sure there will be a launch party of it when its kegged too!

Rather than me waffle on about the process Brian one of the members in attendance has put a great video together.

https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/YoenLOU7fkI&source=uds


Needless to say it was a long day, I drove down on the morning picking up Andrew and we got there around 1030. (We missed the heavy lifting!) The mash was well under way at this time. We are brewing a Double IPA so the recipe sheet made for very interesting reading and is probably going to come in round the 9% ABV mark. 

Andrew and I looked after the BBQ making up Burgers and Sausages for the hungry troops. I must say the Kinsale Pale Ale as fresh as it was, literally recently kegged was sensational. Along with the Black IPA. However Steve brought a good few sharers down for us to taste, and there were some crackers in there. Double Bastard by Stone was a cracker. Andrew also as part of his perk got three Specials that he was only to kind to share with the group.

The “Ink” Black IPA was unbelievably smooth and easy to drink, totally deceptive given its ABV

After all the high jinks and everything cleaned down we retired to the tasting room where the sharing continued and the banter for the evening. We soon left the brewery under cover of darkness to sample the KPA in its natural environment.

Thank you so much to Sam and Maudeline for their hospitality, it was a fantastic day and can’t wait to taste the finished article.

We returned to Dublin on the Sunday a little shook but had an immense time. The members of Beoir are currently voting on the name and tagline and expect to hear more about this in the coming weeks.

The wall of fame of all people who donated via Indiegogo