Category: O’Haras

2016, Barley Wine, Bourbon, Brandy, Bru Brewery, Episode 14, Galway Bay Brewery, Gasworks, Independent Brewing, Ireland, News, O'Haras, podcast

Podcast Episode Fourteen – Independent Brewing Barrel Aged Barley Wine

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Galway Brewers, Independent Brewing based in Carroroe a small Village just outside Galway. Have brought us a special release Barley Wine with two different barrels used in the ageing process. One Brandy and one Bourbon.

We also have an exclusive interview with owner / brewer Kevin O’Hara at the end of the episode.


Available in all good independent Off licences, please note this is a limited release so act sooner rather than later if you wish to get your mitts on these.

Do you want to see your favourite Craft Beer Bar in Dublin win a well deserved reward sponsored by Kentucky Ale – please note this is a facebook based competition so make sure to check it out here

To direct download this episode the link is here and don’t forget to add our RSS feed to your favourite podcast software – the link is below

http://irishbeersnob.libsyn.com/rss

Beer O'Clock Show, Brewdog, Buxton, Cloudwater, Golden Pints, Hawkshead, Indyman, O'Brother Brewing, O'Haras, Vocation Brewing

#GoldenPints 2015 – Our look back over a great year for beer.

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Ok, so we may be cutting this close to the finish line for 2015, but here’s our look back over the last 12 months in Beer in Ireland and beyond. This should be fun! There may be arguments as we write this!! (Janice’s are in Italics)


Best Irish Cask Beer 
As we all know, Cask is a rare beast on these shores, but there are some notable exceptions. There are some bars pouring some quality Irish Beer on cask. Oddly, Janice & I are in mutual agreement on the winner. We first had the luck of having it pouring at our festival in Smyth’s during the summer, but got to revisit it in Porterhouse Temple Bar with Will Siss who proclaimed it his favourite beer of the evening. None other than Brehon Brewhouse Shanco Dubh

Best Irish Keg Beer
Now, this is where it gets really difficult. There has been a large number of standout brews this year which have genuinely given loads of pleasure. But as Highlander says, “There can only be one!” for me, the beer that gave me a genuine Wow experience was McGargles Francis’ Banging IPA, this is the beer that should change a lot of peoples perceptions, as this was such a juicy banger. I’m so happy it’s widely available in Bottle too.

Those loveable scamps from O’Brother Brewing have announced themselves to the Irish Beer audience with a sequence of excellent beers, my favourite of theirs is Bonita a juicy delicious Black IPA. I really hope to see this again.

Best Irish Bottle Beer

Only one winner for me, 200 Fathoms by Galway Bay especially after we reviewed it with the Beer O’Clock Show recently after the bottles had been conditioning for a good number of months after. Such an amazing beer and can’t wait for the 2016 edition

Our favourite Antipodeans Scott & Cam of 8 Degrees have regularly been knocking it out of the park this year. My favourite though was Polar Vortex which highlighted that classic hop Cascade in a great IPA.

Best Irish Canned Beer

Not too many potential winners here, given canning is relatively new to these shores, but if anything Blacks Kinsale Pale Ale is a shining example of a beer perfectly suited to this medium. Keeping this beer ultra fresh for enjoyment. Also being reasonably priced this helps. We’re looking forward to trying more Irish Beers in Can in 2016

Best Overseas Draught

Oh good lord, how is one to choose only one here! This year we’ve had some truly amazing beers on our travels. Really it’s such a difficult one. But for me it’s going to be a beer I had at Indyman in Manchester back in October. For me it was the amazing Yellow Belly Sundae collab by Buxton & Omnipollo. 1st beer of the Saturday session a true pleasure.

Again reaching back into the Indyman box, was the Key Lime Tau brewed at Hawkshead in collaboration with Crooked Stave just tasted like liquid Key Lime Pie. Amazing

Best Overseas Bottle

Wow this is another tough one. For me, I adore hoppy beers. So it’s literally a toss up for me between Brewdog Born to Die 27.11 or Cloudwater DIPA both absolutely amazing beers. Got to try the two pretty close together in Manchester back in November. I think the Born to Die just sniffs it for me, as they’d balanced it out better than their first version. A truly great beer, and delicious fresh
For me, it was another tough choice, while I loved Born to Die. The best foreign bottle beer i’d had this year was Mikkeller Crooked Moon DIPA such unbelievable fruity flavours. 

Best Overseas Can

Well we’re getting a fair few overseas cans over here. But my caveat for this is as yet i’ve not drank Cannonball in Can’s yet. So it’s not there. It’s a straight up choice for me between Beavertown Power of Voodoo DIPA and Vocation Life & Death. The Vocation beer just pips it, on the basis that i’ve had all the cans in their range now and Life & Death just sings in this format.

As if there weren’t enough reasons to get more Roosters beers over here, but really enjoyed the Baby Faced Assassin that we got in a care package 

Best Collaboration

Only one winner for me. Buxton & Omnipollo combining for Yellow Belly Sundae. Although I was genuinely impressed by the Irish Collaboration between Stone Barrel Brewing and Simon Lambert’s & Sons – the Stone Belly IPA was genuinely great. 

My favourite collaboration was Key Lime Tau by Hawkshead & Crooked Stave

Best Overall Beer

For me Brewdog’s Born to Die 27.11 was the best beer in 2015, however really honourable mentions to Shanco Dubh and Francis’ Bangin IPA as they are available a lot more easily. 

My favourite Beer of 2015 was Bonita by O’Brother Brewing

Best Branding

I personally love the branding on the O’Brother Brewing bottles as it stands out from the crowd. The sleekness of the Wicklow Wolf is also very good. But showing growing maturity as a brand, the labelling on the 8 Degrees portfolio, especially the specials is fantastic.

I love 8 Degrees branding for me. Notable mentions to Mountain Man, and Black’s of Kinsale

Best Pumpclip

As far as standout pump clips go O’Brother Brewing Bonita surely got them chattering. Which we both loved. Great to see them work with an Irish artist for their labelling.

Best Irish Brewery

For me, 8 Degrees this year just pip it from some of the others. A really solid range, and a regular slew of specials throughout the year. Well done lads looking forward to seeing what you come up with in 2016

Relatively new to the table i’m going with O’Brother Brewing who have some great American style beers, and aren’t afraid to use hops, as well as some great specials like Brutus, and Joe that show they’re more than a one trick pony.

Best Overseas Brewery

Based on the range of beers they produce alone, and their collaborations, Buxton Brewery have really impressed us, we’re looking forward to trying more of their wares in 2016. Axe Edge is a really good IPA that would challenge any other beers out there.

Best Pub / Craft Beer Bar

Based purely on range of Irish craft on draft i’d give it to them alone, however add in their quality food offering and genuine hospitality, 57 The Headline is my favourite. It’s well worth the short trip out to Clanbrassil St

How could I not say Brew Dock after all, we’ve been pretty much drinking their since it opened. It’s had a paint job, and rumour has it they’ll have more taps on soon!

Best Beer Festival

We didn’t attend the Irish Craft Beer Festival this year as we were in Belgium at the time but we did attend other festivals. Abv Fest in Belfast back in May was a great event in a great location. There was also the Alltech Brews & Food Festival in February. But our favourite experience this year was Indyman a truly unique festival with a great vibe and great people.

Independent Retailer / Online of the Year

Usually when buying beer I buy it off line, and spread it around a few indy off licences. Baggot St Wines, Carryout Tyrellstown, Winehouse Trim, Drinkstore. All truly great places. Too hard to pick a winner, but if I had to, it’d be The Winehouse in Trim, mainly as it’s local and I can get there in 10 minutes. For Online Drinkstore is hard to beat. We have used Brewdog online a bit this year and they know how to package their deliveries! 
Best Beer Blog or Website

There can only be one – BeerOClock Show – a nicely laid out site with blog, podcasts and other bits and bobs. We also enjoy Simon Says You Should Drink This, The Beernut, Belgian Smaak and Total Ales.

Simon Johnson Award for Best Beer Twitterer 

It would have to be Tom of @CraftBeerHour he has created a truly great thing with #Craftbeerhour and we love to take part. It was great to meet him recently, and who knows what the future may hold collaboration wise! 🙂

Best Brewery Website / Social Media

For Website – 8 Degrees all day long, they always have info on their new beers including recommended food pairings and tasting notes
For Social Media – O’Haras do a great job via their Facebook, Twitter and Instagram feeds.

Thanks for reading our Golden Pints!


2015, Beer, Bo Bristle, Cider, Craft Beer, CraftNews, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, IPA, Ireland, Kinnegar, Listeners Questions, McHughs, Meath, O'Haras, podcast, Summer

Podcast Episode 11 – A catch up and a Roadtrip

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So, after a few weeks hiatus, like buses, the Irish Beer Snob team hit you with a double hit – not only a blog post – but a podcast too!


This week we cover off on a lot of different things, like what we’ve been up to the last few weeks.

Our podcast fuel was the excellent Road Trip beer from McHugh’s Off Licence, brewed in collaboration with Kinnegar Brewing. Available exclusively via their website and shops. www.mchughs.ie hopefully they brew more as it was tasty! 

Among other things we rabbit on about a new bar in Dublin city centre, The Wiley Fox, what IrishBeerSnob has been up to, Registering for EBBC 15.

We also look forward to a number of other events, including our good friend Simon of Simon Says Beer who is hosting a craft beer festival in Don’s Bar in Moate, Co Westmeath in August. 

Carlow Brewing Company have been very busy, not only unleashing a number of Collabs, a new one with Pinta of Poland, but also a Hoppy Red IPA in Collaboration with Starr Hill Brewing of Virginia, USA. 

So come on, and have a listen! 

Direct Link is here
Don’t forget to subscribe to our new RSS feed and add to your favourite podcast player. http://irishbeersnob.libsyn.com/RSS
Aberdeen, Ballast Point, Born to Die, Brewdog, Episode 10, Four Corners, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Musa, O'Haras, podcast, Starr Hill Brewing

Episode 10 – Brewdog Equity Punk AGM 2015 – The Beer Snobs visit Aberdeen

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So we have reached our tenth episode, in this episode your intrepid beery explorers recall their recent trip to Aberdeen where they attended the Brewdog Equity Punks AGM 2015. Become an equity punk yourself at http://www.brewdog.com/equityforpunks and use referral code R237208

We had some unbelievable beers there – just look back through our Untappd profiles! Some we will never see on these shores!

Also we cover off some recent developments in the Irish Craft Beer Scene, including some collaborations, awards, and Questions from our listeners.

//platform.twitter.com/widgets.jsThis podcast was fuelled by Born to Die – Brewdog’s Terminally Hoppy DIPA.

We also chat about our amazing brunch in Musa on Sunday 7th June which was paired to Ballast Point Beers (now i want to visit San Diego!) We also have an audio recording from the Ballast Point tasting at the Equity Punk Agm where we tasted Sculpin and Victory at Sea!

As always the episodes are available on Itunes, Stitcher Radio – just make sure you subscribe to the correct RSS which is http://irishbeersnob.libsyn.com/RSS 

You can also direct download following this link here

2015, Beer, Brehon Brewhouse, Craftbeer, CraftBeerChannel, Eight Degrees, Galway Bay Brewery, Hangouts, Hopzine, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, O'Haras, Youtube

Spreading the Message about Irish Craft Beer

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Friends of mine have long joked about my passion for craft beer, and how proud I am of the blossoming Irish Craft Beer Scene. However one of my mate’s monikers for me, Beer Baron didn’t really stick. Until Now.

For those unfamiliar with the reference, I only need to refer you to that fateful episode of The Simpsons, where Springfield reintroduces Prohibition. Homer becomes The Beer Baron vs Rex Banner 


Those of you know who may know, Janice and I have been involved with The Beer O’Clock Show Podcast, who have been featuring Irish Craft Beer in Season 6. Along with Ian of 11pmsomewhere and Sarah of 5 Mins of Finney we have guest appeared on the show a number of times over the season. Be sure to check out their thoughts on the Irish Beer Scene. We also partnered with one of Ireland’s leading Bottle Shops, Drinkstore to help UK listeners obtain the beers in one convenient place. 

Anyway, it doesn’t stop there. Other UK based reviewers were beginning to get in touch to see if we could help them out. First up, the boys of The Craft Beer Channel got in touch as they wanted to do a video of Alternatives to Guinness for St Patrick’s Day. They asked me to pick some stouts for them and send them over. So i’d the tough choice of whittling down to Four Stouts, in the end we went with Bru Brewery Dubh, Brehon Brewhouse Shanco Dubh, O’Hara’s Leann Follain, and the almighty beast that is 200 Fathoms by Galway Bay Brewery. Thanks to all the brewers for making the beers, but I truly felt like the Beer Baron bringing the packed box to be shipped to England! You can check out the video below


Not long after, Rob from Hopzine.com got in touch to see would I like to take part in his monthly roundtable discussion on Youtube, entitled Hops, Malt, Yeast and Waffle where a panel of beery types hangout on Youtube, and chat while supping some beers. What could possibly go wrong? Well it was a couple of hours of good beery chat with people from all over the UK, and we’d a couple from Europe, with Nitch in Paris, and Peter in Denmark. All in all it was good fun, and am looking forward to doing it again. You can watch it below here too. 

That’s not all either, we’ve also been on Today FM Sunday Lunch Show – showing off some great Irish Beers to Aingeala Flannery – the link to the podcast is here on The Today Fm Website and the good folks over at Entertainment.ie interviewed me recently too – you can read it here
So it’s great to be helping to spread to a much wider audience the great things that are going on in Ireland at the moment. Sometimes we focus way to much on the negative, but look at all the good things that are happening at the moment. 

Janice and I are going to look to host something similar in the future – if you’d be interested get in touch with us and we will rock the place.


Also, my feeling like the Beer Baron continued this week, when I shipped bottles to Steve from Beer O’Clock Show – included in his batch this time, 2 Mega Fresh Of Foam and Fury, 2 Bottles of 200 Fathoms, and 2 Bottles of Eight Degrees new IPA Polar Vortex. He’s gonna love them. 

We will be on this week’s Beer O’Clock Show – reviewing Bru Brewery Rua. Huge congratulations to Steve and Mark who reached 100 Episodes, you’re both an inspiration to us and glad to call you friends! 

2014, Bloom, Boyne Valley Food Series, Bru Brewery, Cheese, Creans, Food Festival, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Irish, Kinnegar, Metalman, O'Haras, Porterhouse, Sheridans, Trouble Brewing, White Gypsy

Festivals – Sheridans Irish Food Fest & Bloom in Phoenix Park

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You know it’s the Summer in Ireland when nearly every weekend there is some festival or event on somewhere. This past couple of weeks have seen two of the largest festivals and there were countless others that I couldn’t get to.


First up we have the Sheridan’s Annual Irish Food Fest which takes place at their main warehouse / store in Carnaross in Co Meath. Their store is located at an old train station and has ample grounds for an annual festival. The format for this event is loads of Irish food producers, alongside workshops and demos from some of the finest chefs, and producers. 

Unfortunately the weather for Sheridans wasn’t the best and it was wet underfoot, but this didn’t stop people turning up in vast numbers to sample their way around the marquis. The workshops and demo’s themselves were only €5 to attend and my wife and I attended a cookery demo by Arun from Green Saffron, Cheese making with Milleens, and a cookery demonstration by Richard Corrigan. 


There are lots of food options, hot food, a tea tent, and plenty of things to keep the little ones entertained, face painting, balloons, and a band. 

On the beer front, there was Cam from 8 degrees and local lads Paddy & Daire from Bru Brewery – it was great to see that these two tents were among the busiest at the whole festival, even when it was raining outside.

We came home with a bag full of goodies, local cheeses, local flavoured butters and puddings! It was so much fun, that i’d highly recommend it to anyone.

Next up is the annual Food, Gardening and lifestyle event Bloom in the Phoenix Park. I’d never been before, so I leapt at the opportunity to go when Paddy from Bru asked me could I give them a hand with their bar at the Bloom Inn. 

In the beer tent we had Bru, Metalman, Kinnegar, Trouble Brewing, Creans, Porterhouse, O’Haras, Rye River, White Gypsy and Stonewell Cider. There was also a cocktail bar by Teelings and Ruby Blue. Cleverly there was also and Irish Cheese Stand in the Bloom Inn, this went so well with the beers. However even though I only got a quick walk around while taking a break, I was genuinely blown away by the scale of the event and the many different things they have going on. It was also great to get feedback from people on the beers. As this was a totally different crowd to what you can expect in the RDS in September. I’d say there were a few converts that day.

Next year i’ll make it and hopefully be on the other side of the bar this time.