Category: Trouble Brewing

#CraftBeerUnLaoisd2, 12 Acres, Beer Festival, Bo Bristle, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Irish Craft Beer, Kavanagh's, Snobfest, Trouble Brewing, Vanguard Beer Collective, White Gypsy

#CraftBeerUnlaoisD2 – Portlaoise Craft Beer Festival Returns to Kavanagh’s on 20th June

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on #CraftBeerUnlaoisD2 – Portlaoise Craft Beer Festival Returns to Kavanagh’s on 20th June

Once again we are coming back to Kavanagh’s Pub in Portlaoise for a Beer Festival. This time we are doing it in Summer time! 



After having such a great event last time our we are really looking forward to coming back and we’ve teamed up with some great breweries to bring this event to you.

Local Lads 12 Acres from Killeshin will be there, no doubt bringing along their award winning American Pale Ale.

Representing Tipperary we have White Gypsy from Templemore coming along. Kildare is represented by Trouble Brewing. Offaly represented by Bo Bristle who are debuting this years Wild Irish Beer. Lastly we’ll have James from Vanguard Beer Collective who will be bringing along some Irish Beers & Ciders.

Entry costs €10 which includes 2 beer tokens and food. Doors open at 4pm til late

There is live music in the evening provided by Keelan Donovan as part of his Irish Tour.

It promises to be a great afternoon / evening

Portlaoise is very well connected in terms of public transport – you can easily reach by the following methods

From Dublin
Train from Hueston Station (www.irishrail.ie)
Bus from George’s Quay (www.jjkavanagh.ie)
Bus by Dublin Coach (http://www.dublincoach.ie/timetables-fares/N7-bus-dublin-airport-to-portlaoise.php)


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, 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

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Festivals – Sheridans Irish Food Fest & Bloom in Phoenix Park

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.

2013, Against the Grain, Brewdock, Bru Brewery, Drinkstore, Dungarvan Brewing, Franciscan Well, Galway Bay Brewery, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Mountain Man Brewing, The Winehouse, Trouble Brewing

Golden Pints 2013 – A Year in Review

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Golden Pints 2013 – A Year in Review
Shamelessly hotlinked from Beermack

Talk about leaving it to the last minute – I’ve only been blogging really for 6 months but have been consuming craft beers a long time. Its been a great year for the Irish Breweries, some fantastic innovation and product out in the market. Its great to see. 

Ok, so here goes, I personally found it very difficult to whittle the categories to winners, so i’ve bottled it and am going to list my favourites! 

Best Irish Keg;
The obvious choice would be Of Foam and Fury by Galway Bay, Jason and Chris really have upped the ante with their beers. It is of course an unbelievable DIPA. However we saw some great other beers, 8 Degrees had 3 Standouts this year, Amber Ella, and the Northern vs Southern Hemisphere Hop off of Cyclone and Hurricane. Since its debut at ICBCF Amber Ella was sensational. Also a shout out to my local Brewery, Bru, with their cascade hopped Red Ale, Rua, after some initial carbonation teething issues, this has gone from strength to strength. Blacks of Kinsale also impressed with their debut Kinsale Pale Ale and their Black IPA. So for me, after all that Amber Ella just shades it.

Best Irish Cask
As others have mentioned, there hasn’t been a whole lot of Irish Cask, but there are some stand outs, I haven’t tried many, but I enjoyed Coffee Porter by Franciscan Well on a recent trip south. The lads in Bru managed a Cask version of Rua, which when I tried it it was a bit young. Metalman Pale Ale on cask never disappoints, but the standout for me was Galaxy Pale Ale by Trouble Brewing – pulled with a sparkler – a rarity over here, was smooth and kept a lovely creamy head all the way down.

Best Irish Bottle
I normally stick to draught however I have some great bottled beers this year from our breweries. 8 Degrees with their Back in Black series late in the year rocked in with Zeus Black IPA was very good. Dungarvan’s traditional winter seasonal Coffee & Oatmeal Stout was once again superb. But I really enjoyed Mountain Man’s Hairy Goat

Best Pub
Being based in Dublin means i’ve some great bars to choose from, the Cottage Group is strongly represented in Dublin, and I must say The Brewdock has regained my favourite status, after a lull midyear, the management team was tweaked and the place is bouncing again. It would be remiss of me not to mention Against the Grain which is capably run by Paddy, however its just the wrong direction for me on my trip home. Also have been very impressed by WJ Kavanagh’s and their 5 cask taps, and their great food. We also had a great time in Cork, the Bierhaus, and Abbotts Ale House were both fantastic. So it’s the Brew Dock this year.

Best Off License
This is where it gets more difficult. Drinkstore in Stoneybatter, has an unparalleled range in what is an Aladdin’s cave of beers from around the world. They also have a great online store with reasonable delivery charges. My favourite in Dublin for 2013 though is Probus Wines on Fenian St. Not only does Paul carry a great range of world wines and beers. He also has a knock out deli on site. There are regular tasting events, which are ran each week and are suitably themed. A special shout out must go to The Winehouse in Trim, ran by Alan & Rodney attached to the Malt House Pub, this is a veritable treasure trove in the royal county, and people come from near and far – mainly to snaffle the Rua in Bottles! 

Best Tweeter
I’ve got to say, @thebeernut and @beoirfinder both have great dry sense’s of humour. Andrew usually makes me chuckle. Even when taking the mick out of me. Keep it up in 2014. Also special mention to @taleofale, and @beermack_

Best Blog
I really enjoy reading Alex’s blog – Beermack Blog as he always has a wide range of beers for review. I also really enjoy Beernut’s Blog and Tale of Ale blogs. I’ll give the not to John and the beernut blog.

Food and Beer Pairing
I matched 8 degrees Howling Gale with Smoked Salmon Parcels on Christmas Day, and I must say the citrus matched the cream cheese salmon pate beautifully. 

Bray, Bru Brewery, Craftbeer, Dungarvan Brewing, http://schemas.google.com/blogger/2008/kind#post, Kilruddery House, Meath, Mountain Man Brewing, Orpens, Trouble Brewing, True Batch Brew, White Gypsy

Winter Craft Beer & Cider Festival – Kilruddery House Bray

by irishbeersnobLeave a Comment on Winter Craft Beer & Cider Festival – Kilruddery House Bray
The bar in the Marquee.

On the weekend of the 2nd November, Kilruddery House in Bray hosted along side its regular weekly farmers market, a Craft Beer and Cider event. 

I was piggy backing in with the lads from Bru Brewery, but also in attendance were Mountain Man Brewing, Trouble Brewing, White Gypsy, and Dungarvan Brewing. On the Cider side we had Orpens, who will be setting up shop in Slane, Co Meath next year, and Craigies from Wicklow. Also in attendance was The National Homebrew Club, and True Batch Brew.

Firstly, if you get the chance to go down to this farmers market you should, they’ve a lot of local food producers, including the ever delicious Hicks Butcher. 

The day was long, and the conditions were very cold, I wouldn’t have liked to be running the Hell and Back the next day. Fair play to anyone who did.

Trouble brewing brought along a keg of the pumpkin ale, quite possibly the last keg, and it was delicious as always. They also rotated the 2nd tap between Sabotage IPA and Dark Arts. Our neighbours from White Gypsy were pouring a lovely Baltic porter called Gota, and Belgian ale called Semoy. 

On the Bru Stand we had the three products flowing, and after initial teething issues with the gas on the Rua we got things pouring great. The Dubh went down really well, but there were plenty of plaudits for the Amber Lager. 

Mountain Man probably had the busiest stand, his stand has evolved from the RDS where now one of the taps is actually made with a 50 cal bullet casing for the green bullet. Phil is a gas man, and it was great to meet up with him again, and Mrs Mountain Man was great too! Hopefully you enjoyed your snack box on the way home! 

One of the most interesting stands for me though was the team behind True Batch Brew. Essentially its a 1 gallon all grain brew kit contained with all the ingredients you need to make a small batch without loads of home brew equipment cluttering up space. They’d samples of their pale ale, and porter. The pale ale was very tasty. It was their first outing and judging by the visitors they seem to have captured the public’s imagination. The kit is €45 and comes with very clear instructions. Well done guys, I hope to pick up a kit to test and post the results on my blog! Best of luck with the venture.

Lastly, the ciders, Orpens cider, coming soon to the royal county, taking up home in the Old Mill in Slane near the infamous bridge on the banks of the Boyne. The cider is lovely medium dry, and it very refreshing, I can’t wait to have it more. Well done. We also had Craigies from Wicklow, who were there with their lovely cider. A bit on the dry side for my taste, but as I was tasting it I was thinking of the food matching possibilities, pork belly and cider mmm. Anyway, they’ve some pretty interesting plans for bottling into the future, and best wishes guys. A very tasty day.

A good day was had by all, and i’m sure there were some valuable introductions for all the exhibitors on the day that hopefully will mean we will see more of these bespoke, artisan, hand crafted products in more places in the future.

The day wound up pretty quickly from about 7 on wards it was very quiet, one or two comments from people locally was they were unaware it was on. Even though there was shuttles in operation and phone numbers for local taxi drivers in supply the crowd was a little light after the farmers market finished up, maybe for the next event, they could target market the locality, in pubs like Hollands, and others in the area.