Issue Two of the excellent Craft Beer ‘bookazine’ is available now. I was flicking through it, all ready to get indignant about the lack of Irish breweries. The inclusion of the two longest serving craft breweries; Carlow Brewing Company and The Porterhouse made me climb down from my high horse fairly quickly.
My own favourites in no particular order are:
Galway Bay Brewery, great beer and a nice group of pubs as well.
Black’s of Kinsale, fantastic Black IPA/ Cascadian Dark Ale. (Not that one in the picture! )
White Gypsy in Tipperary, quality beers and a great ethic.
Bo Bristle, love the IPA and they’re local, only up the road in Banagher.
Galway Hooker, they say you never forget your first beer crush!
Kinnegar, some great beers coming out of Donegal’s ‘farmhouse brewery’.
Two breweries I am expecting big things of this year are N17 from near Tuam, their Rye Ale is available now and their kick ass Oatmeal Stout is coming in September. I hope! White Hag is just starting up in Sligo but they aren’t just going to push the envelope so much as rip it up and start again. Ah sure t’is grand being Irish begorrah!