Two and a half big days in the North (part two)

Posted on March 23, 2025 by Simon
Beers and Bundobust at Beer X

The actual reason for our trip was Beer X in Liverpool. Liam was there to have a look at the various ingredients and equipment suppliers. We met a few familiar faces from the Irish brewing scene at the event. The main food offering was Bundobust so I was quite happy. There was also a massive bar with beers from all around the UK, I enjoyed the Penny Black Dark Mild from Teignmouth.

A bunch of hairy bowsies in Liverpool

After the event we strolled around Liverpool and paid a visit to the famous Cavern Club. From there we went to the Lord Alexander which is a Wetherspoons. Dave Guilfoyle had brewed a big batch of Brehon Killany Red in Adnams for all of their pubs to pour over the Paddy’s weekend. We got there just in time for Dave to get the last drop from the cask.

Assorted pints in Liverpool

I had been given a few suggestions for good spots in Liverpool (special thanks to Megan from Sullivan’s Taproom in Kilkenny for 40 recommendations!) so myself and Liam went to check a few of those out. I liked the Black Lodge Baltic Pilsner. The Roscoe Head is a lovely place that I’ll definitely return to. I had a pint of Jarl from Fyne Ales there for the first time in an age. Our penultimate pub of the evening was the Dead Crafty Beer Company where I had to have a Have You Heard It On Vinyl from State Of Kind. We finished up in the charming Ship and Mitre where I supped an Irish Red Ale called Rua (our dogs name!) from Hop Kettle.

Beers in Manchester taprooms

The following morning we got the train back to Manchester and Tracks Taproom was a quick walk from the station. It’s a really nice space. I loved their dry hopped Helles and a proper West Coast IPA. Cloudwater’s Taproom was in the same industrial estate so we had to check it out too. I went for a half of their Baltic Porter which was very tasty. And then it was time to head for home. There are a few more taprooms in the area so I will have to return in the future. I have to say I loved Liverpool too and will definitely be back. Thanks for reading and sláinte!

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Two and a half big days in the North (part one)

Posted on March 22, 2025 by Simon

Liam Tutty from Dead Centre has been telling me about the Ale Trail for a few years now so when he asked if I fancied a trip which would include some of it I jumped at the chance. A few days on the beer right after Paddy’s weekend sure, who wouldn’t? We flew into Manchester and got the train as far as Stalybridge.

Stalybridge Buffet Bar

Stalybridge Buffet Bar is one of the original stops on the Ale Trail and it is one of Liam’s favourites. It’s a charming place and I was happy out with my pint of Neptune Kiwa and pork pie. We didn’t delay too long though and made our way to what we thought would be Marsden but the train didn’t actually stop so we ended up in Huddersfield. Which was grand because we were going there anyway.

Pints in the Kings Head and the Head of Steam, Huddersfield

There’s a pub at either end of the station in Huddersfield. I really think we’re missing a trick by not having more train station pubs in Ireland. The Kings Head is a big open space while the Head of Steam feels a bit more snug. Both are fine and I enjoyed the Long Moor Pale from Small World Beers and Sup from Northern Monk.

The Sportsman, Huddersfield

The Sportsman is an Inn that Liam had stumbled upon on a previous excursion and liked. The barman was engaging and they had a great selection of beers and crisps. The Thornbridge Market Porter went surprisingly well with dill and pickle crisps. And my Leeds based friend Jonathan was able to join us for a couple of pints. Our next intended stop had a bus replacement service in place and we didn’t really fancy that so we relaxed where we were and had a great couple of hours. Then we were able to get the train straight to Liverpool where we were staying. I’ll tell you about the rest of the trip soon. Sláinte!

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Golden Pints 2024

Posted on December 22, 2024 by Simon

I don’t think I’ve ever done this properly before, (I had a quick look!) but I have done some similar best of the year round ups before… Anyway Boak and Bailey’s mention of their Golden Pints prompted me to give it a go.

Lineman Underline looking golden in the glass
  1. Best cask – I had the opportunity to drink cask in Copenhagen, Tewkesbury and Belfast this year, which was a lot more than usual for me! I’m going to say Brehon’s Shanco Dubh which I really enjoyed at the Belfast Beer Festival. Honourable mention to Inferno’s Golden Embers which I supped in Tewkesbury.
  2. Best keg – Rock City Extra Fresh IPA this was a stand out at Rock City and Friends in Amersfoort.
  3. Package – To Øl In The Ways Of The Old Days this is a proper old school IPA ticking the boxes for pine, resin, bitterness and a pleasant slightly oily mouth feel.
  4. Overall – Lineman Underline – for pretty much the exact same reasons as the previous beer. Some may have expected this collaboration to be a hazy boi but it wasn’t, and I for one was very pleasantly surprised.
  5. Brewery – Whiplash – knocking out bangers on a consistent basis, Blue Ghosts Pilsner has become my favourite Irish lager. It’s a cracker.
To Øl In The Ways Of The Old Days West Coast Ipa in a proper glass!

6. Best pub – Bierhaus, Galway great selection of beers, sound staff and a savage cheese toastie. Honourable mentions to The Shack and Flannery’s, Athlone – both class for different reasons, check them out for yourself.

7. Non-pub boozer – Dead Centre, obviously! A brewpub and casual restaurant feels like my own version of Cheers. Marooned my most checked in beer on Untappd, looking forward to Horan’s Last Hurrah on the 27th of December for some porky goodness and lovely pints.

8. Beer book – I’ve been reading mostly fiction this year!

9. Beer blogger – Beer Nut, actual beer bloggers seem like a dying breed but one man keeps the flag flying. I enjoy John’s idiosyncratic descriptions even though sometimes I’m not sure if he actually liked a beer. Honourable mention to Philip who hung up his boots after putting in some fine work – have a read here! Lisa’s Weirdo Dublin Pubs are always entertaining. And I do like the aforementioned Boak and Bailey’s Saturday morning round ups. Let me know what were your favourites of 2024… sláinte!

A golden pint of Empty Promises in Dead Centre

Disclaimer – I sell beer to some (but not all)  of these places and I sell some (but not all) of these beers, but these are my own opinions.

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Amersfoort: Rock City

Posted on November 17, 2024 by Simon
Mark Lineman and I, at Rock City

Mark from Lineman** needed a ‘seasoned campaigner’ (his words) to accompany him to the Rock City and Friends festival in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. And I didn’t hesitate to sign up. The event was in its second year after a successful debut. Our journey took ages and included two planes, one train and an automobile. But we were able to smile when we arrived just in time!

Rock City Extra Fresh

There were loads of beers waiting for us, brewer Erik was particularly excited about his fresh hop IPA and at 3.5% it was a good starting point. It was beautifully fresh and floral. A few of Eric’s own beers were pouring too, including a really smokey porter which reminded me of Laphroaig.

With Bernard from Pigs and Bears Brewing

Our bar neighbour Pigs and Bears was pouring a nice range of beers including a black sour and a Belgian barrel aged Tripel called Christine which was very popular.

Mark doing a bit…

Back on the Lineman bar and Fluid Dynamic and Killing Time were flying out. We took turns on the bar so that both of us had the chance to enjoy the event.

With Mario from Bådin

It was great to catch up with Mario from Bådin. We had good craic over the two days. Next to him Baxbier were serving a Yuzu and Cucumber Lager called Ogorki Impreza  that I have to say was excellent.

Wieke from Rock City, pouring some Shapes and Objects

I loved It’s Fall, Gone To The Woods an American IPA from Shapes and Objects. Their Hazy – What’s The Frequency was also very tasty.

Stadsbrouwerij De Drie Ringen

Stadsbrouwerij De Drie Ringen were also pouring at the festival and their home was only a short walk away so I made a point of popping in. Their Bok was exemplary. It was great to see traditional brewing being practiced and, judging by the crowd, well received.

Rock City

I have to say that Rock City and Friends was excellent, the guys looked after us so well and the atmosphere was amazing. Well done to all of the team and the volunteers who helped to pull it off. Walter and Koen are running a great show. And a special mention of Celest who kept smiling even when I was making a mess! The chef also did a great job of keeping us fed with sandwiches and I was introduced to the joys of Hutspot*! I would recommend a visit the next time you’re in The Netherlands, it’s only a quick hop from Amsterdam. Sláinte!

Fun times!

*potatoes and carrots mashed up with some sausages chopped into it. He served it with a beer gravy and picalili. Tasted better than it sounds and made for good soakage.

Hutspot!

** I sell his beer in my capacity with Fourcorners

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My first CAMRA beer festival

Posted on November 10, 2024 by Simon

I have very occasionally enjoyed the delights of cask ale since my first encounter with it in Birmingham about a quarter of a century ago. So when Brendan Belfast Boon encouraged me to visit his wonderful city for the CAMRA festival his timing was perfect, I was overdue. For those of you who don’t know: CAMRA is the Campaign for Real Ale which was founded by some English men in Co. Kerry in the early seventies. They’ve spent the last fifty odd years fighting to keep up the traditional style of brewing and serving beer. And fair play to them. In Great Britain they’ve largely succeeded. On the island of Ireland there’s considerably less of it though!

Belfast Beer Festival in the Banana Block

On entry I was given a pint glass marked at a third and a half and a booklet detailing all of the beers pouring. I thought it was a lovely touch that they mentioned absent friends including Sinéad Cashman who I would have worked with, she was a huge supporter of the local beer scene and an absolute legend.

All hail cask ale!

I made an unconscious decision to stick with halves of dark beers for the duration of the event. So I kicked off with a half of Sambrooks Powerhouse Porter, it being relatively sessionable at 4.9%. And then I went to find a few familiar faces, at one point I observed that it was a bit like being in Underdog.

One of the dark beers what I enjoyed, they all look pretty similar

Manchester’s Marble Coffee Rye Mild was delicious. Localish Lacada’s Hoisted Petard Black IPA was excellent, great name too! I thought it would be rude to skip Monaghan’s Brehon Shanco Dubh when it was right there tasting smashing. And I rounded off my session with Redwillow’s Shadowless, a dark lager all the way from Cheshire.

With Roy Quare Swally, Sean and Carla Wide Street

It was great to see Ballymahon’s Wide Street being well received on their Belfast debut. And props to Roy Quare Swally for his Trojan work in promoting great independent beer in the north.

Sam from the Oslo, Daniel from Boundary and his brother Stephen
James from Brehon and Neil from the famous Pallet Bar!

There was a mixed crowd in attendance, it wasn’t all large hairy men despite the evidence you can see above. I have to say it was a very enjoyable event and I’ll definitely be back next year, kudos to the organisers and volunteers for putting it together. Sláinte!

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