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Sunday, February 21, 2010

world's strongest beer

Scottish brewer BrewDog makes world's strongest beer

Aberdeenshire-based firm launches 41% ABV ale Sink the Bismarck weeks after German brewer releases 40% offering

A Scottish brewery is trying to wrest the distinction of making the world's strongest beer from a German rival by launching a 41% ABV ale called Sink The Bismarck! According to the Aberdeenshire-based firm BrewDog, the IPA "takes beer to a whole new level". Its launch comes weeks after German brewer Schorschbrau released a 40% strength Schorschbock. Sink The Bismarck! costs £40 for a 330ml bottle and will only be sold through Brewdog's website. The firm drew criticism from industry watchdog the Portman Group last year for its 32% strength beer, Tactical Nuclear Penguin.

http://www.schorschbraeu.de/schorschbraeu/site/

http://www.brewdog.com/beer.php

drink of the celtic gods

BOTTLES OF THE WEEK

Whitewater Clotworthy Dobbin
, Northern Ireland, 500ml bottle, 5%, €2.99

This is made by the Whitewater Brewery in Kilkeel, Co Down. All of its beers were very good, including a very tasty lager and one of the best ales of the night. The Clotworthy stood out as one of my favourites, and most of my group agreed. It tastes like a cross between an ale and a porter, with a lovely balance of hops and fruit, fresh and dry but not rasping. It really stood out as something special. Whitewater is a true microbrewery, founded in 1996 with four employees. It is possible to visit the brewery by appointment, or visit the White Horse Inn, their pub in Saintfield, a few miles from the brewery. See whitewaterbrewery.com for further details. Stockists: Very widely available in Northern Ireland, including many independents, Tesco, Sainsbury’s and Asda. In the south, Deveney’s, Dundrum; Redmond’s, Ranelagh; Carvill’s, Camden Street; McHugh’s, Kilbarrack Road and Artane; Martin’s, Marino; Harvest, Galway; Holland’s, Bray.

St Peter’s Organic Ale
, England, 500ml, bottle, 4.5%, €3.89

English ales and bitters deserve far better recognition in this country. They offer so much more than the tasteless commercial lagers. St Peter’s Brewery makes a wide range of interesting beers, including a lovely porter. All come in a distinctive bottle, modelled on an 18th-century gin bottle. This is a real session beer, light enough to drink all night but with plenty of interest, too. Fresh, zippy and clean with a subtle hoppiness. Stockists: D6 Wines, Dublin 6; Cheers, Bakers Corner; Mill Wines, Maynooth; McHugh’s, Kilbarrack and Artane; Abbot Ale House, Cork; 1601 Off Licence, Kinsale.


Maredsous Tripel

, Belgium, 330ml bottle, 10%, €3.30

This was an amazing mouthful covering just about every sensation; rich and powerful with a hint of sweet fruitiness, yet with a pleasing bitterness too. Despite the high alcohol, it still manages to retain a lovely freshness. Definitely not a session beer, but enjoy a single glass or have it with fairly substantial food. Originally brewed by Benedictine monks, this is now made by the Duvel Moortgat brewery, which also produces the wonderful Duvel range of beers. Stockists: Deveney’s, Dundrum and Rathmines; Whelan’s, Wexford Street; Drink Store, Manor Street; O’Neills, South Circular Road; World Wide Wines Waterford.

Maisel’s Dunkel Weisse
, Germany, 500 ml bottle, 5.2%, €2.35-€2.99

Apparently, there are four kinds of wheat beer: Heffe, the cloudy style we are most familiar with here; Kristal, which has been filtered; alcohol-free; and dark or dunkel. Maisel’s is dark. This is a wheat beer with attitude. Dark brown in colour, with a cocktail of fruits, mainly banana and citrus, along with refreshing spiciness. Brewed in Bayreuth in northern Bavaria. Stockists: Deveney’s, Dundrum; Sweeney’s, Phibsboro; Drinks Store, Manor Street; Bradley’s, Cork; Egan’s, Portlaoise; Harvest, Galway; Dicey Riley’s, Ballyshannon.

La Trappe Bockbier
, The Netherlands, 330ml bottle 7% €2.85-€2.99

This is a Bavarian-style beer, made in a monastery in the Netherlands. Bock beer was traditionally made in Bavaria, where they had top-fermenting yeasts, as used in Pilsners. However, it is made with deeply toasted malts and therefore has a deeper colour and more flavour. La Trappe is produced only in the autumn, and continues to ferment in the bottle. It is big and rich with an attractive dry fruitiness with malt and caramel. This is well worth seeking out. Stockists: Deveney’s, Dundrum; Bradley’s, Cork; Sheridan’s, Galway; The Oslo, Galway.

Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, USA, 250ml bottle 5.6% €2.99

Sierra Nevada was founded in 1979 by science graduate Ken Grossmann. It has grown exponentially in size, and can no longer be considered a micro-brewery. Standards remain high though, with some very good beers coming from here. The Torpedo IPA and Porter are well worth trying if you can find them The Pale Ale is surprisingly light in style, with a fragrant nose, and very moreish, malty citrus fruits. Clean and long, this slips down easily on its own, but would be a good match for lighter foods. Stockists: Deveney’s, Dundrum; Redmond’s, Ranelagh; Drink Store, Manor Street; McHugh’s, Kilbarrack and Artane; Jus de Vine, Portmarnock; Holland’s, Bray.

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

beer slogans

Database of slogans.
Beer advertising slogans.


Busch Beer
Advertising slogan: Busch Beer. Head for the mountains.

Schlitz Beer
Ad slogan: Schlitz. The beer that made Milwaukee famous.

Budweiser Beer
Slogans: Budweiser. True
When you say Budweiser, you've said it all.
For all you do, this Bud's for you.
The Genuine Article.
The King of Beers.
Where there's life, there's Bud.

Coors beer
Slogans: The Coldest Tasting Beer In The World (for Coors Light )
It won't slow you down (Light)
This is our Beer (Light)
Turn it loose!
Brewed with Pure Rocky Mountain Spring Water.
Note: Coors brewing water in Golden, Colo., begins high in the Rocky Mountains. It flows underground and is naturally filtered over beds of sand and gravel)

A&W Root Beer
Advertising slogan: That frosty mug sensation.

Courage Beer
Slogans: It's what your right arm's for.
Take Courage.

Double Diamond Beer
Taglines: I'm only here for the beer.
A Double Diamond works wonders.

Heineken beer
Slogans: A better beer deserves a better can.
It's all about the beer.
Lager Beer at its Best.
How refreshing! How Heineken!
Heineken refreshes the parts other beers cannot reach.

Greene King IPA beer
Advertising slogans: Greene King IPA. A tasty change from the usual.
Beer to Dine For.

Molson Canadian brand
Marketing slogans: It Starts Here.
I am Canadian.

Bad Frog beer
Advertising slogan: The Beer so Good it's Bad.

Bud Light brand
Taglines: Fresh. Smooth. Real. It's all here.
Be yourself and make it a Bud Light.

Dreher, Hungarian premium beer brand
Motto: It's what's inside that truly counts. Dreher.

Abbot Ale, Greene King's flagship brand
Slogans: Some things get better given longer.
Would you say no to another?


Mackeson Beer
Slogan: Mackeson Beer. It looks good, it tastes good, and by golly it does you good.

Mexican Brewery
Advertising slogan: The beer that made Milwaukee jealous ...

Miller Beer
Slogans: It's Miller time!
Good call (Miller Lite)
Tastes great, less filling (Lite)
Everything you always wanted in a beer. And less. (Lite)
If you've got the time, we've got the beer. Miller Beer.
The Champagne of Bottled Beers
No matter what what's-his-name says, I'm the prettiest and Lite's the greatest.

Toohey's beer
Advertising slogan: How do you feel? I feel like a Toohey's.

Old Milwaukee beer
Slogans: It Doesn't Get Any Better Than This!
Old Milwaukee. Taste as great as it's name.

Norrlands Guld, Swedish brand of beer
Advertising slogan: Norrlands Guld. Be yourself for a while.

Bavaria Holland beer
Advertising slogan: And now, for a Bavaria.

Dos Equis Mexican beer
Slogans: Sooner or later you'll get it.
Let your tastes travel.

Carlsberg
Ad slogan: Carlsberg. Probably the best beer in the world.

Kokanee Glacier Beer brand, Canada
Taglines: Kokanee. Straight from the Kootenays.
Pure Gold. From the heart of the Kootenays (Kokanee Gold)

Labatt Blue, the best selling Canadian beer brand
Taglines: A whole lot can happen, Out of the Blue.
If I wanted water, I would have asked for water.

Labatt Brewery, Canada
Marketing slogan: Labatt. Good things brewing - corporate

St. Pauli Girl brand, Germany
Taglines: Germany's Fun-Loving Beer.
St. Pauli Girl. The Original Party Girl.
Put her on a pedestal, or a coaster (USA campaign)
You never forget your first girl.

Smirnoff Ice brand (alternative brewed using a malt base)
Advertising slogan: Smirnoff Ice. Intelligent Nightlife.

Newcastle Brown Ale brand
Slogans: Newcastle Brown Ale. The Other Side of Dark.
The One and Only.

Bass Ale brand
Slogans: Bass. A little bit of better.
Bass. Reach for Greatness.

Schaefer trademark
Advertising slogans: Our Hand Has Never Lost Its Skill.
Schaefer. America's Oldest Lager Beer.

Castlemaine XXXX Australian brand
Ad slogan: Australians wouldn't give a XXXX for anything else

Hemeling Lager brand
Slogans: Give him a right good Hemeling tonight
Wouldn't you rather be Hemeling?

Amstel brand
Advertising slogans: Taste life. Pure Filtered.
Amstel. Our beer.
Celebrate football (Note: Amstel - sponsor of the UEFA Champions League 1994 - 2004)
The beer drinker's light beer (Amstel light)

Michelob Ultra, a low-carbohydrate beer brand
Marketing slogan: Lose the carbs. Not the taste.

Michelob AmberBock beer
Tagline: Michelob AmberBock. Rich and Smooth.

Red Stripe Jamaican lager brand
Advertising slogan: It's BEER. Hooray beer!

Sagres beer, Portugal brand
Ad slogan: Sagres. Spot the difference (for dark beer)

Corona, Mexican brand
Advertising slogan: Corona. Miles Away From Ordinary

Harp Irish Lager brand
Marketing slogan: Harp puts out the fire

Paulaner, German brand
Advertising slogan: Good, better, Paulaner

Stella Artois brand
Ad slogans: Looks ugly. Tastes great. (Stella Artois in a plastic bottle).
Stella Artois. Reassuringly expensive

Foster's, Australian brand
Taglines: He who thinks Australian, drinks Australian
Foster's. Australian for beer

Sapporo Beer, Japanese brand
Slogans: Sapporo. Drink in the world
Senses Never Forget

Tuborg brand
Advertising slogan: Tuborg. BEer YOURSELF (Italian campaign)

Asgaard beer, German brand
Motto: Asgaard. Cheers to the Vikings!

Beck's, German brand
Slogans: Beck's. Life Beckons (USA campaign)
Life Beckons. Choose wisely. (Australian campaign)
Unmistakable German Craftsmanship (Great Britain campaign)

Carlton Cold, Australian brand
Advertising slogan: Nothing's as fresh as a Coldie

Victoria Bitter brand, Australia
Tagline: A hard earned thirst needs a big cold beer and the best cold beer is Vic. Victoria Bitter.

Cascade Premium Lager, Australia
Marketing slogan: Cascade Premium. Pure Beer.

Adnams Ale brand
Advertising slogan: Adnams Ale. Southwold, by the pint.

Boddingtons beer brand
Marketing slogan: Boddingtons. It's a bit gorgeous.

Carling beer
Advertising slogan: Carling. Spot On.

Pilsner Urquell brand
Tagline: Pilsner Urquell. The world's first golden beer.

Rolling Rock Premium Beer
Advertising slogan: Rolling Rock. Free Flowing.

Samuel Adams beer brand
End line: Samuel Adams. America's World Class Beer.

Guinness Irish Stout
Advertising slogans: Out of the darkness comes light.
Guinness refreshes your spirit (USA campaign)
Believe (UK campaign)
The most natural thing in the world (in Ireland)
It's got to be Guinness (in Singapore)
Now enjoy Guinness anywhere (Australian campaign)
Good things come to those who wait.
Guinnless isn't good for you.
Guinness is Good for You

Carlton Midstrength beer
Advertising slogan: Stay a little longer.

Ballantine's Beer
Motto: When you see the three-ring-sign, ask the man for Ballantine.

Staropramen, Czech brand
Motto: Staropramen. Get A Taste Of Prague.

John Smith's bitter
Advertising slogan: John Smith's. No Nonsense.

Saxbys Stone Ginger Beer
Advertising slogan: The big ginger bite!

Kronenbourg 1664 lager
Taglines: Sit. Savour. 1664.
1664. A Good Year for Beer.

Tv show Drinking Games

The A-Team


Drink when:
• When George Peppard appears in costume or disguise, drink.
• When Hannibal breaks out a cigar, drink.
• When BA must be tricked onto an airplane (i.e. put under) drink 3 times.
• When Murdoch is busted out of a mental ward, drink 4 times.
• When the antagonist has an accent, drink.
• When a jeep flips over, drink. (Lands on its side, once. Otherwise, twice.)
• If the episode takes place in a foreign country, drink.
• When anyone calls Murdoch crazy, drink.
• If BA calls him crazy, drink twice.
• Whenever Face woos a girl to get supplies, drink.
• Face kisses a girl: drink.
• Every time someone is thrown over the camera, drink.
• If BA throws someone through furniture or a window, drink.
• Whenever they bust out guns, drink.
• If they use a grenade, drink twice.
• When anything explodes, drink.
• If a super vehicle creation involves a flamethrower, drink 3 times!
• If a handicapped person appears, drink.
• If a biker gang are the antagonists, drink. If they are protagonists, drink twice.
• If any Battlestar Galactica reference is made, finish your drink!
• When BA drives the van, drink.
• When Murdoch flies a chopper or plane, drink.
• If Col. Decker catches up to the A-Team, finish drink.
• If BA says "foo," "sucka" or "chump," drink!
• Whenever Face acts smug, drink. (Open to a lot of interpretation).
• Any time the music is a variation of the A-Team theme, drink!
• Drink whenever Murdoch switches personalities.
• "To be continued" episode--finish drink.
• If BA befriends a child, drink.
• If the camera gets wet during a car chase, drink.
• Any time the team finds a welder or oxygen cutter in an old shed, drink twice.

Knight Rider


General (# of shots)
• 1 "Knight" appears in episode title
• 2 "KITT" appears in episode title
• 1 Every time the subplot appears (if there is one)
• 1 Any long, musical driving scene
KITT (# of shots)
• 1 Mention of the "molecular bondage shell"
• 1 Turbo Boosts
• 2 Has all power transferred to Turbo Boost
• 2 Is unable to Turbo Boost for some reason
• 1 Gets installed with a new device
• 2 Gets installed with a new device that is flawed, or does not accomplish the purpose for which it was installed
• 4 Gets installed with a new device that is not used in the same episode
• 1 Uses a fairly well-known feature (one that appears in over 2 or 3 episodes, ie- Microjam, oil slick)
• 3 Uses a feature we've never seen before, and likely ever will again (ie- Sub zero)
• 1 Super Pursuit Mode
• 1 Emergency Braking System
• 1 Doesn't understand something/asks for an explanation
• 1 Awes someone with his abilities
• 2 Has someone other than Michael behind the wheel
• 1 Blacks the windows to talk with someone outside
• 2 Has a bomb/explosive blow up under/in him
• 1 Gets captured or has rear wheels elevated
• 2 Gets badly damaged (ie- "Ring of Fire")
• 3 Gets totalled (ie- "Knight of the Juggernaut")
MICHAEL KNIGHT (# of shots)
• 1 Is hassled by local law
• 2 Is arrested and/or thrown in jail
• 3 Is hassled by cops who turn out to be crooked
• 2 Is checked out by someone who finds no information on him, or that "up until x years ago you didn't exist"
• 1 Talks into his watch
• 1 Asks for money from Devon
• 1 Is told by someone to "Be careful"
• 1 Goes undercover
• 1 Has KITT take over so he can perform some fool stunt
• 2 Has KITT take over because he's not able to drive or just doesn't want to drive
• 1 "KITT! I need you buddy!" (or words to this effect)
• 2 Overrides KITT's programming
• 2 Gets separated from KITT
• 1 Gets romantic with, or kisses someone
• 4 Gets married

Family guy


One Drink
• Cut scene
• Character consumes alcohol
• Played out stereotype
• Allusion/Reference
• Peter gets hurt
• Peter says "Sweet"
Two Drinks
• Stewie tries to kill Lois
• Stewie formulates a plan
• Stewie does something feminine
• Stewie has a weapon
• Chris becomes nervous around a girl
• Brian and Stewie fight
• Peter does "the laugh"
• Peter gives Chris bad advice
• Peter embarrasses Meg
• Visit to the Drunken Clam
• A gag is repeated
• Commercial break
• Chicken fight!
Three Drinks
• Stewie says "Victory is mine"
• Peter says "Holy crap"
• Brian has a martini
• Meg is referred to as ugly in some way
• Non-human character is shown (excluding Brian)
• Quagmire makes a sexual reference ("giggity giggity" usually counts!)
• Quahog News is shown
• Every time Cleveland Jr. laughs
• Stewie says "What the Duece!"
• Character plays the piano
• Character removes an article of clothing
• Cleveland mentions Lois
Four Drinks
• Lois's parents show up
• Make fun of (c) Fox
Five Drinks
• Drawn out scene (add a drink if crickets chirp)
• The "Evil Monkey" makes an appearance


Withnail & I drinking game


There is a drinking game associated with Withnail & I. The game consists of keeping up, drink for drink, with each alcoholic substance consumed by Withnail over the course of the film. All told, Withnail is shown drinking roughly nine and a half glasses of red wine, half a pint of cider, one shot of lighter fluid (vinegar or over-proof rum are common substitutes), two and a half shots of gin, six glasses of sherry, thirteen glasses of whisky and half a pint of ale. It may be presumed that this quantity of alcohol, if consumed during the course of the film, would prove fatal.


Star Trek


Sip if any of the following occur:
• Bones says "He's dead, Jim."
• Bones points out he's a doctor, not a ___________
• Kirk gets the girl
• Kirk outwits a computer
• Kirk violates the prime directive
• Kirk's shirt gets ripped
• Kirk bluffs his out
• Kirk takes responsibility for the whole crew
• Kirk saves the day with a stirring speech
• Kirk kisses the girl
• Kirk says "We come in peace" and "shoot to kill" in the same sentence
• Kirk says "Phasers on stun"
• Spock shows emotion
• Spock uses the Vulcan neck pinch
• Spock looks into the science station
• Spock refers to the doctor as illogical
• Spock says "Fascinating" or "Indeed"
• Scotty complains about the warp speed requested/demanded
• Scotty pulls off a miraculous technological feat
• Scotty says "The engines canna take much more a this, Captain"
• Chekov promotes Russian history
• Chekov says "But Keptin...."
• Chekov pronounces a 'w' like a 'v'
• Sulu sets course
• Sulu has the con
• Uhura says "Hailing frequencies open"
• Uhura opens a channel in all frequencies and all languages
• Uhura sings
• Yeoman Rand gives Kirk something to initial
• Yeoman Rand serves coffee
• Nurse Chapel lusts after Spock
• Kyle makes his appearance as transporter chief
• Lt. Leslie appears or is mentioned
• A redshirt dies
• The weapons are powerless
• The transporter is inoperative
• Dilithium crystals are drained/inoperative/missing
• Communicators malfunction
• The shields are about to collapse
• The Enterprise goes faster than it is possibly able to
• The Enterprise is taken over by a superior alien power
• You see a styrofoam planet or a planet with no atmosphere
• A newly discovered planet is "Much like Earth"
• Klingon and Romulan technology is mixed up
• Special effects people cannot tell phasers from photon torpedoes
CHUG if any of the following occur:
• Kirk does not get the girl
• Sulu gets a sword
• Major character dies/is assumed dead
• Starfleet exhonorates the crew for their violation of regulations/orders
• The episode was blatantly ripped off by ST:TNG
• Lt. Leslie speaks
• Anybody makes a "historical" reference to the 20th century

Sunday, February 7, 2010

what to do in pubs

As a computing student, I always use the internet as my main source of wisdom, but here in Ireland we have a natural accruing knowledge resource that has existed for centuries but at this most crucial stage in modern Ireland this knowledge resource is dieing out. The Knowledge resource I do speak of is none other than “old fella’s”. These old fellas can talk about any subject for hours on end for there knowledge has been collected for years, the will be able to tell you things that they have known for years that NASA scientists are only just figuring out. Now I know there are other books on the market about this subject but we felt that there was a need for a user manual of how to use these vast databases of knowledge. So In this book what we hope achieve is to teach by way of example.


Lesson 1: How to Approach.

Now unlike the internet search engines such as goggle which can be used in a series of small steps e.g. turn on computer, click on the internet browser icon and type in the desired internet search engine address that you require. No the best way to approach the “old fella’s” is to imagine that you are hunting wild prey, now when I say hunting wild prey I don’t mean set a trap, hang him upside down and ask your question then the poor fella will think the black and tan’s are back. Although that would be interesting.

Method 1: The Arnie Predator Approach

Location: The local pub, the counter of the main bar
Time to set the trap: Midday, after the one o’clock news.
Equipment needed:
• A collapsible dog crate at least 48”x27”x31” in size.
• a rope long and strong enough to hold the cage door open
• A bottle of Extra Strength Stout. DO NOT USE DRAUGHT CANS as opedning the can can is enough to give a fella a hearth attack.
• A toasted Bovril and cheese sandwich
Preliminary work: You may be required to visit the pub before and scope it out.
You will need to find
How to set the trap: Because the old fellas are always in the same spot for hours in the pub, you need to adopt a solitary approach to avoid suspicion and have patience. The one chance you will have to set your trap is when the old fella is gone to the toilet. Now do not lose faith if there are other old fellas at the bar also as these fella’s posse no treat what so ever as long as you avoid eye contact.
• Remove the bar stool where the old fella had been sitting and replace it with the cage


• Place the bottle of extra strength stout and the sandwich inside of the cage



• Now tie the rope to the cage door while it is in the open position. Now it is your job to hold the cage door with the rope a wait until the old fella has come back from the toilet and is lured in my the intoxicating smells of extra stout and Bovril that are now in the air.

And there you have it you have now you can own your very own piece of Irish heritage. Also if you just so happen to be an American citizen these traps also work on leprechauns, the best place to spot a leprechaun is in any number of pubs in small villages in Co. Meath (he is the small red headed one).


Method 2: The Humane Approach.

After carefully researching method 1 I realised something which may come as a shock to you but this approach although not specifically illegal is actually frowned upon in modern society. So I have come up with an alternative that may prevent your person being frowned upon. The Humane method is a lot simpler and for those of you who are like and do not like to spend a penny, this method is also a lot cheaper in fact I would go as far as saying that it’s at least 100% cheaper but don’t quote me on that.
(FACT! at the end of that last sentence is the 666 word in this chapter, weird huh? It scared the willies out of me!)
Location: The local pub, the counter of the main bar
Time: Midday, after the one o’clock news.
How to Approach: To do this approach successfully you need to be able to think on your feet you need to become the old fella mentally think how he thinks and more importantly you need to drink how he drinks. The best way achieve this is simple.

Think at all time:
• It’s not like it used to be (this is a general thought that can be applied to everything in life!).
Drink:
• A pint of Stout or Porter.
Now that you’re in the right state of mind approach the old fella in a slow and non threatening fashion. As a rule of thumb approach the old fella from the opposite side to the hand he is drinking his pint. Now be prepared to speak to the old fella your first words are crucial, your words need to be able to draw the old fella in and keep his attention. For this exact purpose we have prepared a number of phrases that you can use to start a topic of conversation with an old fella.
• The Honda 50 that was a grand wee bike.
• Those Foreigners coming here taking all the jobs.
• Not’en on d telly these days. What ever happened to Glenroe?
• That NCT, it took me 88 the other week there.
• Them Blacks are everywhere these days.
Now obliviously some of the phrases are a bit controversial and are not be condoned by myself. So use these phrases at your own discretion.
You should now be happily able to learn vast sums of knowledge from your new best friend.

Monday, February 1, 2010

Lightest beer

In a world where women and socialites are concerned about their weight Budweiser have come with the worlds LIGHTEST BEER.. "Select 55" with only you guessed it 55 calories. Budweiser also goes on to mention how green and economic the bottles and cans are..

Lets be honest here when i want a beer i want it cause i know its not good for me... I want the beer goggles, the forgetful memory and the craving to eat anything thats wrapped in batter and then fried. I have yet to go to a barman ans ask "can i have your healthiest porter and while your at it can i have some low fat crisps" This is as bad as the man who sits and makes a point of not drinking.. Only to then guzzle 15 bottles of 7up as he has problem with drinking all liquids too fast.. This is called "never_been_invited_to_parties_when_i_was__a_kid syndrome"

My advice to you is to drink and drink heavily

Wine of the week

this link will show you the wine of the week back catolog

http://www.blogcatalog.com/blogs/robertfranciswin/posts/tag/john%20wilson/

Poor mans Champagne

Acon Cagua Sauvignon, Central Valley, Chile 2008, 13%, €6.49.

Dunnes did well; plenty of decent wines, and one star, too. Light and crisp, with some Sauvignon character and a deceptively long finish. Good summer drinking with or without food. Stockist: Dunnes Stores.

Wally’s Hut Verdelho, South East Australia 2008, 13.5%, €6.99. I wasn’t quite sure what to make of this wine; it isn’t my style, but if you are a Yellow Tail drinker, it will be right up your street. Intense tropical aromas, bucket loads of bananas and custard on the palate, with a sweetish finish. To be drunk on its own. Stockist: Supervalu, Centra.

Mâcon-Villages Henri de Lorgére 2008, 12.5%, €7.69. Was I unfair to Aldi? I don’t think so; most scored at the higher level of acceptable, but lacked that spark to be classed as good. Decent well-made wine with light, but pleasant green apple fruits. A good all-rounder, best with plain fish dishes. Stockist: Aldi.

Santa Helena Cabernet Sauvignon Rosé 2008, 13%, €7.49. Both the Sauvignon and rosé from Saint Helena did very well; the rosé is a very decent grown-up wine with plenty of ripe redcurrants, cut through with some mouth-watering acidity. The finish is dry. This would do very nicely with summer lunches and light suppers. Stockists : Spar, Eurospar, Mace.

Cimarosa Pinotage, Paarl, South Africa 2008, 14%, €5.25. Very ripe, jammy, easy damson and soft cassis fruits, and a rounded finish. Unlike any Pinotage I have tasted, should do the trick for barbecues. Stockist: Lidl.

Tesco Shiraz, South Eastern Australia, 12.5%, €6.99. Seemed a little sweet, but otherwise very gluggable wine, with plenty of soft ripe damsons and cassis, a bit of power, and a sprinkle of spicy oak. Stockist: Tesco

Popolino IGT Siciliana 2008, 13%, €6.99. Very moreish light cherry aromas and fruit on the palate; a nice squeeze of acidity, too, making this the perfect wine to drink with all kinds of pasta and pizzas. Stockist: M&S

Classic Collection Côtes du Rhône 2007, 14%, €7. Superquinn let themselves down a bit by submitting a few jaded white wines from the 2007 vintage. I suspect fresher wines would have seen them score higher. But this was the wine of the tasting, and one of the best-value wines I have tasted all year. Rich, supple, rounded dark cherry and liquorice fruits that explode in the mouth. A steal at €7. Stockist: Superquinn.

Drink + Food = Awesome

JOHN WILSON

BEER: When matching beer with food there are very few absolute disasters, so you can have lots of fun trying out combinations

THE TRADITIONAL IRISH pub was never noted as a centre of culinary excellence. If you fancied meeting up for a chat, to watch the match or listen to music, there was nowhere better, but any request for food beyond a packet of cheese and onion was likely to be viewed with suspicion. Times have moved on, and most pubs are now keen to supply you with a plate of grub, particularly at lunchtime, when few people now think of downing a pint. The quality of the food varies, but some pubs now make a real effort, and have been rewarded with a very brisk midday trade. These days we even have a gastropub or two to try out, but here we are often encouraged to drink wine with food rather than beer. We know that beer goes with pizza, curry and barbecues, but maybe now is the time to expand our repertoire of beer and food matches?

On the European mainland beer is considered a natural accompaniment to food. Most northern European countries drink it with their meal in the same manner as those further south consume wine. Ask for anything other than an Altbier (a red ale with real flavour) to wash down your Schweinshaxe or Bratwürst in the brew pubs of Düsseldorf, and you will be treated with contempt by the waiting staff. A few kilometres further south in Cologne, the local Kölsch beer, lighter and more floral, is considered the only thing to drink with the area’s excellent black pudding. A Pilsner of some sort is an essential part of the Danish lunch, sitting alongside a chaser of aquavit to wash down all those herrings and other goodies.

But what beer to drink with what food? Even more than with wine, I am convinced there are very few absolute disasters, so you can have lots of fun trying out all sorts of combinations to see if they work. We are already familiar with a few perfect partners; stout and oysters, for one, is a triumph. I am very fond of the English ploughman’s: a plate of cheddar-style cheese, pickles and good bread with a pint of light ale. I have also tried stout and beef stew, and stout with chocolate, too – both a success. A friend who has done a bit of study on the subject advised me to think of darker beers as similar to red wine, full of flavour and quite powerful, and therefore better with red meats, stews and hard cheeses. Lagers and light-coloured beers tend to be more delicate in flavour, so think of these as white wine, to match with chicken and fish.

Dean McGuinness of Premier International Beers gives two other rules of thumb: the stronger and more characterful the beer, the greater the need to have richer, stronger food. The opposite also applies with delicate food – go for a lower-alcohol beer. He also suggests that the spicier the food, the less hoppy the beer – the bitterness of beer can really jar with spices.

THE EXPERTS’ CHOICE

I asked three beer experts to come up with their favourite beer and food matches:

Tripel Karmeliet and roast pork

Aidan Redmond and his brother Jimmy have a passion for beer, and one of the finest selections in the country in Redmond’s of Ranelagh. Jimmy went for roast pork (preferably with the crackling to enhance the sweetness), alongside a bottle of Tripel Karmeliet, a Belgian Trappist-style beer. “It’s a big beer , very robust, but very smooth, with lovely fruit. There is a natural sweetness, which works perfectly with your apple sauce. As with all Belgian beers, it must be drunk from a proper glass, or failing that a wine glass, to get the full flavour.” Tripel Karmeliet is available from specialist beer outlets (€8.50 for 75cl bottle, €3.25 for 33cl).

Chimay Blue and Cashel Blue

Dean McGuinness works with Premier International Beers, the leading importers of speciality beers from around the world. He also has 15 years’ brewing experience. He can be heard on Movies and Booze, a feature on Moncrieff on Newstalk every second Friday afternoon. “I have chosen Cashel Blue with Chimay Blue as my favourite match. The rich, port-like flavours in the Chimay Blue perfectly complement the depth and complexity and subtle, rich character of Cashel Blue. Chimay make their own cheeses in the monastery, so all of the Trappist beers are well suited to go with cheese.” For the more adventurous, there is a range of three Chimay beers to try out. Chimay Blue is widely available in off-licences and some supermarkets. It is 9 per cent alcohol; some outlets stock a gift pack containing the three types. Otherwise, it can be ordered online from www.realbeers.ie, who stock a range of 200 beers online.

Guinness and Belgian chocolate

Marc Stroobandt is a renowned beer expert who works with the Beer Naturally campaign. He will be in Dublin to deliver a series of his highly regarded beer-and-food matching sessions at the Beer Naturally Academy at the Taste of Dublin festival (June 11th to 14th). The Beer Naturally website (www.beernaturally.ie) is worth a look. “I have combined two great traditions: Guinness with a Belgian dark chocolate tart. The two help each other out very nicely; the stout takes away the edge of the dark chocolate in the tart, and brings out the cocoa flavour, whereas the taste smooths out the bitterness of the Guinness. Taken together your senses get this amazing succession of beer, chocolate, beer, chocolate.” Will any Dublin pubs try this out?

jwilson@irishtimes.com

FOUR BEERS TO MATCH WITH FOOD

Budejovicky Budvar (Czech Republic)

5 per cent, €2.69 for a 50cl bottle.

Lager is supposed to go well with curry, but I find some wines are a better match. It is great with chicken dishes, hams, salads and other lighter foods, where freshness and acidity is called for.

Hoegaarden (Belgium)

4.9 per cent, €2.39 for a 33cl bottle.

Hoegaarden is a wheat beer, flavoured with spices – coriander in particular – and orange too. It is naturally cloudy. With its spicy, fruity notes, wheat beer is a great summer drink. It is also very versatile with food, one of the few drinks to hold its own with both eggs and smoked bacon, making it the perfect brunch drink. Wheat beers tend to be light and floral, so go very nicely with fish and seafood, as well as spicy Thai and Indian food – so long as they are not too hot.

Fuller’s London Pride (UK)

4.7 per cent, €2.80 for a 50cl bottle.

The English are famed for their cask-conditioned ales, served at room temperature. Some are amazingly complex, delicious to drink, with a characteristic bitter finish. A lighter ale is a very good thirst-quencher with spicy food from India and elsewhere.

Guinness Extra Stout

4.2 per cent, around €2 per 50cl bottle.

What should we eat with the national drink? As well as oysters, the dry hoppiness of stout also goes well with other seafood. I can also see myself tucking into a beef casserole (made with stout) or a hearty pie (steak and kidney would be perfect). If it is not too dry, the natural cocoa element in stout can be the perfect match for good dark chocolate.

Irish Stouts

This list comes from John Wilson of the Irish times

Marks & Spencer Irish Stout

€3.29 for 500ml, €6.58 per litre

Highs : Buying stout from M&S is like buying a bowler hat and brolly in Guineys, so we were very suspicious when we happened across this bottle. Despite in-built and entirely irrational prejudices about the “brewed in Éire” on the label, we were surprised by how good this was. Its taste, the bottle tells us, “was said to make grown men weep for more”! We didn’t weep but could certainly have downed a couple more bottles. It is a completely different product from the canned stouts we reviewed. It smells very strongly of hops and has a lovely smooth finish and strong flavours.

Lows : While it would accompany a plate of strong cheddar nicely, we’re not sure how well it would go down on a night in watching the football. Apart from the whole Éire problem, we were also concerned with the price.

Verdict : Nice but pricey.

Star Rating: * * *

Murphys

€2.19 for 500ml, €4.38 per litre

Highs : This Cork stout runs Guinness surprisingly close in the creamy head (and in the creamy rings left around a pint glass) stakes. It is very smooth and easy to drink with a lightness not to be found anywhere else. It has slightly sweet undertones, thanks to the presence of chocolate malt in the mix, and a hoppy aftertaste that lingers. An easier introduction to stout than some of the more robust-flavoured stouts on the market. It has the lowest alcohol content – a plus or minus depending on your perspective – but we consider it a plus.

Lows : It doesn’t matter if you have this in draught or from a can, it is hard to get away from the fact that (Cork people look away now) it is thinner and more watery than the product which comes out of St James’s Gate.

Verdict: Just a little thin.

Star Rating: * *

Guinness

€1.77 for 330ml, €5.36 per litre

Highs : There is a lot to be said for familiarity and before we had even popped open this stubby can with its gassy widget, we were feeling sufficiently well-disposed to almost ignore the fact that it was significantly pricier than many of its peers (although, to be fair, it does cost less when bought in the 500ml cans). To say this product has a long tradition is something of an understatement. The 330ml can has a distinct advantage in that it fits into a pint glass without any overspill. It also tastes fuller, with the roasted malt flavours coming through strongly, and is richer than the canned competition. It has a creamy head which stays in place for the duration.

Lows : It is comparatively expensive and too easy to drink too much of it.

Verdict : Best from a can.

Star Rating: * * * *

Beamish

€1.76 for 500ml, €3.52 per litre

Highs : Beamish has been brewed in a fairly small Cork brewery for a very long time, although we won’t be able to say that for much longer as its parent company, Heineken, is moving production to the brewery where Murphys is made. It deserves kudos for being the cheapest of the stouts we tried. It comes out frothy and its bitter flavours give it a pleasingly sharp bite. Its colour suggests it is the one which truly deserves to be called the black stuff and it pulls off the trick of being light without tasting watered-down.

Lows : We found it to be surprisingly fizzy for a stout, although it did lose its head very fast and was (Cork people look away again) almost completely flat by the time we got halfway through our glass.

Verdict : Solid.

Star Rating: * * *

O’Hara’s Leann Folláin

€2.50 for 355ml, €7.04 per litre

Highs : We have a sneaking but unconfirmed suspicion that this Carlow brewery is also responsible for the M&S stout, but its own “Extra” Irish stout is in a class of its own. It has bitter coffee undertones and a depth of flavour that leaves the canned stouts in the ha’penny place. It’s 6 per cent but doesn’t taste strong.

Lows : It might be a little daunting at first and if you’re expecting a creamy stout with a big head, prepare to be disappointed as this delivers very little by way of a head. It’s the most expensive of the lot and will also prove hard to get as it is aimed mostly at the export market (we found it in the always excellent Drink Store in Dublin’s Stoneybatter). If you can’t find this, O’Hara’s regular brew is pretty fine too.

Verdict : Pricey but worth it.

Star Rating: * * * * *

Who Makes the Good Shit

1. Arainn Mhor Brewing Company

The beautiful island of Arainn Mhor is off the coast of County Donegal. Irish is commonly spoken and certainly the local brewery will aid your fluency. Two bottled ales are made, one golden (Ban), one dark (Rua), both made without additives or artificial carbonation.

CONTACT: Arainn Mhor Brewing Company (00 353 87 630 6856; ambrewco.com).

2. The Biddy Early Brewery

In the middle of nowhere in the west of Ireland in County Clare. Allegedly this was Ireland's first brewpub, started in 1995. It produces four beers - Black Biddy, a stout; Blonde Biddy, a pilsner; Red Biddy, a red ale; and Real Biddy, an ale.

CONTACT:The Biddy Early Brewery (00 353 65 683 6742; beb.ie).

3. Carlow Brewing Company

This microbrewery produces the award-winning O'Haras Celtic Stout, Curim Gold Celtic Wheat Beer and Molings Traditional Red Ale.

CONTACT: Carlow Brewing Company (00 353 59913 4356; carlowbrewing.com).

4. The Franciscan Well Brewery

On the site of an old monastery which had a well with healing properties, this pub makes Rebel Red (red ale), Blarney Blonde (a fruity kolsch), Shandon Stout, Rebel Lager and Friar Weisse (a white beer).

CONTACT:The Franciscan Well Brewery (00 353 21 4210130; franciscanwellbrewery.com).

5. The Hilden Brewing Company

Its motto is "keep it real" and Seamus Scullion must have done an excellent job because he celebrates no less than 25 years of brewing this November. There's a visitor centre and restaurant where you can indulge in a top-class lunch in a relaxing atmosphere. Beers include four ales and a porter.

CONTACT: Hilden Brewing Company (028 9266 0800; hildenbrewery.co.uk).

6. Kinsale Brewing Company

Founded in 1997 in the foodie capital of Ireland, this brewery produces a golden, hoppy lager using spring water, natural ingredients and no additives.

CONTACT: Kinsale Brewing Company (00 353 21 4702124; kinsalebrewing.com).

7. Strangford Lough Brewing

A Viking king has two beers named after him - Barelegs Brew and Legbiter. The latter is the name of his sword, while the grave of St Patrick has inspired St Patrick's Gold (wheat beer), St Patrick's Best and St Patrick's Ale - one smashed saint.

CONTACT: Strangford Lough Brewing Company (028 4482 1461; slbc.ie).

8. Messrs Maguire

You might get the tail end of Maguire's Octoberfest and be able to taste its new porter, specially developed for winter. Otherwise its tried and tested Rusty Red would be my tip.

CONTACT: Messrs Maguire (00 353 1670 5777).

9. The Porter House

With at least nine regulars on tap and possibly a couple of seasonal specials it's good that Porter House provides the choice. It is doing a dark lager (Vienna) for the winter, a bit like Sam Adams.

CONTACT: The Porter House (00 353 1679 8847; porterhousebrewco.com).

10. College Green Brewery

Situated in Molly's Yard, this is the city's only brewery producing Molly's Chocolate stout, Belfast blonde lager and Headless Dog amber ale.

CONTACT: College Green Brewery (028 9032 2600)

Acton's Country Pub and Microbrewery
The BrookLodge & Wells Spa
Macreddin Village
Co. Wicklow


Telephone: +353 (0) 402 36444

Fax: +353 402 36580

Email: brooklodge@macreddin.ieThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.brooklodge.com/


Barrelhead Brewery
c/o 23 Broadstone Avenue
Dublin 7

Company Profile: Though Dublin based, Barrelhead beer is brewed at the White Gypsy plant in Templemore, Co. Tipperary. The first appeared at the Craft Brewing Festival in The Franciscan Well at Easter 2009.

Beers Brewed: Bull Island Pale Ale.
Availability: At time of writing, beers were not yet on sale

Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne
c/o Tig Bhric
nr. Ballyferriter
Co. Kerry

Telephone: +353 66 9156325

Email: info@tigbhric.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
http://www.tigbhric.com

Company Profile: Established 2008. 400L brewery adjacent to Tig Bhric pub.

Beers Brewed: Béal Bán.

Availability: Beers are available during the summer season only, at Tig Bhric in Riasc, nr. Ballyferriter and Tigh Uí Chatháin in Ballyferriter.


Bluestack Brewing

Main Street
Ramelton
Co. Donegal
bluestack@mail.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Not in production yet, but plans are for a Lager, an Ale, a Stout and a Wheat Beer.

Where to find good shit list

Co. Antrim

The Botanic Inn, Malone Road, Belfast
Belfast Ale (Cask)

The Crown, Victoria Street, Belfast
Various Whitewater casks.

Hilden, Lisburn, Co. Antrim
Scullion’s Irish (amber) Ale, Hilden Ale, Molly Malone Ale (red porter), Silver (pale ale), Hilden Halt (Irish red)

The John Hewitt, 51 Donegall Street, Belfast
Hilden Ale, Belfast Ale

Katy Daly's, 17 Ormeau Avenue, Belfast
Belfast Ale, Clotworthy Dobbin.

The King's Head, Lisburn Road, Belfast
Whitewater casks

The Kitchen, 1 Victoria Square, Belfast
Whitewater casks.

McHugh's, 29-31 Queens Square, Belfast
Whitewater casks.

Molly’s Yard, 1 College Green Mews, Botanic Avenue, Belfast
Hilden range

Ryan's, 116-118 Lisburn Road, Belfast
Whitewater casks.



Co. Clare

The Biddy Early Brewery, Inagh, Ennis
Occasional specials



Co. Cork:

Abbot's Ale House, Devonshire Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

Tom Barry's, Barrack Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

Bierhaus, Popes Quay, Cork City
Rebel Red, Galway Hooker, O'Hara's Stout,
O'Hara's Red (b)

Blair's Inn, Cloghroe, Co. Cork
Blarney Blonde

The Bosun, Monkstown, Co. Cork
Kinsale Lager

Bradley-D, 56 Barrack Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

Bru, 57 MacCurtain Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

The Bullman, Kinsale, Co. Cork
Rebel Red

Corner House, Coburg Street, Cork City
Rebel Red, Friar Weisse

Crane Lane Theatre, Cork City
Rebel Red, Friar Weisse

An Cruibin, Union Quay, Cork City
Rebel Red, Friar Weisse

Fionnbarra, Douglas Street, Cork City
Blarney Blond, Friar Weisse, Rebel Red

The Franciscan Well Brewpub, North Mall, Cork City
Blarney Blond, Rebel Red, Shandon Stout, Friar Weisse, Occasional specials

Fred Zeppelins, 8 Parliament Street, Cork City
Blarney Blond, Rebel Red

The Hi-B, Oliver Plunkett Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

The Long Valley, 10 Winthrop Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

Dan Lowry, MacCurtain Street, Cork City
Blarney Blonde, Rebel Red

LV, MacCurtain Street, Cork City
Blarney Blonde, Rebel Red

P.F. McCarthy, 14 Main Street, Kenmare, Co. Cork
Kenmare Beer

Mutton Lane Inn, Mutton Lane, Cork City
Blarney Blond, Friar Weisse, Rebel Red

The Oval, South Main Street, Cork City
Blarney Blond, Friar Weisse, Rebel Red.

Sin É, Coburg Street, Cork City
Blarney Blond, Rebel Red, Friar Weisse

An Spailpín Fánac, 28 South Main Street, Cork City
Rebel Red

The Twins O'Brien, 32 Marlborough Street, Cork City
Blarney Blonde, Rebel Red


Co. Donegal

Dicey Reillys, Ballyshannon
Curim Wheat


Co. Down

The Dirty Duck, 2-4 Kinnegar Road, Holywood
Hilden range

The White Horse, 49-55 Main Street, Saintfield
Whitewater range, Galway Hooker


Co. Dublin

Anseo, Camden Street, D2
Galway Hooker

Beggar's Bush, 115 Haddington Road, D4
Rebel Red

The Bull and Castle, Christ Church, D2
Galway Hooker, Blarney Blonde, Rebel Lager, Castle Red (Rebel Red), O’Hara’s Stout, O'Hara's Celebration, occasional specials.

The Dice Bar, 79 Queen Street, D7
Galway Hooker

The Elephant & Castle, 18 Temple Bar, D2
O'Hara's Stout (b)

The Farm, 3 Dawson Street, D2
O’Hara’s Stout (b).

The Gingerman, 39-40 Fenian Street, D2
Writers Red (Rebel Red), Writers Block (Rebel Lager) and Friar Weisse.

Jo'Burger & Bar, Blackrock, Co. Dublin
Temple Bräu, Porterhouse Plain.

Mao, 2-3 Chatham Row, D2
Mao, The Mill Pond, Dundrum Town Centre, D16
Mao, The Pavilion, Dún Laoghaire
Mao Lager (b)

Messrs Maguire, 1-2 Burgh Quay, D2
Plain Porter, Weiss, Haus, Rusty Red ale, occasional specials.

O'Neill's, 2 Suffolk Street, D2
O'Hara's Stout, Rebel Red, Galway Hooker

Paddy Cullen's, Ballsbridge, D4
Rebel Red, Friar Weisse

The Palace, 21 Fleet Street, D2
Galway Hooker, Temple Bräu

The Porterhouse Temple Bar, 16-18 Parliament Street, D2
Porterhouse Central, 45-47 Nassau Street, D2
Porterhouse North, Cross Guns Bridge, Glasnevin, D9
Lagers: Hersbrucker, Temple Bräu, Chiller. Ales: TSB (cask conditioned), Porterhouse Red, Brainblasta. Stouts: Plain, Oyster Stout, Wrasslers XXXX.
Galway Hooker
Occasional specials
O'Hara's Stout, Curim Wheat, O'Hara's Red (all bottles)

Ryan's, 28 Park Gate Street, D7
Galway Hooker, Blarney Blonde

The Schoolhouse, 2-8 Northumberland Road, D2
Blarney Blonde

Sin É, 14-15 Upper Ormond Quay, D7
Galway Hooker

Solas, 31 Wexford Street, D2
Solas Lite

The Thirsty Bull, Tyrrelstown, Dublin 15
Porterhouse Plain

The Winding Stair Restaurant & Bookshop, Bachelor's Walk, D1
Curim Wheat (b)


Co. Galway:

Bazaar, Quay Lane
Galway Hooker

The Bierhaus, Henry Street.
Galway Hooker, O'Hara's Stout

The Blue Note, William Street
Galway Hooker

The Cottage, Lower Salthill
Galway Hooker

The Cottage, Moycullen
Galway Hooker

Dock Eight, The Docks
Galway Hooker

The Hop Inn, Athenry
Galway Hooker

Jordan's Bar, Clarinbridge
Galway Hooker

The King's Head, High Street
Galway Hooker

Lohan's Bar and Restaurant, Salthill
Galway Hooker

Massimo, William Street
Galway Hooker

Munroe's Tavern, Dominick Street
Galway Hooker

NUIG, College Bar
Galway Hooker

The Roisin Dubh, Dominick Street
Galway Hooker

Sheridan's on the Dock, The Docks
Galway Hooker, O'Hara's Stout (b)

Tigh Neachtain, Cross Street
Galway Hooker

Twelve Hotel, Barna
Galway Hooker



Co. Kerry

D. O'Shea's Bar, North Square, Sneem
Blarney Blond, Rebel Red, Friar Weisse

Tigh Bhric, Reask nr. Ballyferriter
Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne beers

Tigh Uí Chatháin, Ballyferriter
Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne beers



Co. Leitrim

The Oarsman, Bridge Street, Carrick-on-Shannon
Galway Hooker



Co. Limerick

Java's bar, University of Limerick
Galway Hooker, Porterhouse Red, occasional seasonals.



Co. Sligo:

Tobergal Lane Café, Sligo Town
Galway Hooker


Co. Tipperary:

Finn's Bar, Main Street, Borrisoleigh
St Cuilan's (MM Rusty)


Co. Waterford:

McAlpin's Cottage Bistro, Cheekpoint Village
O'Hara's Stout (b)

The Tannery Restaurant, Dungarvan.
O'Hara's Stout (b), Curim Wheat (b), O'Hara's Red (b)



Co. Wicklow

Acton's Pub, Brooklodge Hotel, Macreddin Village
Organic Lager, Organic Wheat Beer

The Porterhouse, Strand Road Bray
Lagers: Hersbrucker, Temple Bräu, Chiller. Ales: Porterhouse Red, Brainblasta. Stouts: Plain, Oyster Stout, Wrasslers XXXX.
Occasional specials.

iDrink I-deas

One idea should be to hold the pub Olympics.. set a series of challenges for our teams to compete in.. Now as per usual they but there own drink as its the price to pay for being and Olympian.

Of course the top ten lists( why ten , after ten we stop listening).. Top Beer, Top Pub..

I do think a lot of pop culture should be thrown in to the mix as its important to be entertaining.