Last weekend saw the return of the Belfast Craft Beer Festival at Custom House Square and in an unusual twist of good fortune, the sun was out for the two-day open-air event. Praise be. Quickly, to the bar before the clouds gather and the heavens open. A gin bar was prominent for the first time…… Continue reading Festival Gose Well
Fans of Hillstown Brewery should be pleased to know that Nigel, Jonny and Ali have had another man/brewery join the team. Barrahooley’s one-man-band Sam Birkett has left behind his Martinstown brewing kit and full time job in Belfast and taken the plunge to join the Hillstown gang after reading a tweet! The affable Scotsman explained…… Continue reading Barrahooley Sam’s Yer Man at Hillstown
I would imagine that Northern Ireland’s beer scene has never experienced the like of it before. Five years ago we had 5 micro/nanobreweries. At the start of 2015 we had the impressive total of 15 breweries selling beer. Now at the end of the year that stands at 26. Eleven have appeared in the past…… Continue reading 2015’s New Brewers
A new brewery has emerged from the Glens of Antrim. No, not Glens of Antrim Ale, the other one. “Eh?” Yup, that was also my reaction when I became aware of it. Barrahooley Brewery based just outside the small village of Martinstown has been flying so low under the radar it was in danger of…… Continue reading A County Antrim Hooley with a Kiwi
Quare Swally 