Irish beer

[Pudge72]

Hello all and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've been curious, while having a couple of Smithwick's and Kilkenny's over the past couple of days, here in Ontario we really only have the Diageo group of Irish beers (Harp, Kilkenny, Smithwick, Guinness...yes I know that it is all waaaay better on tap in Ireland than what comes out of taps over here) available to us (that I know of). What are some other Irish breweries to be on the lookout for? Is there much of a craft beer industry in Ireland (as there is in the US, and as is in development in Canada)?

Any and all feedback and info is greatly appreciated! Will likely fill my evening with a Kilkenny, and pours from my bottles of Writers Tears and/or Redbreast 12...been loving them both!

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Happy St. Patricks day.

Sadly Guinness/Diageo and Heineken dominate the market. Diageo have closed a few breweries like Phoenix in Waterford. Heineken may do the same to Beamish in time.
There has been a few craft breweries in the last few years. I think O'Haras is available in some places but not sure. I know there's one called Killians for George Letts & co. but I can assure you it's not made by them in Enniscorthy nor is Wexford Cream ale made here.

The future is looking good for the craft beer industry all the same.

[DavidH]

Craft beer is becoming quite a thing in Ireland now with dozens of micro-breweries. I doubt much gets outside the country but Coors bought Franciscan Well not so long ago so perhaps that will get exported. O'Hara's is a big enough operation to export. I tried their whiskey cask-matured barley wine today. I don't actually drink beer but I quite enjoyed it.

[johnnywhiskey]

I'd really be interested in finding out a few craft breweries next time I'm in Dublin. There's a positive flood of them in England at the moment. And so many delicious offerings.

[Good Whiskey Hunting]

Hi Johnny,
If you try the Beoir webpage they have lots of info on Craft beers. The society are doing a tasting this month.

We write more about distilleries here then breweries. I believe they go hand in hand as do most members and enthusiasts. I would recommend our facebook page too, as well as twitter.

All links are underlined to save you searching.

Sláinte,

Willie

[johnnywhiskey]

That's really good to know. THanks for the info (ps - I'm still a big whiskey drinker!)