Ireland   

reland is suddenly, after many years of thinking about it, in the throes of a craft beer revolution.  Okay, maybe revolution is a touch strong for five new micros, but suddenly it seems as if the country, and Dublin in particular, has woken up to what the rest of Europe has known for a long time; craft beer tastes better than multinational shite!  There are now well over a dozen bars in Dublin where you'll find craft beer and, even more impressively, a growing number who actively specialise in Irish craft beer from the growing number of micro-brewers around the country; it's not just Galway Hooker now, you know!  See my latest Dublin gen here and seriously consider visiting...

Dublin's Messrs Maguire brewpub is now brewing again (the standard beers are from White Gypsy in Templemore, specials in the new downstairs bar are from the brewpub) and, although they don't brew on-site any more, Porterhouse beers (their website says they are "aided by the legendary Brendan Dobbin who, when not brewing, grows bananas in West Cork") are still excellent and available at their four pubs but it's the new wave of bars which are the most exciting, Bull & Castle, L Mulligan, Against the Grain, M J O'Neill, O'Byrnes... We're visiting in February 2011 so will provide full details then, but for now you'll have to look at my Google map here.

The rest of Ireland is also slowly waking up to craft beer, largely thanks to the splendid efforts of Galway Hooker.  Cork has the laid-back and sociable Franciscan Well and the superb Bierhaus bar.

My Cork report is here...

See Herbal's Irish article here and my 2006 Dublin trip here.  Also, Belfast 2005 is here, although I know it's not part of Ireland...