The Crafty Fox

Berty

bigpink wrote: »

Is it going to be run by Whelans management/owners?

highlydebased wrote: »

More importantly, is it going to be IN/part of, Whelans?

Not at liberty to say. It's an "under the hat" right now thing I think. Oh the suspense.

bigpink

Must be Whelans so!Or they will try play a new owner angle

When is it opening?

eclectichoney

Boards beers to christen it?

source

eclectichoney wrote: »

Boards beers to christen it?

Any bloody excuse

Txatxu Urki

Good to hear that we might get our own craft beer pub. There is a bit of a culture emerging in Limerick for it but we are still behind Cork Dublin and Galway.

As for the beers themselves...

Trouble brewing dark arts porter is majestic..For a good hoppy ale try White Gypsys pale ale ( both available in Michael Flannerys in pint bottles).
Both above are Irish....for a good red ale I recommend Hobgoblin from a small brewery in Oxfordshire..this also available in a few pubs in Limerick, and I see it in Tesco Coonagh over the last few weeks.
However I personally feel the best Irish craft beer, by a long margin , is Metalman IPA, from Waterford.

Its a hard win to get people to switch over to craft beer drinking but i think its really worth it...Im totally won over in the last 2 years.

Berty

Txatxu Urki wrote: »

Its a hard win to get people to switch over to craft beer drinking but i think its really worth it...Im totally won over in the last 2 years.

Well if the show in The Strand Hotel tonight was anything to go by then there is some interest in craft beers in Limerick.

For those who didn't know, Fine Wines ran an event for Special Olympics and had many of the suppliers in the country sampling their wares for free. It was both Wine and Beer. It was from 4pm - 10pm and was moderately busy for their first ever event of its kind.

mgbgt1978

bazz26 wrote: »

It used to be called McDaids prior to Whelan's, on Denmark Street opposite St Michael's church.

Getting back to the "animal" theme it was The Cuckoo Box for a year or so in between......

jsd1004

Beer Baron wrote: »

Well if the show in The Strand Hotel tonight was anything to go by then there is some interest in craft beers in Limerick.

For those who didn't know, Fine Wines ran an event for Special Olympics and had many of the suppliers in the country sampling their wares for free. It was both Wine and Beer. It was from 4pm - 10pm and was moderately busy for their first ever event of its kind.

Yes for 10 euro in and drink as much as you want..i guess if it was advertised more it would close every bar in limerick down.

Berty

jsd1004 wrote: »

Yes for 10 euro in and drink as much as you want..i guess if it was advertised more it would close every bar in limerick down.

Some tables were giving 50ml servings whereas some of the wine tables were filling you up. Good night for some if you made the most of the drinking.

It was their first attempt but id say they will run it again after that

Van Occupanther

Any word on when this place is opening? Very excited about this, Limerick is long overdue a craft beer place and its great to hear the owners seem to be doing it right.

seachto7

don't the blind pig kind of do this? With the craft beers?

magma69

seachto7 wrote: »

don't the blind pig kind of do this? With the craft beers?

Yup. The only generic beer they do in there is Heineken and think they plan on losing that soon enough.

leakyboots

Was talking to one of the owners over the weekend, sounds like they're 'going all-in' on it.

Hopefully the clientèle will improve, that pub has always seemed to attract a so-so crowd for as long as I can remember.

Will definitely be paying a visit when it opens

Louche Lad

leakyboots wrote: »

Was talking to one of the owners over the weekend, sounds like they're 'going all-in' on it.

Hopefully the clientèle will improve, that pub has always seemed to attract a so-so crowd for as long as I can remember.

Will definitely be paying a visit when it opens

Me too.

So it's going to be in Whelan's, is it? I just hope it gets done right — from my experience of craft beer places in Dublin and London, they attract a different crowd from most places.

bigpink

Its a pity Whelans will be running it what a kip of pub knackerville and the guys running it far from nice

Louche Lad

Louche Lad wrote: »

Me too.

So it's going to be in Whelan's, is it? I just hope it gets done right — from my experience of craft beer places in Dublin and London, they attract a different crowd from most places.

Hmmm, my last post could be read wrong: the crowd at craft beer places isn't worse in any way to other places. Actually I prefer it personally. People travel some distance to craft beer places, and mostly aren't looking for sports bar/nightclub type places — they are there for the beer.

pappyodaniel

Is it open yet? I'm getting thirsty.

seachto7

Louche Lad wrote: »

Hmmm, my last post could be read wrong: the crowd at craft beer places isn't worse in any way to other places. Actually I prefer it personally. People travel some distance to craft beer places, and mostly aren't looking for sports bar/nightclub type places — they are there for the beer.

Everyone in every pub is there for the beer!:D So much so, they usually have 10 pints of it.

MilfordBud

Heard this is opening next Thursday. Can anyone confirm?

Berty

MilfordBud wrote: »

Heard this is opening next Thursday. Can anyone confirm?

Seems to be the plan on Facebook anyway.

source

MilfordBud wrote: »

Heard this is opening next Thursday. Can anyone confirm?

Work going on in there in the last week, the name Whelan's is down off the front, and passed workers there at 9 last night.

MilfordBud

source wrote: »

Work going on in there in the last week, the name Whelan's is down off the front, and passed workers there at 9 last night.

Good stuff. Hopefully it goes well now and they have a nice selection.

fredo1664

So I'm just back from the opening night.
There was a band playing (hard rock) which was quite entertaining in my opinion. You could get Blue Moon and some other stuff on draft, but I wasn't impressed with the selection. I went for a bottled Irish cider and paid more than 6 euro. ouch.
I'll try again though, because I'd really like a craft beer place.

Insect Overlord

fredo1664 wrote: »

So I'm just back from the opening night.
There was a band playing (hard rock) which was quite entertaining in my opinion. You could get Blue Moon and some other stuff on draft, but I wasn't impressed with the selection. I went for a bottled Irish cider and paid more than 6 euro. ouch.
I'll try again though, because I'd really like a craft beer place.

I was the opposite! 8 Degrees, Metalman, O'Hara's, Trouble Brewing and the Franciscan Well were all represented on the taps. Sierra Nevada wouldn't be my thing, but Blue Moon is alright too. Aspall Cyder is a winner every time, but I think that their most expensive tap.

It's impossible to judge the place fairly on opening night. They have a great selection of bottles too, but they're fairly pricey. The band was very entertaining but they were obviously trying to keep everyone happy instead of picking one sound/style and sticking to it. The ceiling just seemed too white. I'm not sure if the bar needs to be painted a different colour or if they need more posters/signs/memorabilia.

On first impressions, I'd say I still prefer the Blind Pig. I'll pop back in on Sunday to see what it's like without the crowds and the band though, to see it in more "normal" circumstances.

fredo1664

You're probably right, I'll have to go there when it's less crowded. As for the selection, for some reason I was expecting dozens and dozens of different bottled beers from around the world, all listed on a huge blackboard, as I've seen done in several places in Europe.
Will try again...

Berty

I was hanging off the edge of the bar and watching what was going out over the bar. At one stage we commented the Paulaner and Heineken Tap hadn't been touched but clearly a crowd came in and ordered 5 pints of Heineken.

As for the ceiling being white. I think the place needed to feel that much brighter though. The place was always dark and full of 18-21 year olds drinking muck so it's good the overall look has changed.

I liked last nights Bohemian crowd, exactly what the place is looking for.

Now to find those Chalkboards for Fredo for the Beer Lists. They are in there somewhere because I delivered them to them but in the last minutes of getting ready they seem to have been lost. The closest you get is the Erdinger Folders with the list of Bottled Beers.

Txatxu Urki

I was there for a few hours Friday evening and it was quite good. The tap selection is decent,they have some of the better Irish beers such as Metal man and dark arts porter. I was delighted to see Aspall cider there as this would be a nice change for Bulmers drinkers.

I did not look at the bottle selection but they do have a beer menu detailing all beers so you dont need to be looking into the fridges..

Overall good start and good to see it kicking off in limerick...hope it works well for the guys.. C U in there

fredo1664

I went there again last night. I have to say it was a way better experience than the opening night was!
I came early enough and it wasn't crowded at all, so I was able to actually see all the fridges. I also found out about the beer menu, which is what I was hoping for the first time.
The tap selection is good and I was able to try most of them in a small glass. I'm still not completely happy with the bottle selection. They have plenty of Irish, American, Scottish etc... beers, but where's my Czech beer???
Something I couldn't see on the opening night as well is how friendly and helpful the staff is.
The bottom line is I had too many tasty beers yesterday night

ben.schlomo

Went here lastnight as we were in Limerick for the night, liked the selection on tap, we stuck with Rebel Red all night which is damn nice. The decor is woeful, they should decide on a theme and stick to it, it looks like a mish mash of places at the moment and it also looks like a cheap/tacky casino type place from the outside, still though the beers good and relatively cheap so id be happy going there again.

eclectichoney

Great to see this place opening! What sort of prices are the draught beers? Would be interesting to compare with the craft beers pubs in Dublin where you can pay €6 for a pint of Galway hooker!

ben.schlomo

eclectichoney wrote: »

Great to see this place opening! What sort of prices are the draught beers? Would be interesting to compare with the craft beers pubs in Dublin where you can pay €6 for a pint of Galway hooker!

Majority are 4.80 to 5.00 with only one or two being more.

europa11

Tried a few samplers before settling with an Austrian pilsner, Fischer....€5 - pure, refreshing, tasty and strong enough . I'll be having more of that!

Have to agree the decor could do with an overhaul as soon as they're up and running....that white ceiling has to go .....all in time though, main thing is to keep the place going and +1 to the post looking for Czech Beers on tap.

Insect Overlord

europa11 wrote: »

Have to agree the decor could do with an overhaul as soon as they're up and running....that white ceiling has to go .....all in time though, main thing is to keep the place going and +1 to the post looking for Czech Beers on tap.

I was back in again on Sunday. I reckon the white ceiling isn't the problem after all, but rather the very bright bulbs above the bar! They could easily tone down the wattage there and save on the electricity bills too. :P

Berty

Fisher Helles is from the town of Erding in Bavaria in Germany just to be sure you know you drank. It's a sister product of Erdinger.

europa11

Beer Baron wrote: »

Fisher Helles is from the town of Erding in Bavaria in Germany just to be sure you know you drank. It's a sister product of Erdinger.

Thanks BB, they told me it was Austrian, but either way, tastes good.:D

bigpink

Went in for a drink,its still more or less Whelans.They even have all the the whelana s facebook pages changed over to crafty fox.Few of there rough clientele still around when we were leaving

BrendanD

Was there last night tried a few beers , staff and people at the bar very helpful and was given a few beers to sample before i bought.
All the beers i tried i liked also they have a nice cider on tap as well.
Not a lot in there we left about 1030 and there was only a handful in , best of luck to them hope they do well

bigpink

The house beer is suppose to be just Tuborg with a different name and higher price lol

ben.schlomo

Whats the house stout then? Murphys? Its only 4.10 but didnt get a chance to ask as they were fairly busy the night we went. Definitel;y too many lights in the place, need to sort out the floor, the windows, the walls and decor too, otherwise its a good spot.

Berty

I like the floor myself because its all different. What's up with the windows?

ben.schlomo

Beer Baron wrote: »

I like the floor myself because its all different. What's up with the windows?

The really cheap white look with blanked out windows, we walked past it during the day on Saturday before i knew what it was and just thought it looked dodge, blanked out windows are more the look for casinos or strip clubs and not for pubs inmy experience.

MikeyGorse

Anyone any update on how this place is doing?

sioda

Was in there Saturday night free pint one you had a match ticket good band prices are a bit hit and miss IMO

bigpink

They are using the old Whelan's facebook pages for facebook,they seem to be offering free drink all the time,not a bad thing I guess!

seachto7

bigpink wrote: »

They are using the old Whelan's facebook pages for facebook,they seem to be offering free drink all the time,not a bad thing I guess!

A good and bad thing

irishproduce

How are they offering free drink? Genuine question

leakyboots

Promo for their Oktoberfest

sioda

Give ticket stub get free pint simples

Insect Overlord

sioda wrote: »

Give ticket stub get free pint simples

And they're all well worth sampling!

Sgt Hartman

The Fischer Helles beer in there is my favourite with O'Hara's Pale Ale coming a close second. I love the way the sell the Fischer's in the chilled glass:)