Irish Craft Beer Festival 2016

me_irl

baron von something wrote: »

Was it not on Saturday and Sunday last year?

T'was! I was there the Saturday last year. Got in (and left) early though cos it got packed!

baron von something wrote: »

The guys are normally generous with the samples and even rarely take tokens anyway

To be fair, I didn't have the balls to ask for a sample and always handed over a token / was asked for one.

Lovely Bloke

balls?

irish_goat

Dungarvan Brewing Co specials.

Festival specials we'll be pouring for the weekend, alongside our regular range, are:
Rood Boy - a 5.9% Belgian Red Ale with Maple and Bacon
Allez Hop - a 6.2% Fruit Punch Pale Ale
Dark and Mild - a 3.8% Mild (on cask)
Also, we'll be shaking up some Beerinis at the bar - Blackberry Rock, Vanilla Stoutini and Chili, Lime, Lemongrass Beerini 🍸

me_irl

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

balls?

Yeah, the confidence. I mean, I'd like a sample but I'm afraid it would come out too disingenuous. Like, "giz a sample there bud...", or something!

Ronan|Raven

I have two tickets for tonight to give away, first to reply gets them.
i won them but due to an unexpected work trip out of Dublin I won't be able to make it.

hynesie08

Ronan|Raven wrote: »

I have two tickets for tonight to give away, first to reply gets them.
i won them but due to an unexpected work trip out of Dublin I won't be able to make it.

Reply.....

Lovely Bloke

me_irl wrote: »

Yeah, the confidence. I mean, I'd like a sample but I'm afraid it would come out too disingenuous. Like, "giz a sample there bud...", or something!

they honestly don't care, just walk up and say "can I try that please", they will give you some. Just don't take the mick at the same stall all night

Ronan|Raven

hynesie08 wrote: »

Reply.....

PM me your email address and I will send them on.

Lovely Bloke

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

Just don't take the mick at the same stall all night

Just on this point, I'm reminded of last year when it went around that if one was to approach the McGargles/Rye River stall and a certain person was on duty, then all one needed to do to receive copious free samples was to begin to slate the branding, marketing and core range of beers.

Had great fun with that one.

Lovely Bloke

plastic glasses this year?

The organisers really pulling this piss on this one.

turning into a joke of a "festival" imo.

Ronan|Raven

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

plastic glasses this year?

The organisers really pulling this piss on this one.

turning into a joke of a "festival" imo.

Seriously? For feck sake.

BaZmO*

Ah you're joking me?
So €15 in on Saturday with nothing to show for it, and €3 for a half. It's getting harder and harder to justify at this stage.

I'm really sitting on the fence for this one.

Lovely Bloke

I've already my tickets bought, unfortunately.

Also, my wife really wants to go, and we've gotten rid of the small one for the day and night.

I think I'll go in early on Saturday, do the rounds of the specials then feck off to a GBB bar for the evening.

Veloce

Ronan|Raven wrote: »

PM me your email address and I will send them on.

Darn! Was planning on heading after work!

cHaTbOx

Veloce wrote: »

Darn! Was planning on heading after work!

I have a spare ticket if you want it .

irish_goat

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

plastic glasses this year?

The organisers really pulling this piss on this one.

turning into a joke of a "festival" imo.

You sure? Website claims there is a free souvenir glass or cup included.

https://irishcraftbeerfestival.squarespace.com/buy-tickets

BaZmO*

irish_goat wrote: »

You sure? Website claims there is a free souvenir glass or cup included.

https://irishcraftbeerfestival.squarespace.com/buy-tickets

Well the "cup" bit would cover that statement.

grimm2005

cHaTbOx wrote: »

I have a spare ticket if you want it .

Would love this if it's still going? been humming and hawing myself all week about going as I love it and have been the past 2/3 years but with ticket price and the increase in token price I had pretty much decided to leave it. Would justify it with free admission and the fact it's a school night though cos I'd behave myself :pac:

irish_goat

BaZmO* wrote: »

Well the "cup" bit would cover that statement.

Yeah that bit worries me. Bit of a brass neck if they're claiming a plastic cup is a souvenir.

cHaTbOx

grimm2005 wrote: »

Would love this if it's still going? been humming and hawing myself all week about going as I love it and have been the past 2/3 years but with ticket price and the increase in token price I had pretty much decided to leave it. Would justify it with free admission and the fact it's a school night though cos I'd behave myself :pac:

That's sound I'll send you a pm .

schemingbohemia

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

plastic glasses this year?

The organisers really pulling this piss on this one.

turning into a joke of a "festival" imo.

Any basis for that claim?

matrim

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

plastic glasses this year?

The organisers really pulling this piss on this one.

turning into a joke of a "festival" imo.

If it is plastic is it the same kind as at the alltech. They aren't the worst but are nowhere near as nice as glass ones

madfcuker

schemingbohemia wrote: »

Any basis for that claim?

Wicklow Wolf Brewing put up a recent picture on Facebook and people seem to be holding plastic cups.

matrim

madfcuker wrote: »

Wicklow Wolf Brewing put up a recent picture on Facebook and people seem to be holding plastic cups.

Very hard to tell from that picture. They do seem to be frosted so are likely plastic but it's blurry and there is no close up

irish_goat

Photo on Toby's Cider looks like hard plastic cups.

Lovely Bloke

spose we'll know at 5

youcancallmeal

Lovely Bloke wrote: »

plastic glasses this year?

The organisers really pulling this piss on this one.

turning into a joke of a "festival" imo.

That's very disappointing to put it mildly. Would give it a miss altogether if I hadn't already bought my tickets and made plans

MonkstownHoop

They advertised the event using these, so I'll be expecting nothing less :-)

Ronan|Raven

Could do an Alan Partridge on it and rock up with yer own larger plate / glass

MonkstownHoop

Ronan|Raven wrote: »

Could do an Alan Partridge on it and rock up with yer own larger plate / glass

Was just thinking that, but my half pint one or full? ;-)

hynesie08

Anyone wants a free ticket for tonight gimme a shout, mate just pulled out.

L1011

An overly heavy backpack stowage at the one in March broke my glass afterwards, but between that and the plastic that'll never seen the light of day again I'm not sure which I'd prefer.

I should make it in on Saturday but the spiralling costs and having to go out with work tomorrow night are making me reconsider.

Lovely Bloke

hynesie08 wrote: »

Anyone wants a free ticket for tonight gimme a shout, mate just pulled out.

bus strike, dammit

BaZmO*

Yeah, definitely plastic.

Lovely Bloke

bastards

Blut2

Thats a nice design and all...but beer from a plastic cup just isn't the same. Doesn't taste half as nice.

ciaran76

Disappointing if they don't have glasses.

Sad I know but I like to look at the colour of beer. I think its a part of the tasting.

Won't be taking a plastic one home either.

cHaTbOx

White hag - white sow through coffee beans is amazing .

Kinegar - high glen sour is excellent

O haras cherry sour is awful and grapefruit IPA is so acidic but leann foileann cask aged is quite nice

There seems to be a nice flow to it all at the moment .

vicwatson

Elf and Safety init (load of balls)

ianthefox

cHaTbOx wrote: »

White hag - white sow through coffee beans is amazing .

Kinegar - high glen sour is excellent

O haras cherry sour is awful and grapefruit IPA is so acidic but leann foileann cask aged is quite nice

There seems to be a nice flow to it all at the moment .

Lovely, came on looking for recommendations. I think the cherry sour from independent is quite nice, though I'm fairly new to the sour game.

The experimental brew from the foxes rock lads is gorgeous, bourbon barrel aged chocolate stout.

But even better is the whiskey barrel aged Imperial Irish coffee stout from beaky dargle. 10% though.

East coast IPA from Trouble is yum. Aroma is unreal.

Girlfriend was very fond of Finn's Pale Ale from Reel Deel. She's a Mayo girl so there might be a bit of bias. It was very drinkable though.

Nice n relaxed but a good buzz today.

Would love to hear more recommendations!

hynesie08

The white sow coffee rocket is just happiness in a glass. Gonna try and avoid the imperials for an hour or so, I've got work tomorrow.

ianthefox

ianthefox wrote: »

Lovely, came on looking for recommendations. I think the cherry sour from independent is quite nice, though I'm fairly new to the sour game.

The experimental brew from the foxes rock lads is gorgeous, bourbon barrel aged chocolate stout.

But even better is the whiskey barrel aged Imperial Irish coffee stout from beaky dargle. 10% though.

East coast IPA from Trouble is yum. Aroma is unreal.

Girlfriend was very fond of Finn's Pale Ale from Reel Deel. She's a Mayo girl so there might be a bit of bias. It was very drinkable though.

Nice n relaxed but a good buzz today.

Would love to hear more recommendations!

Had the High Glen Sour. Yum.

ianthefox

Quoting myself instead of cHaTbOx. That'd be the Imperial.

jsa112

What are beavertown and odells offering?

cHaTbOx

IPA from independent was good . Cherry sour was ok but maybe I am put off by o haras attempt . 8 degrees supernova DIPA is grand but the IPA galaxy is very nice . Wicklow pineapple gose has potential but I think it a little mild . Same thing with metalman raspberry chill sour . I'd say both would be lovely if we got the summers we hope for

ianthefox

cHaTbOx wrote: »

IPA from independent was good . Cherry sour was ok but maybe I am put off by o haras attempt . 8 degrees supernova DIPA is grand but the IPA galaxy is very nice . Wicklow pineapple gose has potential but I think it a little mild . Same thing with metalman raspberry chill sour . I'd say both would be lovely if we got the summers we hope for

Yeah, thought Metalman's chilli raspberry was fairly tame alright. I hear a name like that and I'm just expecting more. Had the yellowbelly Strawberry sour recently and that thing was ridiculously delicious. Feel like I'm measuring fruity sours against it now. And Metalman came up short!

slayerking

Some lovely ones knocking around. Troubles East and west coast IPAs are both lovely, (love the east). Their berliner weisse is Delish also. Beavertown spresso is unreal too. Some class ones. Bottom line..... mad expensive beers in plastic cups. Pure annoying beer tokens aswell. Tiny little yokes. I look forward to this event every year, but I'm honestly disappointed this year.

matrim

slayerking wrote: »

Some lovely ones knocking around. Troubles East and west coast IPAs are both lovely, (love the east). Their berliner weisse is Delish also. Beavertown spresso is unreal too. Some class ones. Bottom line..... mad expensive beers in plastic cups. Pure annoying beer tokens aswell. Tiny little yokes. I look forward to this event every year, but I'm honestly disappointed this year.

The beer tokens I agree with, they are annoying fiddly things

But i disagree that it's mad expensive. I get beers by halves and normally have a taste or two first so by the time I get a half for €3 I'm actually at about 2/3.
It is more expensive than other years but if I had the same beers in a bar I would pay as much or more

slayerking

matrim wrote: »

The beer tokens I agree with, they are annoying fiddly things

But i disagree that it's mad expensive. I get beers by halves and normally have a taste or two first so by the time I get a half for €3 I'm actually at about 2/3.
It is more expensive than other years but if I had the same beers in a bar I would pay as much or more

Fair enough, but you don't pay an entrance fee into a bar... Or do you? (free ticket or no free ticket). I've had generous tastes aswell, which is why I mentioned the amazing breweries we have. Disguard that and all you have is mad expensive pints in plastic cups with an entrance fee.

BaZmO*

matrim wrote: »

The beer tokens I agree with, they are annoying fiddly things

But i disagree that it's mad expensive. I get beers by halves and normally have a taste or two first so by the time I get a half for €3 I'm actually at about 2/3.
It is more expensive than other years but if I had the same beers in a bar I would pay as much or more

I suppose that's fair enough if you were there on a not so busy day, but to be wedged liked sardines, like it's become, especially on a Saturday, seems like a less enjoyable experience.

I often pay what others may see as ridiculous prices for bottled beers so I don't necessarily see the beer tokens as being too expensive. The entry fee and the "souvenir glass", along with the overcrowding is making it a really hard sell for me this year.

All that said, if it's getting so busy each year they're obviously doing something right. Maybe it's time for some competition?