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Nancy brew mysteries
It had been almost eight years since I was last in France, and from a beer perspective, it was a very different France back in 2015. One of the things I learned when spending a few days there last...
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Les bars et les boires
On my brief visit to Nancy last month there was a small amount of pubbing done when there was time. On night one, Reuben brought us to a fun little basement metal bar with the unlikely name of Brooklyn...
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From salon to saloon
Each year, the city of Nancy hosts a brewing trade show called Le Salon du Brasseur. Every machine, ingredient and packaging format available to the industry is showcased here, with suppliers from far...
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To travel in hope
Wrapping up this week's posts from eastern France, a few final odds, sods and waybeers.Did you know that France's national brewing museum is at Saint Nicolas de Port, just outside Nancy? It's housed in...
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Reintroductions
In late October, on a cool and clear Saturday afternoon, I found myself in Brussels for the third time this year. Not that I'm complaining. When a man is tired of Brussels he is tired of beer. Or...
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Play your cards right
With the judging done after day one of the 2023 Brussels Beer Challenge, a visit to a local brewery was scheduled. I've had a handful of beers from Turnhout's Het Nest in the past and, to be brutally...
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Exit by the Abbey
Finishing up this week of posts from east Flanders with a bit of history. I, with my fellow Brussels Beer Challenge judges, found myself at Merksplas-Kolonie on a dreary Monday afternoon. Founded in...
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Leaps and boundaries
As chairman of Beoir, I get first call on where the AGM should be. This year, the place that had been niggling my need-to-visit sense, was Belfast. It has developed its brewery-based beer scene quite...
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What goes around comes around
In late 2012, about a month before the announcement that the brewery had been sold to Molson Coors, Franciscan Well released an extra stout aged in Jameson barrels. It was packaged in a one litre...
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Here for the Sesh
Yes, it has taken an embarrassingly long time for me to get round to writing about these, but if there's ever a time of year where self-consciously low ABV beer is a good idea, this is it.These are the...
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On the pull
Last month, Smiddy's in Mullingar played host to its first Cask Beer Festival, from the organiser of its Wild Beer Festival. Trouble, Third Barrel, Land & Labour, Wide Street, Ballykilcavan,...
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Oh crêpe
I'm told that Telenn Du is an extremely commonplace beer in Brittany. This particular bottle was suitcased over to me by the sister earlier this year."Bière au blé noir" is all the description the...
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From the beer aisle
I can never resist an unfamiliar supermarket beer, regardless of how unappealing the style, presentation or suspiciously-low price is. I'm not expecting much from today's pair, though they absolutely...
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Spinning on the spot
A deep breath before we get into the selection popped out by DOT Brew in recent months, or at least the ones that have come my way.They have continued their range of Aldi exclusives, and that's where...
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Oldies but goodies?
I often go rummaging in the virtual bargain bin at Craft Central. There's a lot of freshness-required beers in there, which I avoid, but when something is strong and dark and looks good value I'll...
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The Twelve Brewers of Christmas 1: Larkins
It's a couple of years since I've done this, but the beer fridge was sufficiently stocked this year to revive the tradition. Twelve blog posts, each featuring a different Irish brewer, and the autumn...
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The Twelve Brewers of Christmas 2: The White Hag
Day two of #TTBoC23 brings us to The White Hag.Hanging around like a remnant of the Halloween decorations in December is Undead Inside, released in early October and languishing in my beer fridge since...
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The Twelve Brewers of Christmas 3: Rye River
The three beers for day 3 come from Rye River, continuing their canned series of limited editions, plus a fancy seasonal bottle.Jandal Joose is possibly the most unappetising name imaginable for a...
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The Twelve Brewers of Christmas 4: Outer Place
A quick one-two from the haze merchants of Outer Place Brewing, a client of Lineman.First it's Sacred Cycles, very much in their wheelhouse as a hazy IPA of 6.6% ABV. It's hopped with El Dorado, Strata...
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The Twelve Brewers of Christmas 5: Lough Gill
The archaeologically themed series of barrel-aged imperial stouts from Lough Gill is back for another year, with a few re-runs and three brand new cans.The babby of the set is Tara, at a mere 12.5%...
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