2016’s first major gathering of the beery clans takes place from February 5-7 when the Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair returns to the Dublin Convention Centre.

MC-ed by 2fm’s Rick O’Shea (pictured above, at left, with Lexington Brewing's Conor Farrell), the event will once again see gold, silver and bronze gongs doled out as part of the Dublin Craft Beer Cup; an attempt will be made at 5.30pm on the Friday to break the current Guinness World Record for the Largest Beer Tasting, set in Mexico where 714 people simultaneously said “Salud!”; Six Nations rugby action will be aired live on three of the biggest screens Dublin has ever seen, and the likes of the Camembert Quartet, Pump Up The Jam, We Banjo 3 and Booka Brass Band will provide the accompanying tuneage.
It’s a cosmopolitan affair with such celebrated Irish breweries as Kinnegar, 8 Degrees, Black Donkey, Killarney, Mont, N17, Jack Cody’s, Rye River, Independent, O’Hara’s, St. Mel’s, The Porterhouse, Trouble, White Water, Wicklow, Wicklow Wolf and White Hag rubbing taps and bottles with the likes of cult English favourites Redwell, award-winning Welsh micro Big Hand, and that most holy of Spanish triumvirates, Lo Gambusí, Rosita and Badúm.
The event hosts are Alltech’s Lexington Brewing & Distillery Company who, along with their Kentucky headquarters, now have a wonderful, purpose-built facility in the St. James’ area of Dublin.
There will also be some cracking cider producers (Dan Kelly, Lefevre, Orpens, Long Meadow, MacIvors), and distilleries (Blackwater, Boann, Lexington, St. Patrick’s, The Porterhouse) showcasing their respective wares.
With the likes of the Dublin Cookie Company, La Bucca, O’Donnell’s Crisps, Sheridan’s Cheese, Skoff Pies, SuSo Crepés and The Bretzel Bakery providing the equally quality soakage, it promises to be another unmissable three days which, natch, Hot Flavours will be reporting extensively from.
Book tickets, which start at €15, at eu.alltechbrewsandfood.com and find out how you can win a pair at hotpress.com