Don't worry be hoppy

The many success stories include Franciscan Well, the Cork brewery that’s been fighting the good fight for the past 14 years and, thanks to a major new contract with an American importer, is poised for a 1,000% increase in output over the next 12 months.
While this will involve the building of a new brewery somewhere in the People’s Republic, the flagship Franciscan Well brewpub will still be on The Mall where you can sample their full-range of tipples including Friar Weisse, Blarney Blonde, Rebel Red, Rebel Lager, Shandon Stout and Shandon Export, which was recently adjudged to be ‘Best Dry Stout in Europe’ at the World Beer Awards.
Increasingly this year, you’ve been able to find the Franciscan Well’s fine beers in like-minded pubs and off-licences nationwide – something that will become even more common in 2013 as they go from micro- to macro-brewery. From October 26 to 28, you’ll be able to enjoy their annual October Beer Festival, admission to which is free. (The Mall, Cork. Tel: (021) 421 0130, franciscanwellbrewery.com).
Not only is it one of the capital’s oldest bars – thirsts have been quenched there since the 1830s – but Messrs. Maguire (Burgh Quay, Dublin 2. Tel: (01) 670 5777, messrsmaguire.ie) is also the only Dublin gastropub with its own brewery. From its two beautiful copper vessels spring a Haus Lager, Rusty Red Ale, Plain Stout, Weiss Beer and American Pale Ale, which have won numerous awards and are the perfect accompaniment to their classic Dublin coddle, bacon & cabbage and – be still our beating hearts! – beef & stout pie.
If the agony of choice is just too much, try the great value tasting tray, which includes samples of all their beers.
Messrs. Maguire are equally as serious about their whiskey, with Kilbeggan, Greenore Single Grain and Connemara Peated Single Malt top of the Hot Press ‘recommended’ list.
Forget mince pies ‘n’ mistletoe, the reason Team Hot Press is counting the days to Christmas is the return of Dungarvan Brewing Company’s Coffee & Oatmeal Stout, a 4.5% ABV seasonal sipper guaranteed to warm even the coldest of winter cockles.
The DBC aren’t just for Xmas though, with their bottle-conditioned Black Rock Irish Stout, Copper Coast Red Ale and Helvick Gold Blonde Ale available all year round in not only bars and offies, but also multiples like Supervalu who’ve acknowledged the huge demand that exists for craft beers.
They’re a fixture on many a restaurant drinks menu too, with The Tannery’s Paul Flynn and Fishy Fishy’s Martin Shanahan among their celebrity chef admirers.
This month finds them unveiling their new look branding, labels and dungarvanbrewingcompany.com website.
“Since we launched the brewery in early 2010 there has been an enormous change in the market and perception of craft beer in Ireland, along with a huge growth in the range of bottled Irish craft beers available,” reflects Marketing Director Claire Dalton. “Our initial focus was to have a traditional, ‘safe’ identity that people would trust. Because of the growth in the market we felt that the time is now right to bring the brand on to the next level both in terms of identity and design; retaining our identity while creating a label that we feel will have more appeal to craft beer drinkers.”
If awards were doled out for services to artisan brewing – now, there’s an idea! – definitely thanking Mum, Dad and God would be Jason O’Connell and Niall Walsh, the team behind the Cottage Bar, the Oslo and the Salt House in Galway, and Dublin’s equally holy Against The Grain, Black Sheep and Brew Dock triumvirate of pubs.
Along with a comprehensive selection of Irish and international tipples, the aforementioned all serve great pub grub with the crispy buttermilk battered chicken, beef & ale stew, falafel wrap and fresh cut chunky chips providing the fuel for many a Hot Press night out.
Even more importantly, they’ve set up their own Bay Brewery micro whose Gold, Devon Dumpling, Best, Topsail and Stormy Port have all deservedly picked up awards. They’re also big into their seasonal brews with Spooky Ale (October 22 – November 2); Jingle Ale (November 12 – December 28) and Bays 2013 (December 17 – February 1) all well worth a quaff.
The same love is invested into Windfall, a 4.7% ABV premium sparking cider, which is available both in bottles and on draught (winefoodbeer.com).
The chances of Cam, an Australian, and Scott, a Kiwi, ending up in Mitchelstown, Co. Cork together were fairly slim, but thank goodness they did or otherwise the beer world would have been deprived of the very fine Eight Degrees Brewing (eightdegrees.ie). Committed to making modern interpretations of traditional Irish beers, their Howling Gale Ale, Knockmealdown Porter, Sunburnt Irish Red and Barefoot Bohemian Pilsner – great names! – have proved so popular that they’ve recently made it on to the shelves at Tesco.
They won more plaudits last month with their limited-edition 6.4% ABV Marzen-style Ochtober Fest lager, and over the next few weeks will be unleashing the latest batch of A Winter’s Ale, a 7.5% ABV orange, cloves and star anise Christmas seasonal, which Team HP can’t recommend too highly.
Proudly flying the flag for craft brews – and live music!– in Roscommon Town is JJ Harlow’s, a wonderful old school bar on Market Square that for the past two years has been run by Caitlín McConn and Brian Mugan.
“Yes, it was our second birthday the other day,” Brian says. “We’ve lots of Irish craft beers like Galway Hooker, Eight Degrees, O’Hara’s and The Porterhouse bottles; English ale’s on cask including the Fuller’s range; and a lot of Belgian, Czech, German and other international beers. We’ve put new piping in, so we’ll be adding more Irish draught beers in the coming months. Some people were sceptical at first, but we really are in the middle of an Irish brewing revolution.”
Saturday nights at JJ’s are devoted to rock ‘n’ roll with The Calvinists, Barley Mob and Jukebox Gypsy all attracting big crowds this year, and Túcan among the bands who’ll be playing in the run-up to Christmas – see the bar’s Facebook page for details.
“There’s huge enthusiasm locally for the gigs,” Brian resumes. “We put a really good PA and lights in and have the well-known Mullingar promoter Dave McGlynn booking for us, so it’s a nice place for bands to play. We’re also jammed on Sunday afternoons for our trad and bluegrass sessions.”
With its snugs and open fire area, it’s the perfect place to sup a pint, watch a match, display your pool and darts prowess, and generally kick back with like-minded beer connoisseurs.