TOPIC:

I spent a few nights in Naas recently for work. I asked what craft beer was in stock when in the Osprey Hotel, I was offered Peroni, Sol, Corona and Desperados. I settled on a Smithwicks PA.

In Haydens they had Metalman Chameleon and a dry Howling Gale tap. They also had bottles and a tap for McGargles. I had a Metalman. Bar man was good and was serving a steady trickle of afterwork crowd, I was the only one not drinking the usual suspects.

Moved on to Kavanaghs. A craft beer shelf had some Brewdogs, O'Haras Stout and some Trouble Brewing. I had a Punk IPA. Creans and McGargles on tap and "a lovely soft red from Skibereen", Rebel Red. No Trouble Brewing on tap, when I asked why no TB on tap he said it doesn't sell and the McGargles was local. To be fair he was enthusiastic about the beers and served up a taster of McGargles, not nice.

Overall disappointed with the lack of choice in a busy, cosmopolitan town so close to Dublin. However I would go back to both pubs as they were spotless clean and had a nice atmosphere.

I live in Naas and have been trying for years to encourage the pubs there to branch out a bit. There's not much awareness in the locality that Trouble are just down the road.

I live in Naas also, the best places in Naas are actually villages just outside, Sallins and Johnstown. Lock 13 SalLins, JuJu in Johnstown, both have good selection of bottled beers, Lock 13 has better craft taps though.

Its a lot better than a year or two ago, but nowhere near Dublin or Cork. The Carry Out beside Kavannaghs is getting better all the time too, now has very good selection of Crafts, and the manager is really enthusiastic also.
The only way is up..
Aaron