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Earlier today (while reviewing Danny Byrnes) I said that I had been in the Old Stand a while back as their off-license has some very interesting beers but they had no craft brew in the bar. Well I am just back from there now. My wife arrived in on the train and I had forgot her phone so could not tell me she had arrived so I after calling me on a payphone I told her to go to the stand around the corner and get a drink while she waited.

Anyway I arrived in and it was as lovely as I remember it. The first thing I noticed was all the whiskey, jaysus they have a massive range of whiskey. Secondly there was a dark fridge with the light off and it obviously had beer I did not recognise. The barman obviously guess I did not want the usual crap so told me the beer I want is down the other end of the bar.
Down there I found Sam Adams, Abbots Ale, Ruddles, Tooheys, Chapmans and a coopers. I had a ruddles which I will blog about tomorrow later.
Afterwards I asked to take a look at the dark fridge (its broken) and there was a massive range in there I have never seen. They had beer I have not even seen at the Bull & Castle! Two that spring to mind are Broughton and also Ayinger. When I asked about Irish craft beer he said they sometimes have the carlow stuff in. I asked about Galway hooker and he certainly knows about it so it would be great if they stocked it in the future.
While there the black cat jumped down from where he was hiding and detecting a cat lover he jumped on to my lap. I was sitting at the bar on a bar stool so it was a good jump.

Fabulous pub and I will need to get a taxi there some weekend. The bartender decided to pour me a full shot of absinthe too of which I just tried a sip. One sip left a warm feeling all over. To work off any effect my pint had I went to an Italian restaurant down the street.

Anyway on the way back to the car I popped in to the old stand off license. They had restocked the craft beer area since I was last there and had lots of stuff. I bought a crap load of it. I spent about €92 or so. I also got 3 box sets which include a glass. Some of the beer is a little more than it should be but there is no competition in Mullingar for craft beer.
[img:5msku2fr]http://standard-nerds.com/beer/SDC10404%20(Medium).JPG[/img:5msku2fr]

Whenever I'm in Mullingar I always tip in to the Old Stand for a hand full of bottles. Definately the best beer off licence in the midlands IMO. Fairly good selection and some nice glass sets.

I was never in the bar part though, sounds interesting. The only problem I have noticed is that the dates on the beer can be a little out, but sher date is only a number!!!! <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: --> I dont know if they do well and as a result I think the beers arnt shifting very fast!!

They dont really advertise that they have a good world beers section which I dont get. Like a sign or a few bottles (empty ones, precious beer <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> ) in the window would do!! I discovered it by chance one day!

They also have some really expensive whiskeys, think I remember one Whiskey box set with crystal with a price tag of 3000 euro or maybe 5000, cant remember!!

Some very expensive Whiskey in the off license yes. That was the first thing I noticed when I went in the first time in February. I wrote about it here.[/url:2pqkipuc]

You are right though, they should really advertise these beers in the bar. They should especially get the Irish craft beers in and advertise them and try and get people behind the craft breweries.

That'a a fine selection of beer you got!!!!!

I quire like the Broughtons beers the Old Jock and Exciseman's 80/- are both very nice- the Bierhaus here in COrk had them some time back and they have some of the Ayinger beers all the time - love the Celebrator and the Ur weiss. I woudlimagien the B&C have them as well. Happy drinking!!!!

If you frqquent a pub a bit why not perhaps ask the bar owner to stock Irish craft beers. If you only go in very occasionally you cnanot expect the bar to have drinks if there is not a demand for them Any good bar owner worth his salt should consider ruquests from regular customers re different beers.

If you don't try ........

Well I certainly got talking a little to the one guy behind the bar. I am not sure if he was a manager or just a barman. Will see the next time. I might get a cab in at the weekend and see if I can get myself known. That guy was very easy to talk to so if he was in a position of power then it might be worthwhile.