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I thought 2.50 was a fair price. They were trying to make beer look classy to the organic coffee enemas crowd and one way to do that is to make things expensive.

If beers were 1.50 you would be fishing people out of the pond every half hour. Which would not help the craft beer is not just for drunks message.

We went in early sunday morning. The brewers had all been out the night before and were looking kinda tired <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) --> I went off to get some food but not before a quick half of Clothworthy Dobbin, I cycled there so kinda felt like I deserved it. It got quite busy by sunday evening.

I didn't think the price was too high. The event was more about tasting the stuff so it shouldn't have been too expensive. It's not easy to be a micro in Ireland. One of the things about a small scale operation is that you have to charge a little more since everything costs more as you can't buy in the bulk the big guys can. As a customer you can choose to buy the cheaper stuff from the big guys or to pay a bit more and support the micro. You might have to drink a bit less but you make up for that in quality.

And yes the cask Carlow celebration stout was lovely. I'm looking forward to seeing what White Gypsy beer is like. The brewer Cuilan Loughnane had some oak casks which he's hoping to age some beer in. It sounds like it should be a very interesting brew.

I thought that 2.50 was reasonalbe for a glass, but I can see the point that a fiver for a pint is a bit much when you're looking at fancy knacker drinking. Mayhap 2 euro a glass is where it should be at.
The 2 euro for a glass [b:2ntvty3e]was[/b:2ntvty3e] a rip off <!-- s:( --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_sad.gif" alt="" title="Sad" /><!-- s:( -->, and the hilden boys selling their 500ml bottles at 4 euro a pop was a bit cheeky.
However, there were bargains to be had if you looked for them - 750ml of celebration for a fiver was a bargain, and the 4 330's for 6 quid (all O'Haras) is as good or better than you'll get in most off-licences. For me the great value was at the Kilbeggan stand; having dismissed the standard Kilbeggan & Tyrconnal, I was delighted to find that both their 15 year olds were fantsatic, and much better value for money than the offies <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

Looked good. And some great news from it as well. Though yet again I missed cask MM Imperial <!-- s:x --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mad.gif" alt="" title="Mad" /><!-- s:x -->

I see there was a Barney's Brew tap at the Hilden stall. Anyone try it? One of my favourite Irish beers, that. I was a little disappointed with Titanic Quarter, though it is the second best example of the Irish Pale Ale style <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt="" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P -->

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:110p34fc wrote: Looked good. And some great news from it as well. Though yet again I missed cask MM Imperial <!-- s:x --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mad.gif" alt="" title="Mad" /><!-- s:x -->[/quote:110p34fc] I had a glass & it was fantastic - very strong smoky flavour - deffo not a session drink but no harm in that! Yerman in the munster shirt was saying it was the last cask and after the weekend Imperial will be no more... until the next one, that is (he was saying they were thinking of doing another, with a bit less smokiness)

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:110p34fc wrote: I see there was a Barney's Brew tap at the Hilden stall. Anyone try it? One of my favourite Irish beers, that[/quote:110p34fc]Yep - tis georgeous - I was really disappointed they didnt have it in bottles (havent tried any of the 4 hildens I brought home)

a bit less smokiness would definately improve the MM Imperial I think