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Lennox's certainly finished off a brilliant evening. My chicken drumsticks had a little more black bits than I'm used to but, so long as I didn't look at them they tasted great. The sight of Tube trying to climb up onto the 5 foot high bar stools provided ample distraction.

Twas Lennox's on McCurtain St, Barrack St is way over the other side so as good as the real McCoy is, the McCurtain st one would do just fine on the way home!

Brewery tour given by Cork's answer to Pat Spillane was very informative also, he'd put Roy Keane* to shame for his Corkness <!-- s:mrgreen: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_mrgreen.gif" alt="" title="Mr. Green" /><!-- s:mrgreen: -->

*I'm in exile far too long that I do be making statements like that!!!

Beer of the weekend for me was the Shandon Stout - not part of the festival I know but it was a revelation for me. Fantastic stout..

Noteworthy mentions for Dungarvan Oatmeal Stout and the White Oak Stout/Ale.

8 Degrees Porter was poor, lacked pretty much everything I love about the bottled version.

Also the pale ales on offer seemed to have almost identical hop profiles. Cascade, Cascade and more Cascade. Lovely smell n all

I thought it was a great day. Not just for the beer, but also for meeting so many people. Beoir was certainly well represented, and there was a very frindly atmosphere, with a lot of mingling and introducing going on. The weather was damp, but there was a great buzz around the place, even early on when it was quieter.

I don't know how I missed the cask hopped Howling Gale Pale ale. Might have been something to do with the draft pint of it I had at the beerhall at lunch time, which was decent, but it just fell off my radar somehow, so silly me. I enjoyed the Barrellhead and Purgatory as always, but the Dungarvan Coffee and Oatmeal stout was my favourite on the day. It's usually a beer that I would just have one of, but I stuck on it towards the end of the day. I think there seems to be more coffee to it than I remember in the past. I couldn't finish my glass of Red Oak from White Gypsy, after it starting off interesting, and really wanted to like the Messrs Pale Ale, but there was an aftertaste right at the end of the hops, that I recognise and treat as a serious fault when I get it in my own beer. Not sure if it was to do with the hopping or something else, but would love to know what it was, so that I can try and avoid it in my very hoppy beers. It might be cattiness or grassiness, i don't know, but definitely a fault in my opinion.

I was a bit dissapointed that the Metalman was drank on the Friday, and was then being held back for the Sunday crowd, as had been looking forward to it.

I though there was a solid offering of ales, but did think many of the ales that were being served with a picnic tap type thing, would really have benefitted from being pulled through a hand pump/beer engine, but I guess there was more beer than pumps. I noticed the same thing last year, and think it takes away a bit from some of the offerings, as would love the purgatory through the beer engine.

I thought the tour was also very informative and down to earth. I think it was actually the first time I have been on it, even though I've been there many times when they have been on.

I do have some pictures. Mostly of the tour, and will post them up when I get a chance.

I hope Paul(Sky Dog) got up Wellington Road okay with his bag of malt, as wouldn't fancy it myself with, with a belly full of ale.

I was a rock of sense and got my pre-arranged spin home at 10.30, in order to avoid the €30 taxi. I also managed to stay of the smokes for the day, so very pleased with that.

All in all a great day.

I enjoyed the darker beers. Coffee & Oatmeal, Dark Arts (a beer that seems designed for cask I think)and Celebration Stout. I was a bit disappointed in the pale ales none of them seemed as hoppy as last year, maybe I am just more used to hoppiness now.
Great to meet some of the lads again and make some new friends. I should have stayed in the Abbots with Tube and Dempsey the offerings downtown were very poor compared to there.
Went into the Bru bar on MacCurtain Street yesterday for a cure and had some White Gypsy Amber Ale on draught. Lovely beer I love that hint of highland toffee it has. The co-owner, Ash, seems a nice guy too he told us he used to be the brewer for Kinsale Lager and insisted we try a kiwi beer, Macs Gold, on him. Its a handy spot if you want a decent beer near the bus or rail stations

The bar was moved to the cave which I think is a better location.

Peter doing the tour. Think this was his nittogeanator