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This thread is provided to discuss Noby's article - Franciscan Well EasterFest, 7-8 April 2007[/url:27epw6t6]

Good article - I think it sums up our experience on the day, maybe Thom might have more to add as a later arrival. We were well into the spirit of the festival already when he arrived with reinforcements <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

It was good to meet some of the brewers behind the beers (Franciscan Well included) and to meet up with other forum members.

I enjoyed their Oktoberfest but for me this one beats it hands down, due in no small part to the breweries themselves having a presence. Definitely one for your diary.

Not wanting to be too negative on any brewery that turned out, but when you see the range of beers Hilden had, and Carlow's cc stout special, I was disappointed in Porterhouse. Bringing their plain and lager was playing it really safe. Even the TSB would have been enough for me to visit their stall.

Rebel was right, the earlier you arrive the better. It really did start to fill by five. We we're really at our leisure at the start of the day.

This struck me too. Sending two of their blandest beers to the festival really gave the impression that they were just paying lip service. Maybe they feel they don't need this kind of event? If so that's a shame as I thought there was a real community feel among the breweries there. Hats off to the Well for being positive enough to hold the festival.

The Hilden festival might be a nice one to try alright.

This is especially puzzling as they are serving their excellent Chocolate Stout at the moment. I would have thought they would be better off brining that and TSB, rather than the two middle of the road beers they did.

[quote:1wpbdfyc]Maybe they feel they don't need this kind of event?[/quote:1wpbdfyc]

If that were the case, why bother going at all?

Nice article. It reflects the easy going nature of the day very well.

I hung aroung til closing, bending the ear of most of the brewers. The most interesting thing I learned was that the Messrs Maguire taps were plumbed incorrectly when we first arrived so the underwhelming IPA we all tried was in fact his Czech lager. I got a blast of his IPA later in the evening and is was a no messing traditional IPA. It was bitter, hoppy and up front with alcohol.

He also had some bottled Porter and a Bock which I got some free samples of. The Porter was excellent and, as the man said, the only genuine Irish Porter around. (The Porterhouse use roasted barley in their 'Plain' which rules it out of the traditional porter style)It might be hitting the shelves soon, though he exports most of it.

I'm currently supping on some Hilden Brewery Headless Dog that I nabbed in a polypin thanks to Brian. It's a decent brew and my favourite of their offerings from the night. I've got around 30 pints to get through, but hopefully it'll continue to condition in the keg/bag over the next while.

I greatly enjoyed the Hooker Pale Ale, but being a hop head this is to be expected. I asked the guys why on earth they decided to brew something that is so at odds with traditional Irish brews and they said that they were told it was a bad idea and would never sell. They took it as a challenge and the rest is history.

The Carlow Brewing Company's Druid's cask stout was outstanding and makes me weep that there are essentially no cask ales available in Ireland. With time hopefully this should change.

I can't wait to go again next year!