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For me it boils down to this. I have never had a bad experience in PH temple bar but I have only ever gone in, ordered a beer and not asked questions or tried to talk. Once I asked for some strawberry beer on their menu for my wife and the girl said they did not have it but suggested Fruli on tap instead. That at least showed she knew enough about beer to suggest a similar style beer.
There is also an older guy with thinning hair and glasses and a friendly smile who I could probably strike up a conversation with. He did ask me what I thought of the Dobbin when I ordered it once <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->

Compare that though with the bar staff at B&C and I have been able to have a chat with all of them that I have met so far. They may not all have tried all the beers not be any form of beer experts but they say they are willing to learn and are very open and friendly and will even ask my opinion of what to try.

For me, B&C is a much better atmosphere and the food is excellent too as well as the range of beer. That said, I like some of the ph beers so still like to go there when I can.

I have never had bad service, but I only ever go on Saturday or Sunday afternoon as for me I have to spend an hour and a half on the bus each way to get in to Dublin and last bus home is at 9 or something stupid like that.

In defense of the *ahem* unnamed establishment, Im a frequent visitor to the Bray Branch (it being my local) and one barman there seems to be on the ball. He will see what Im drinking and suggest alternatives as well as chatting about which beers are selling well and whats coming in the next few weeks. They even got me some Hooker in (eventually)Ive never had a bad word from any of the staff members. Luck of the draw indeed! <!-- s:wink: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s:wink: -->

You're probably lucky enough to be able to experience localism behaviour - in the 2 in the city centre, they'd be hard pushed to spot a regular for all the throngs of tourists, and as for time to chat about beers? Maybe on a wet monday afternoon. In winter.

I’ve had mixed experiences in both the PH and the B&C, wouldn’t have a clear favourite of the two, given that I’d put them in different categories – the only common ground being good beer.

PH Temple Bar has absolutely crap staff, and on occasion the beer has been poor, I definitely go there less than I used to. That said, I still love the spot for a lively night out – it’s a lovely building and has a great atmosphere – so while I’d put it streets ahead of most pubs in town it’s not exactly the ideal craft beer location. The Nassau Street one, which I didn’t like at all at first, has grown on me as an alternative to a nightclub, as there’s space to dance, the music tends to be decent and I can coax less like-minded individuals over there due to their later opening hours (while managing to get my hands on some decent beer). I’ve only been in the Glasnevin one once (before the Ogham Brew festival) and found it altogether more appealing as a sit-down pub.

My first trip to the B&C was last winter, based upon reports I’d read here. I’d consider it the best (and best kept) selection of beer in any pub in the capital, the only shame being that the better PH brews aren’t available (yet). It would definitely be my pub of choice when in town, although it’s a little off the beaten track. However, aside from Declan (I’ve never come across Geoff working), who I met on my first trip to the pub and found both informed and very amicable, I’ve never found the bar staff particularly friendly. In fact was once berated with the “have yis had a few drinks lads” staple of city centre pubs because of my friend’s slurred foreign accent (he was practicing his obviously poor English, it was a Friday, 6 o’clock in the evening and our first pint of the day – there only two of us, not your typical stag party). On another occasion I was in from early with a decent sized group (about ten of us, all late twenties). We were having a great evening until the DJ came on, blasting music so we couldn’t hear each other. We asked the barman who was collecting glasses from our table could the volume be turned down, received a blank “no” and so we left. Because of the seating arrangements, I’d consider the B&C a place for lively conversation, and the loud DJ just clashes with that. I’m not a fan of the fact the downstairs is reservation only a lot of the time, with empty tables sitting around, but it’s obviously a commercial decision that works for them so I won’t argue with it.

In short, I’ve still to find what I’d consider the “ideal” craft brew pub, but then I think it would have to be in the suburbs and as such miss out on the lucrative trade supplied by both tourists and the younger “music, no chat” crowd.

I keep hearing people give out about the B&C location, I've only been there once, I don't live in dublin however, my brother who has lived in dublin for a little over adecade has never been,
yet in actuality what? it's a 2 minuted walk from temple bar.

It's just slightly off the usual routes people tend to meet up and drink in in town, I find. Doesn't stop me dragging them over there though <!-- s:D --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_biggrin.gif" alt="" title="Very Happy" /><!-- s:D -->