TOPIC:

The Irish think they have the best stout in the world....and maybe we do even if it's not the obvious stout. I don't think anyone thinks we drink the best yellow fizz, imported or otherwise. We probably look up to German yellow fizz for that...or Czech for those who've been on a stag weekend to Prague <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

People who care about what they drink in Ireland, like the 500+ members of ICB or the punters in the B&C and Porterhouse pick something else to drink as they do in other countries. We may not have the variety but there's good progress being made.

&amp;quot;Diablo&amp;quot;:2i1krtue wrote: and maybe we do[/quote:2i1krtue]Next to Fuller's London Porter, or Dark Lord, or Tsarina Esra, I really don't think we do.

&amp;quot;Diablo&amp;quot;:2i1krtue wrote: People who care about what they drink in Ireland, like the 500+ members of ICB or the punters in the B&C and Porterhouse pick something else to drink as they do in other countries.[/quote:2i1krtue]Too many of them cry into their pints of Guinness and Heineken about how terrible the lack of choice is. It's a bit like sitting in traffic complaining about how congested it all is.

&amp;quot;Diablo&amp;quot;:2i1krtue wrote: We may not have the variety but there's good progress being made.[/quote:2i1krtue]Indeed. Things have never been better.

Very healthy debate going on here - I think the bottling of Porter House's hop head is a clear sign of progress. It may not be the most complex beer in the world but it's definitely a quality ale, brewed and bottled in Dublin and sold all over the place at a reasonable price. If it does well, and it seems to be doing alright at the moment, it will only encourage other small breweries to bring out bottled beers. In brief, in order for craft beer to obtain the status and availability in Ireland that it has in some US states, more bottling is the way forward.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:j7qr60mf wrote: Next to [b:j7qr60mf]Fuller's London Porter[/b:j7qr60mf], or Dark Lord, or Tsarina Esra, I really don't think we do.[/quote:j7qr60mf]

Hard to argue with that, it is outstanding. Haven't tasted the others.

&amp;quot;TheBeerNut&amp;quot;:j7qr60mf wrote: Indeed. Things have never been better.[/quote:j7qr60mf]

You'll have to spell it out for me but I suspect you're being sarcastic ?

&amp;quot;Diablo&amp;quot;:1h9avjov wrote: You'll have to spell it out for me but I suspect you're being sarcastic ?[/quote:1h9avjov]Absolutely not. We have more brewers and more local beers available than any time in living memory.

Fair enough, thought you might have been referring to the era before Guinness mopped up lots of the independent breweries.