TOPIC:

I'd love to hear about your favourite off licenses around Dublin. Which ones have the best selection or some unusual brews?? <!-- s:idea: --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_idea.gif" alt="" title="Idea" /><!-- s:idea: -->

I live in the Clonsilla/Blanchardstown area but good beer is always worth doing a bit of traveling for so I'm interested in locations all over Dublin.

Looking forward to hearing from you all.

Alan <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

The ones generall recognised to be the best are McHugh's (Killester/Artane, just before the Artane Roundabout on the Malahide Rd, and Kilbarrack, on the Kilbarrack Rd just before it hits the coast road) and Redmonds in Ranelagh.

Martin's Off-Licence on Fairview has a small but lovely stock of beers - I've seen one or two there that McHugh's don't have, but otherwise I think they use the same distributors. However, what they do have at the moment, that McHugh's haven't had for a couple of years now is Well's Banana Bread Beer, probably my stable English ale. It's lovely. It's *not* a fruit beer, not sweet at all, a proper bitter, but made with bananas at some point, so has a wonderful, nutty aroma of fresh-baked banana bread.

Redmond's rules supreme in the southern suburbs, though Deveney's in Rathmines and Dundrum are also highly recommended. In the city centre(ish) I tend to use Carvill's on Camden Street, though their selection isn't as good as it used to be. My latest discovery is Drinkstore on Manor Street which, for a tiny shop, has a great selection of unusual things.

I tend to frequent Sweeney's in Phibsboro and Sheils on the Drumcondra Road. Sweeney's has gone down hill a little but they still have a great selection of English ale and Belguim brews. They also always have a good stock of American standard micros such as Sierra Nevada and Anchor. Sheils has a smaller selection but there is great stuff to be had. Just the other day I got my hands on some Kostriker, Paulaner Salvator and a Rauch smoked ale. I was particularly happy with the Kostriker and Salvator as I have been trying to find them in Ireland for years.

&amp;quot;Hendrixcat&amp;quot;:266qio7i wrote: Just the other day I got my hands on some Kostriker....[/quote:266qio7i]

Kostriker! *That's* what I got in Martin's! It's a 'k', not a funny German beta-thing at all.

I think they might have the Salvatore as well. At least having looked it up online the label looks familar.

&amp;quot;microgirl&amp;quot;:2q2jzip6 wrote: However, what they do have at the moment, that McHugh's haven't had for a couple of years now is Well's Banana Bread Beer, probably my stable English ale. It's lovely.[/quote:2q2jzip6]
Tut, tut, tut... Ask and you shall recieve! <!-- s;) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_wink.gif" alt="" title="Wink" /><!-- s;) --> <!-- s:P --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_razz.gif" alt="" title="Razz" /><!-- s:P -->