As you might imagine, I spent a fair amount of time during my recent trip to Ireland sitting in pubs
Don’t worry, I got plenty of other experiences, too.
But, in fact, I had so many beer-related adventures that I couldn’t fit them all cohesively into last week’s column. So this week, I’m going to write a potpourri type of column, in which I will share my thoughts on a couple of my other notable beer experiences from my visit
A phenomena that I’m sure most regular beer drinkers have experienced is this: The easy camaraderie among pub patrons that occurs while quaffing a pint or two at the bar.
Sure, somebody might be drinking wine or cocktail rather than beer, but to me, there’s something about beer and its working class veneer that makes it more likely to engender these conversations.
Of course, I frequent brewpubs and beer bars more than wine bars or general bars, so my view may be skewed. But my point is that beer seems to bring out the camaraderie in people.
And that’s especially true in Ireland. Talking to the person sitting next to you in a pub is usually a pretty easy affair. You not only can have a few laughs and hear a few great stories, you sometimes also can make friends.
Such is the case with me and my friend John Stephens, who I have mentioned in this column before. John is as knowledgeable about beer as anyone I know. He’s a retired professor at UCD and also a great music path with whom I share a lot of tastes.
But the genesis of our friendship came from beer. And for that, I am forever grateful to beer.
As I mentioned briefly last week, I met another John, who is living in Galway but originally hails from England. Again, we were just two strangers sitting a couple seats apart at Galway’s Salt House, but at one point our eyes met, and he gave me a nod of acknowledgement and raised his pint to say “cheers” – and a few moments later we were chatting.
This other John also is quite knowledgeable about beer and our conversation also strayed to music. He was a pretty unforgettable character with long gray hair, leather vest and an easy smile. But he also has the presence of someone you wouldn’t want to tangle with if things got rough.
Last but not least from the Ireland trip was a stroll down memory lane, as I got to sample the Irish craft beer Galway Hooker Irish Pale Ale.
This brew was really the first hop-forward beer in Ireland. The company had just set sail, so to speak (a Galway Hooker is a type of boat) in 2006, and I was writing an article on Irish craft brewing for the country’s Business & Finance magazine. I met with the brewery’s co-founder, Aidan Murphy, and sampled the ale at Galway’s Bierhaus, one the country’s earliest craft beer venues.
Luckily, Galway Hooker Irish Pale Ale happened to be on the menu at Quay Street Kitchen in Galway (a fantastic eatery, by the way) and I was able to relive the delicious equilibrium of the beer. It’s balanced and right down the middle with plenty of hops but also a hearty malt structure, and as a bonus, it’s only 4.3% ABV.
Sláinte!