I kind of failed at blogging my trip. I’ll try to get caught up. Migraines prevented me from getting to as many beer places as I’d have liked, but I still did pretty well.

Here’s what came home with me. It took two suitcases and a lot of luck!

From Ireland:

• White Gypsy – American Pale Ale – Several people recommended this to us as one of the best craft breweries in Ireland. It took a last minute cab ride across Dublin to the Drink Store to find a bottle, but I got it!
• Galway Bay Brewery – Bay Ale Irish Red Ale – A half-pint of this was my first beer in Ireland! Mom and I hiked to Oslo in Salthill so that I could get something other than Guinness and I ended up having a great chat with one of the guys who works there.
• Porterhouse Brewing Company – Celebration Stout – We had lunch at the Porterhouse bar in Dublin and I had a flight of four great beers. I’ve found a couple of their stouts here in Minnesota but this one sounded interesting. It was matured in Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey Casks.
• Brown Paper Bag Project – Oxman Dark Brown Ale – I know next to nothing about this beer except that the brewery name had popped up a few times in my research.

• The Kernel – Biere de Table – The next six are beers from The Kernel, a little brewery in London. I had emailed them to ask if their London Sour was on tap anywhere as I couldn’t make it during their open hours. They were awesome enough to invite me to visit and do a beer swap. If I recall correctly, this was a saison then aged in a wine barrel. I should have taken notes but I was just too excited. Also, it was really hard to find. Thankfully they were brewing that morning so I followed my nose!
• The Kernel – Table Beer – Haven’t tried yet, one of their commonly found beers.
• The Kernel – London Sour – This is the beer I hunted them down to try. It was a really light and refreshing sour beer, I can see it converting some people otherwise scared of sours.
• The Kernel – London Sour White Wine Barrel – They did a series of sours, each aged differently.
• The Kernel – London Sour Red Wine Barrel – See above. 🙂
• The Kernel – London Brick Collaboration Red Rye Ale – I’m a sucker for rye so I had to have this!
• The Wild Beer Company – Scarlet Fever – Again, I don’t know much about this beer. But when a bottle says “Red ale + toffee caramel + citrus hops” I don’t need to know much.
• Weird Beard Brew Co – Saison 14 – This goes on the list of “beers I bought because the name popped up in my research.” Well, that and “beers I bought because I know someone with a weird beard.”
• Partizan Brewing – 7 Grain – Another London brewery

From Wales:

• Brains Craft Brewery – Boilermaker Welsh Whiskey IPA – Brains isn’t really a craft brewery, more a smaller “crafty” branch of the big S.A. Brains operation. But this was an appealing find because Brains makes the mash for Pendaryn Distillery, and this IPA was then matured with Penderyn whisky infused oak chips.

From Spain:

• Nomada Brewing Company – Gato Negro Black Brett IPA – Wait, Spain?? WTF?! I didn’t go to Spain but when I placed an order for a couple of these bottles to get delivered to my hotel, this popped up on the store’s list of sours and I was intrigued. So one Spanish beer snuck in.

Glassware and Other Booze

You know what would go well with a suitcase FULL of beer?? Some breakable glassware and other booze!!

Left to right:

• Bunratty Irish Potcheen – Apparently “Irish Moonshine.” Bought in a souvenir shop so I fully expect it to be horrifying. The bottle claims it was banned in 1661 and only recently legal again. Kitsch level is high, expectations are not.
• Jameson glass from the distillery
• Guinness 2013 St. James Gate glass – apparently they do a different design each year.
• Guinness new style pint glass – there are ridges on the side and an embossed harp. Apparently this will be the new standard Guinness glass.
• Buckingham Palace tot glass
• Craft Beer Company pint glass
• Tiny Rebel half pint glass
• Penderyn whisky nosing glass
• Penderyn Distillery spirits sampler – Five Vodka, Madeira finished whisky, Brecon Gin, Merlyn Irish Cream Liqueur
• Penderyn Distillery whisky sampler – Madeira finished (their flagship product), Sherrywood, and Peated

Not much to report today. We travelled from Galway to Fossa via Dunratty Castle, Adare, and Killarney. The castle and attached folk park was nice. The tour guide was enthusiastic, funny, and knowledgable. Having an enthusiastic guide really makes things more fun.

I posted some photos last night before passing out, now I`ll try to fill in some story while I`m a bit more awake. Hotel wifi isn`t connecting right now so no idea when this will post but I`m typing it at 9:30pm on Monday from our hotel in Galway

The flight from JFK to Shannon was only about six hours and between takeoff, landing, and meals I only got about three hours of sleep. That made for a very long day as it was straight onto the tour bus and off to the Cliffs of Moher. It was a bit of a hike uphill to get to the top of the cliffs but what a view! It really was amazing.

From there we drove through the Burren, a huge area of land carved by glaciers and made up mostly of rock. We drove through that area on our way to Galway. Despite being told to prepare for chill weather maxing out around 65F, we hit a heat wave with 75 or so. Oh, and the AC on the bus wasn`t working. The warmth of the bus plus the lack of sleep made the whole bus a bit drowsy and crabby so arriving at the hotel, I think we all ran to the showers.

After a bit of time to rest and clean up, our tour leader, Willi, took some of us on a walk through the main section of Galway, to get a better idea of the area. Then it was a lovely dinner in the hotel before crashing quite early and quite hard.

Today we were up for a good Irish breakfast and the on our way through the Connemara region to Kylemore Abbey. The Connemara region was starkly beautiful. Rocky wet soil has made it difficult for farming or settling and so we could drive many miles between houses. Even the flocks of sheep were rare. I found it kind of haunting and wanted to get out and hike through the deserted land and hills. As someone with little to no interest in athletic activity, it was an odd place to get the urge to go hiking.

Kylemore Abbey was a lovely “modern” castle, built about 150 years ago by Mitchell Henry as a “love letter” to his wife. It was a nice estate with a small church. There were also some big Victorian gardens, but time was running short so we skipped those. We drove back through more of Connemara Nation Park and passed by an old bridge featured in the classic John Wayne movie, The Quiet Man.

Upon returning to Galway, we did a bit of shopping and then had fish and chips at McDonaghs, apparently a bit of a local institution. After popping in to several pubs on the high street of Galway, only to be disappointed by the beer selection, we walked about half an hour to the Salthill area on the water so that I could finally get my hands on some good beer. It was worth the walk, especially given the long chat with one of the employees of the bar/brewery. I think I`ll let the beer info be a second post.

Tomorrow we pack up here and head to Killarney via Bunratty Castle and Adare. I`ll be back whenever I get WiFi!

• Galway – Hotel in Eyre Square
• Killarney – Fossa
• Dublin – Ballsbridge
• London – Blackfriars

Overnight flight from Minneapolis to Shannon Airport on the Westside of Ireland. Dinner and light breakfast are served on the plane.

Day 2)  Sunday, Sept. 22:  CLIFFS  OF  MOHER  &  BURREN  &  GALWAY

After arriving in the morning at Shannon Airport we’re greeted by our Irish bus driver and guide Willi. We load our luggage and drive through the scenic County Clare. The highlight of the journey will be the “Cliffs of Moher”. These cliffs provide a dramatic panorama plunging over 600 feet to the sea and extending five miles. Next comes – quite as a contrast – the “Burren” – a vast area comprised of limestone eroded into moonscape patterns. Later this afternoon we arrive at Galway where we stay for two nights. After checking into the hotel enjoy a stroll through the historic city center of Galway with its St. Nicholas Church, Lynch Castle, Salmon Weir Bridge, Spanish Arch, Kirwan’s Lane and Eyre Square. Enjoy tonight’s welcome dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.  B, D

Day 3)  Monday, Sept. 23:  GALWAY  &  CONNEMARA  &  KYLEMORE  ABBEY

After a good Irish buffet breakfast we are off’ for the Connemara Region, which is known for its spectacular mountain and coastal scenery along with its gleaming rivers and lakes. We drive along the Galway Bay through charming villages and visit the impressive Kylemore Abbey, home of the Benedictine Community of Nuns since World War I. We’ll enjoy a stroll through the colorful Victorian Walled Garden, the Abbey’s ornate reception rooms and the beautiful Neo-Gothic Church – a “Cathedral in Miniature”. There will be also time for a light lunch before we return to Galway in the early afternoon. Enjoy the balance of the day in Galway and tonight’s dinner on your own in one of the many restaurants and Pubs.  B

Day 4)  Tuesday, Sept. 24:  BUNRATTY  CASTLE  &  ADARE  &  KILLARNEY

This morning we leave Galway and travel south for the beautiful County Kerry. Along the way we stop for a visit of the famous Bunnratty Castle & Folk Park, an open air museum proving an example of life in the nineteenth century Ireland. Afterwards we continue to the charming village of Adare with its lovely restored Cottages. Enjoy a walk through the village and a break for lunch before we continue to the Killarney area, the most visited part of Ireland. We see the town of Killarney, considered as the gateway to the “Ring of Kerry”, and also known for its large number of Pubs. We stay for two nights at the family-run “Loch Lein Country House”, a true haven of Irish hospitality with a great view over Killarney’s famous Lower Lake & National Park. Enjoy tonight’s dinner at our Country House.  B, D

Day 5)  Wednesday, Sept. 25:  RING  OF  KERRY  &  IRISH  EVENING

After a traditional Irish breakfast we enjoy a drive along the famous “Ring of Kerry”, a 100 mile long panoramic road and a wonderland of natural beauty with views of rolling hills, high mountains, island-jewelled lakes, green glens and rocky cliffs. Before returning to our Country House in the late afternoon another highlight is waiting for you, Muckross House & Gardens, dating back to 1843. Tonight enjoy a special “Irish Evening” at a local Pub, a dinner with traditional music and folk dancing.  B, D

Day 6)  Thursday, Sept. 26:  BLARNEY  &  ROCK  OF  CASHEL  &  DUBLIN

This morning we leave the Killarney National Park area and travel to County Cork. The brave ones may visit – on optional basis – the Blarney Castle & Stone. Legend promises the “Gift of Gab” to those who kiss the Blarney Stone. Nearby shops offer some of the largest collections of Waterford Crystals and Belleek China and typical Irish Souvenirs. At the town of Midleton we visit the “Jameson Whiskey Distillery”. A guided tour through the distillery gives us an insight about the production of Whiskey and its different tastes. There will also be time to shop and time for a light lunch at the distillery. Along the way to Dublin we stop at the “Rock of Cashel”, one of the most spectacular attractions of Ireland. The Rock was already fortified by the Kings of Munster in the fourth century. The Golden Age of Cashel was in the high middle-ages when the Cathedral & Cormac Chapel was built in Romanesque style. Later this afternoon we arrive in Dublin, the capitol of Ireland. We check into our hotel for a pleasant two nights’ stay and enjoy dinner at the hotel’s restaurant.  B, D

Day 7)  Friday, Sept. 27:  DUBLIN

This morning we enjoy a city tour of Dublin. We see the most important sites of this city: Trinity College with its “Long Room” & the “Book of Kells”, St. Stephen’s Green, City Hall, Grafton Street, O’ Connell & Ha’penny Bridge, Temple Bar District, St. Patrick’s Cathedral, City Hall and the Dublin Castle. Enjoy some free time for shopping and browsing. In the afternoon we can visit – on optional basis – the famous Guinness Brewery, founded by Arthur Guinness in 1759. Tonight, many of the restaurants and Pubs in Dublin’s pulsating Temple Bar are waiting for you.  B

Day 8)  Saturday, Sept. 28:  DUBLIN  &  FLIGHT  TO  LONDON  &  RIVER  CRUISE

After a relaxing buffet breakfast we drive to the international airport of Dublin and check-in for our flight to London. Upon arrival at London’s airport Heathrow we board our bus and get the first impressions of this exciting city. We check into our hotel for a pleasant 4 nights’ stay. Later on we enjoy a “Cruise on the River Thames” followed by a welcome dinner of London at a local restaurant.  B, D

Day 9)  Sunday, Sept. 29:  LONDON  &  BUCKINGHAM  PALACE

We start the day with our daily included buffet breakfast. Then we’re off’ for a visit of the famous “Buckingham Palace”, the residence of the Queen & Royal Family of England. The Palace, built in the eighteenth century consists of 600 rooms. Afterwards we enjoy a tour of London by bus, including all the important sites: Houses of Parliament, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Piccadilly Circus, Trafalgar Square, St. Paul’s Cathedral and Tower Bridge. Enjoy the balance of the day for your own activities as well as dinner in a local restaurant.  B

Day 10)  Monday, Sept. 30:  A FULL DAY  IN  LONDON

Day 11)  Tuesday, Oct. 1:  LONDON  &  FAREWELL  DINNER