2.45-3.30 - The National
3.40-4.10 - The Dirty Onion
4.20-4.50 - Harp Bar
5.00-5.30 - Duke of York
5.40-6.10 - Hewitt
6.20-6.50 - Aether & Echo
7.00-7.30 - Sunflower
7.40-8.10 - Hudson
8.20-8.50 - Kelly's cellars
9:00-9.30 - Chrimbo Market/Food
9.40-10.10 - Crown
10.20-10.50 - Stiff Kitten
11-End - Lavery's
45 mins at first bar (arrive when you want)
30 mins at all other bars
10 mins walking time.
40 mins for food/markets
This isn't going to be a review as such, i don't know anyone that can go to 12 bars (having a drink at each) and write a coherent review of how it all went down. Basically the 12 bars of Christmas is a tradition that I have been taking part in for the last 5 years or so and so i thought i'd out line how it works, the 12 bars that we used and throw in the fact that i'm pretty sure this falls way out of your recommended units for the week as far as booze is concerned. With so many new bars opening in Belfast we decided to stick as many of them on as we can, variety being the spice of life and all, we also decided that since the "nicer" (and slightly more expensive) bars are all in the Cathedral Quarter, that would be a good place to start. The timings and order look like this: 1 drink minimum per bar is the rules. Most of the guys i done this with hadn't been to the National, The Dirty Onion or the Harp bar, so it was good to show them something new. The Dirty onion and The John Hewitt had trad bands on in both which was pretty festive. All the bars now seemed to have a good selection of local beers and ciders which is a nice touch and good to see them support the local brewers. It all gets pretty Hazy after about bar 6, but i woke up in one piece and no-one ended up in hospital, so I guess I'll be doing it all over again next year!
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It has been 2 years since I last attempted a review of the Beer and Cider Festival, so I thought it high time I tried it again! This year saw the 14th Annual Belfast Beer and Cider Festival take place in the Ulster hall. The annual CAMRA event is Spread over 3 days from Thurs 21st to Sat 23rd and as usual is a chance to catch the latest and greatest from brewers all over Ireland and further afield. In contrast to other years, I threw the map out the window and picked Beers and Ciders based solely on name, with Smoke screen and Ginger nut being amongst the favourites. The Beers and Ales are served at room temperature and aren't the usual carbonated affair that we're used to getting in the pub. We entered a bit after 1pm and paid the £3 entry fee, aslo picking up a money sheet which has tickets diveded by monetary amounts that can be exchanged for booze. I'm not sure why they have to do it this way (possibly NI's archaic drinking laws?) but it is quite fun and we ended up giving our left over tokens to some good cause or another, which can't be bad. A half comes in between £1.70 and £1.90. After trying a few half pints we went upstairs for the beer tasting class. At £10 this is very well priced and gives you the chance to sample 8 beers with excellent and very knowledgeable tutelage throughout. We meandered through the UK trying beers from all over, from wheat beers to very dark porters, a Scottish Foxy Blonde to a Southern English Mary Maiden, some strong and some not so strong. But alas we came out very satisfied and more than a bit squiffy. Like I said we got what we paid for and it was a bloody good laugh as well. After I left I had a few cheeky ciders to round things off as the band got into full swing, it wasn't long before I was ready to swing off myself and head out into the night for a few cold ones, it's a great day out and I enjoy dabbling with the Ales etc, but I think at the end of the day I just enjoy cold carbonated beer too much! Drunk much?The first rule of Beer club is that no-one talks about Beer club. But fortunately the second rule is that the first rule is rubbish, so I'm going to tell you all about it. I love the Hudson, that much is well documented but I've never been to one of their Beer or Whisky Club nights, which is odd because I love both. I remedied that on Thursday night! It was a tenner in and lasted a few hours and I have to say it was well worth it! Starting just a shade after 8pm Richard McLelland from the William Bros Brewery in Allola, Scotland introduced himself over the mic as our host for the evening. They already supply The Hudson with a few of their famous craft beers including my favourite "the Hudson Craft Beer" which is a special brew and the signature beer of The Hudson. We were quickly given samples the first beer "birds and Bees" a light and sharp summers day beer it went down easy. Next up was "Grozet" a beer similarly light and refreshing but with more body and made with Gooseberrys and a citrus zest. This was my favourite of the night. Next up "Cock of the Walk" a red ale made with crystal malts and a huge body to it with a wonderfule red colour too. All along Richard was telling us the history of the brewery and stories about the beers including the next one which was called "Seven Giraffes" after one of the brewers allowed his daughter to name it. At this point it was time for some of the Hudsons (now famous) Chicken wings. We quickly devoured these and soon it was announced that since tomorrow was Burns night and to celebrate our gracious host coming all the way over from bonnie Scotland he to be was presented with a haggis. As he recited some of the address to the haggis and stabbed it with a knife we were treated to little bits of potato bread with haggis and turnips on top. A kind of H'or D'eurves Haggis, Neeps and tatties while they played a pipers song over the PA. We finished up with our last beer of the evening "Midnight Sun" a dark porter beer with a lovely finish. As a treat after this we were given to a wee dram of Fraoch 22. A kind of Strong beer (11%) with a cherry whisky like taste, definitely something special. It's over a year and a half old and comes in a specially designed bottle that is re-sealable and keeps it fresh for 2 weeks. "The first in our 'Vintage Cask Collaborations' 11% alc/vol version of our Fraoch is matured in ex-sherry casks previously used to mature Auchentoshan single malt. Brewed as an 11% Fraoch heather ale then matured in ex sherry/malt whisky casks giving a rich, creamy brew full of notes of sherry & barley wine with a wood & whisky finish." Finallly we got a pint of the William Bros own Brewed "Hudson Craft Beer" to wash it all down. A great night and a testament to all the guys at the Hudson and the William Bros Brewry. I'll be keeping my eyes peeled for the next Beer club event, but then we're not supposed to talk about that... Coming up this Sunday at the Hudson is their Superbowl party with Dollar priced beers and Hot-dogs galore. Who's this drunken bum?Christopher John Caldwell
No I'm not Scottish, why do you ask? I have short little T-Rex arms. I love horror movies in a big way. I love NI in a big way. I resided in Dundee for 5 years before returning to NI with a Scottish lady as my wife.. Upon returning I realised that this petty fuckin place was pretty fuckin ace. Now it's a city over run with all my favourite things. The current fads I'm going through are Netflix, Win 8, Surface, Chalcos Burritos, watching the last ever Fringe, TNA Wrestling, listening to Bee Mick See's EP, the Hudson Bar and my own monthly horror movie night at the previously mentioned bar. |