Yes it’s that time of the year again when the Irish become front of mind. Or should that be front of mouth?

If you asked anyone around the world what they associated with Paddy’s Day, after green and Irish, I think the third choice would be drink.

Where the original meaning of Christmas was hijacked by Coca-Cola and their fella with the beard, the celebration of Christianity in Ireland has been moulded by Guinness into a time of drinking, partying and ‘craic’.

Now as a beer blogger (am I allowed to call myself that?) I can’t get too indignant about all this.

So, whilst the purpose of this blog is to celebrate quality, Irish, craft beer. I’m not going to let this opportunity pass without celebrating a few other things the Irish are good at.

We’ve always punched above our weight. And at the moment we’ve plenty to be proud of.

Did you know that 9 out of 10 of the top global software companies, 15 of the top 20 medical tech organisations, half the top financial services firms and the top ten internet companies, all have a significant base in Ireland?

In the last couple of days I read that Irish people make up the largest proportion of foreign directors in the UK and I recall reading once that Irish people represent the highest percentage of board members, per capita, of the world’s top companies.

And we’re doing OK at sport these days. Willie Mullans, became the most successful horse racing trainer with eight winners at this year’s Cheltenham Festival – the most celebrated event in horse racing.

The Irish Rugby team are riding the crest of a wave, beating Australia, South Africa, England and France in the past six months. They are now one of the favourites for this year’s World Cup.

Conor McGregor is tearing up the UFC in the featherweight division, on his way to becoming the biggest name in the sport.

Carl Frampton, who I mentioned in the previous blog is a current World Super Bantamweight boxing champion and Andy Lee is a Middleweight title holder.

And of course we can’t forget the world’s no.1 golfer – Rory McIlroy, supported by an enviable cast of Graeme McDowell, Shane Lowry and the hopefully resurrected Padraig Harrington.

Hozier is the new big name in music, joining international acts The Script and rock & roll legends U2, who begin another blockbusting world tour later this year.

Whilst we continue to add new names to a who’s who of Irish Hollywood legends over the years with Chris O’Dowd, Domhnall Gleeson and Saoirse Ronan turning heads at the moment.

So, you boys and girls in green, we salute you at a time when all the world’s greatest landmarks will turn green in our honour. It’s great to be Irish! If you don’t believe me, here’s Liam Neeson:

I truly believe that Irish craft beer can join our very long list of global industrial successes. Some have started exporting already, but there is an opportunity to be up there with the English, Americans, Germans and Belgians in the same way that New Zealand, Oz, Chile, Argentina and the U.S. are named with the classic wine making countries.

So without further ado, let me list 12 of my favourite Irish craft beers. It’s not an exhaustive list, there are many more beauties out there. Feel free to add to the list, but these guys are worthy of a mention.

Headless Dog, Hilden Brewing Co., Amber Ale, ABV 4.2%

If you’re just starting out on craft beers and coming from lagers, amber ales can be an easier introduction. Coming from the oldest independent brewery on this island – Hilden Brewing Co. (established in Lisburn in 1981). This was a real fruity experience for me. It used to be part of their College Green brand, which has now come under Hilden. I like the style of branding Hilden created a few years ago for their beers. It’s unusual and timeless.

Goodbye Blue Monday, Galway Bay Brewery, American IPA, ABV 6.6%

This is a special offering at the moment from one of my favourite breweries in Ireland – Galway Bay. You see, another great thing about craft beer is that aside from the huge range amongst their regular offerings, the breweries will create one-offs for festivals or local bars. Even cooler, is that this is a collaboration with Begyle Brewing from Chicago! I had it in the 108 bar in Rathgar, Dublin, which is one of the brilliant bars owned by Galway Bay in Dublin and Galway. I think the name Goodbye Blue Monday is class, reminds me of the sort of stuff coming out of California. Again there are a few hops in this beer, so it’s maybe not the first craft beer one should try.

Belgian Dubbel, Eight Degrees Brewing, ABV 7.2%

This was one of my choices for Beer of the Week and a toss-up with the dubbel produced by White Gypsy. It’s a limited edition, part of Eight Degrees A very Imperial Winter Trilogy, which came out last November. I love the sweet, caramel flavours of dubbels. If you’ve tried a red ale before, like Smithwicks or Bass, you might want to try this one. Eight Degrees are based in Cork and run by a Kiwi and an Aussie. Slightly complicated, like their lovely beers.

Irish Black Stout, McGrath’s (Clanconnel Brewing Co.), ABV 4.3%

When I first saw McGrath’s on the shelf of my local off-licence I had to try it. I was attracted to the label by the greyhound, as my da used to breed greyhounds and I walked them a bit and attended the dog tracks. The name was inspired by the legendary Master McGrath who was an Irish dog from Waterford in the mid 1800s. I had to force myself to get into stout many years ago, when I say stout I mean Guinness. I’m glad I was able to acquire the taste. Now I’ve moved on to more interesting stouts like this. I’m a big fan of the chocolately style stouts and that’s one of the bonuses of this beer.

German Doppelbock, White Gypsy, ABV 7.5%

I could have put in a few White Gypsy beers but I wanted to share the love. Doppelbock means double bock and bock is a dark malty German lager. The White Gypsy website reminded me of this beer’s description that I also heard from a Bavarian work colleague “It emerged from Munich in the late 18th century when the monks brewed it as a Lenten beer to be consumed during their fasts.” So I took great pleasure (and none of that Catholic guilt) in trying it again last night!

O’Hara’s Irish Red Ale, O’Hara’s Brewery (Carlow Brewing Company) 4.30%

I haven’t tasted anything to challenge the O’Hara’s red for me. Again because I like the sweet, caramel taste, you get that in this beer. O’Hara’s say it is as impressive as a bock, another of my favourite styles, so maybe that’s why I like it so much. I know O’Hara’s have already experienced success exporting, so if you’re reading this outside Ireland and you like red ale, you should try and track this down.

Oktoberfest, The White Hag Irish Brewing Company, ABV 6.20%

In my view it’s stretching it calling this a style of beer, but I didn’t make it up. And since I love Oktoberfest and the German manufactured specials that come out for the event every year, I’ll accept it! Plus, fair play to White Hag for taking something so German and using it to describe their Irish beer. This, as the name implies, was a special and I look forward to trying the 2015 version.

Belfast Lager, Whitewater, ABV 4.5%

Whitewater, based in Kilkeel, Co.Down were one of the first craft beer wave back in 1996. As a Belfast man from the County Down side of the River Lagan, I have not allowed my heritage to skew my judgement here! Even though I’m also a fan of their Belfast Black… If you’re currently a Carlsberg/Heineken/Budweiser drinker, this shouldn’t be too much of a gamble for you. I always thought a lager and a pilsner were the same thing but I’ve read pilseners are fermented at room temperature and lagers in a refrigerated environment. So that allows me to highlight both! 😉 Lager comes from the German word lagerung which means storage or storing and both these beers need to be stored longer than ales or stouts

Gravy Maevey’s Pilsner, McGargles, ABV 5%

So, I wanted to get my Belfast Lager in here and my Maevey’s Pilsner. I really like the branding of McGargle’s beers, it’s different from anything else in the Irish market and a bit of fun. Every beer is named after a member of the McGargle’s family and in Belfast people are known to “go for a gargle”. So that’s good enough for me. Pilsner or pils, takes its name from where this particular brewing method was first used – the city of Plzeň, Bohemia, Czech Republic. Whilst Germany is famous for pils, so obviously is the Czech Republic and Pilsner Urquell is still brewed in Plzeň. Urquell means original.

Yannaroddy, Kinnegar Brewing, Porter, ABV 4.8%

Again there are debates over the difference between porter and stout, if any. The consensus seems to be that stout is heavier. Kinnegar is a small brewery from the county of my beloved wife – Donegal. I don’t know what a Yannaroddy is, but it joins a list of interesting names by Kinnegar, such as Otway and Rustbucket. They’ve been causing a real stir in the Irish market if I listen to the off-licences I’ve spoken to. Kinnegar’s website describes this beer as “laced with an exotic streak of coconut”. Maybe that’s why I liked it so much.

Lazy Sunday Saison, Trouble Brewing, ABV 6.10%

This is another special from a brewer with a great name – Trouble Brewing. Based in Kildare, these guys have been producing a wide range of interesting beers and I’ll applaud anyone bringing us a saison. Saison originates in Belgium and is more of a summer drink in my eyes, fruity, spicy with a bit of hops going on. You gotta love the beer name as well – Lazy Sunday Saison.

Fulcrum Wheat Beer, Clearsky Brewing, ABV 5%

This is another Nordy beer that has been around for a few years. Interestingly I haven’t come across any other beers by them. I think I read somewhere the brewer/owner used to work at Guinness. Nonetheless, as a big fan of Erdinger, Paulaner, Franziskaner and Schneider Weisse, I’ve added this to my weissbier choice. If you’re a weiss fan yourself, you should give it a try.

So there you have it. I would welcome some debate on whether you agree/disagree with me. But I’ve at least showed some beers that aren’t a million from the standard styles as well as others following the more adventurous route of lesser-known European classics.

Seven of the brewers mentioned above will be bringing their best beers and no-doubt, some specials along to the Irish Beer & Whiskey Fest in the RDS Dublin. It’s running from the 14th of March through to the 17th St. Patrick’s Day. If you’re living in Ireland, I can think of no better way of celebrating this great country I was born and bred in.

Sláinte!