Kilkenny Craft Beer Festival has been running since Tuesday and it’s finishing up today. Gerald Costello of Costello’s has done a fantastic job of pulling together a varied schedule including a tasting of over 150 different Irish Craft Beers. I just managed to make it to the Saturday Craft on Draught event which took place in the beer garden behind Billy Byrne’s bar.

I thought it only right and proper to start with Costello’s Red Ale which was very tasty and an extremely sessionable 3.8%.

Then I met Nellie Craft Beers Of Ireland and Beyond in real life for the first time and we got to clink glasses. Mine contained Yellow Belly’s excellent Lager.

I moved on to Western Herd’s nicely spicy Wit after that and I also enjoyed Torc’s Anything Gøse.

It was time for food after all of that Beer. Unsurprisingly the bus had sold out of the Costello’s Pork Belly Burger with fennel slaw so I opted for the sweet sticky ribs. They went down a treat with Soulwater’s gorgeous Cosmic Cow. I also had the chance to chat with Liam aka @beerfoodtravel and I have to say there was a lovely relaxed vibe in the place with a very sound bunch of people.

All told a very enjoyable couple of hours in good company and I have it marked on the calendar for next year. Sláinte!