Dec Otter and Danny Trappe had both told me I ‘had’ to call down to Wexford to visit Simon Lambert and Sons so when my wife suggested a camping expedition I knew exactly where we were headed. I landed outside the pub at around Midday on Bank Holiday Monday, not having suffiently researched the fact that they weren’t open till 6pm on Bank Holidays! Luckily Dec was brewing and didn’t mind delaying a while to entertain me.

He showed me around the warren like cellar that currently houses the brewery. They are moving to a larger site in the next month in order to keep up with the huge demand for their beers. Dec gave me some of their Gorse Saison straight from the tank. It’s tasting very mellow and summery. He also gave me a drop of their Salubrious Stout which is very rich indeed, I think he said he has seven different kinds of Malt in the mix. Sometimes I think I should take notes.

Then we went back upstairs…

Dec poured me some samples.

Ze Germans is a Huell Melon Dry Hopped Pale Ale that funnily enough tastes like strawberries instead of the melon you’d probably be expecting. The Night Porter was beautiful. Big roasted maltiness and a perfect bittersweet balance.

I also tried the Amber Lager, and I’m sure it’s very nice but it was lost on my after the Night Porter. I took a break for a couple of hours then and went with the family to see Alice Through The Looking Glass. I arranged to meet the lads later in The Sky And The Ground. When I got back into Wexford they said that they were doing a little research and to join them back in Simon Lambert and Sons.

Of course, when you work in a brewery research means more drinking!

We even had the legendary Speedway Stout by Alesmith that was picked up in Sheffield’s Hop Hideout but the consensus seemed to be that we preferred La Pirata’s Black Block.

Then we went to The Sky And The Ground for a pint of White Hag’s Little Fawn or Púca or in Dec’s case a mixture of the two.

We then got some of the famed Rissoles and Chicken Goujons from The Premier which is only a couple of doors up.

Then for dessert we went back to Simon Lambert and Sons where Danny made an ‘assiette of desserts’ and a pair of excellent hot chocolates for the girls. The desserts are all made in house by Ania Lambert. The orange cake and chocolate biscuit cake went particularly well with the Night Porter, I finished the day with another glass.

I have to say a huge thank you to Nicky Lambert who went and found some of the sold out Castaway and Kangaroo Jack for me to bring home. Dec gave me a pair of his own Otter brews as well. Danni and Simon Lambert Jr were also very welcoming so thanks to all for their hospitality. You really should make it your business to call in to Simon Lambert and Sons, I can’t recommend it highly enough, sláinte!