In a bit of a rant, I discuss the recent collaborations Diageo (Guinness) have done with a few US craft breweries as well as the Irish craft beer market....

With the recent news of BrewDog partnering with TSG, I have a bone to pick...

I delve into the new blended whiskey released from Diageo in the last few weeks. They will be resurrecting the Powers building into a distillery in the next year or two to start producing single malt whiskey of their own design. If there is one thing Diageo knows how to do, it is to market and make drinks sellable to the masses...

Lucky to get to try Lacada's Devil's Washtub thanks to Simon Boyle for bringing me a bottle! This is one tasty brew from Northern Ireland, check out my review for all the information. Wish we could get their beers down here!

Lacada - http://www.lacadabrewery.com/

Time to rant again as I am not one to keep my thoughts and opinions on the whole craft beer scene quiet for too long! This time I discuss the whole slew of new breweries and contract brewers on the market, many who seem to be making the same bland mediocre beer. Being new to the market perhaps they feel they need to stick to the safe styles, but even then it is necessary to do those well, within style guidelines and perhaps add a personal touch. But I will leave the rest of my rant for you to watch... as always tell me what you think in the comments!

Guest appearance of Whiplash/Otterbank Farami! 

Ready for another beer review! This beer has a bit of a twist - from Kinnegar, a kettle sour done with fresh apple juice from Dan Kelly's! A unique collaboration between 2 Irish craft drinks producers to produce one tasty treat. It's limited, so best to snag yourself a bottle or two!

Kinnegar - https://kinnegarbrewing.ie/ Dan Kelly's - http://www.dankellyscider.com/

Finishing off #10BeersForTheNY with a ridiculous beer from BrewDog... a porter packed with chocolate and coconut! Apparently a beer for the popes... and one final song - I hope your ears are not bleeding...  

Expand the market, expand your mind, expand the palate... let's be Fearless... time for a bit of barrel aged Saison to knock our socks off for beer 9!

Winter is the time for some nice rich chocolate cake... so why not dig into Siren/Cigar City Caribbean Chocolate Cake... one hell of a drop!

Onto beer 7, a Double IPA from BrewDog! This beer is an apparent elixir to restore the health of those recovering from illness... I cannot argue with the healing qualities of alcohol as I have often used it myself!

Sometimes an Arrogant Bastard is all that will do... even better when he is barrel aged...

A touch of whiskey & vanilla with your stout? Sure.. would be rude not to! For beer #4, I try Mourne Mountain's Whiskey & Vanilla Barrel Aged Stout....

Dark Matter... an unidentifiable type of matter.... so far this beer fits that description. No identifiers on the label, no abv, nothing... through googling I think it is a brown ale and it might be barrel aged... but beyond that no clue!

A lazy New Year's Day would not be complete without a BIG beer! So for beer #2, I decided on KBS from Founders... one of my favourite Bourbon barrel aged stouts. It packs a punch of strong flavour to match its high ABV. I hope you are all enjoying some class beers on this first day of 2017 too!

Back at it... and now with 10 Beers for the New Year, as a medical issue kept me from completing 12 Beers of Christmas. It makes sense now to continue on, but now with a new theme! I am still singing my horrible lungs out for you in the intro.. don't worry hahaha. 1st up, is Brew Dog Born To Die... this beer should be dead, watch to find out why I chose it and the results...

Onto beer #3 of 12 Beers of Christmas and we try Wicklow Brewery 12:12:16, an oak barrel aged strong ale marinated with raisins & cherries soaked in Port!

Happy (Merry) Christmas! On to beer 2 of 12 Beers of Christmas, it is Cuvée Noire from Brooklyn Brewery, a Belgian Stout aged in Bourbon Barrels with sweet orange peel! This is bottle re-fermented with Champagne yeast. On luxurious beer for the day that's in it!