Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog
@quareswally.bsky.social
🔊 Northern Irish slang. Quare = Good. Swally = Drink
🌍 County Antrim
🏆 SME Drinks Blog of the Year NI 2025
📚 Read here 👇🏼
www.linktr.ee/quareswally
🌍 County Antrim
🏆 SME Drinks Blog of the Year NI 2025
📚 Read here 👇🏼
www.linktr.ee/quareswally
Pinned
Northern Ireland’s Commercial Breweries and Brands
26 at the last update (September 2025) 22 breweries and 4 contract brands. Only referencing operating breweries and brands since this blog’s creation in 2012. Click here for an interactive br…
quareswally.com
A reminder if you want to have a look at a list of all Northern Ireland's breweries and where they are on a map, it's right here 🍻
quareswally.com/northern-ire...
quareswally.com/northern-ire...
*New blog post* on a tough year, location move and future plans for Modest Beer
quareswally.com/2026/02/09/t...
quareswally.com/2026/02/09/t...
The Day We Went To Bangor
I find it incredible that a city such as Bangor (yes, it’s a city) in County Down did not, in recent times, have a fully operational, commercially successful microbrewery. Genuinely, I’…
quareswally.com
February 9, 2026 at 1:34 PM
*New blog post* on a tough year, location move and future plans for Modest Beer
quareswally.com/2026/02/09/t...
quareswally.com/2026/02/09/t...
A new page on the blog lists beer festivals potentially happening across Ireland in 2026. Dates for these festivals haven't yet been published but if you know any festival where dates have been made public or I've missed any festival, let me know. Cheers 🍻
quareswally.com/ireland-beer...
quareswally.com/ireland-beer...
Beer Festivals Across Ireland in 2026
Dates to be finalised for most events. Some aren’t even yet confirmed as going ahead at all. April – Mullingar Wild Beer Festival. Smiddy’s, Mullingar, County Westmeath. May ̵…
quareswally.com
February 4, 2026 at 9:38 PM
A new page on the blog lists beer festivals potentially happening across Ireland in 2026. Dates for these festivals haven't yet been published but if you know any festival where dates have been made public or I've missed any festival, let me know. Cheers 🍻
quareswally.com/ireland-beer...
quareswally.com/ireland-beer...
We all know that most alcohol-free beers are as exciting as an episode of Mrs Brown's Boys 😴 but this is one of the best zeros I've had in a long while. From Whiplash Beer in Dublin, it's a great name and bursting with peach and grapefruit notes. Bravo!
💷 DC Wines Boucher Belfast.
💷 DC Wines Boucher Belfast.
January 28, 2026 at 4:48 PM
We all know that most alcohol-free beers are as exciting as an episode of Mrs Brown's Boys 😴 but this is one of the best zeros I've had in a long while. From Whiplash Beer in Dublin, it's a great name and bursting with peach and grapefruit notes. Bravo!
💷 DC Wines Boucher Belfast.
💷 DC Wines Boucher Belfast.
As far as beer selection in a Dublin airport hotel is concerned, you could do a lot worse than @ryeriverbrewingco.bsky.social at Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport 🍻😀
January 15, 2026 at 7:57 PM
As far as beer selection in a Dublin airport hotel is concerned, you could do a lot worse than @ryeriverbrewingco.bsky.social at Clayton Hotel Dublin Airport 🍻😀
Happy New Year! 🎉 Started 2026 with my favourite new NI Beer of 2024, cos why not? Always loving a bit of the lemony, funky, wild lager Humble from Our Brewery.
January 1, 2026 at 5:29 PM
Happy New Year! 🎉 Started 2026 with my favourite new NI Beer of 2024, cos why not? Always loving a bit of the lemony, funky, wild lager Humble from Our Brewery.
"Hey Roy! If only we could know your favourite beers of the year in one easy to read article."
Ahem. Well...
quareswally.com/2025/12/28/n...
Ahem. Well...
quareswally.com/2025/12/28/n...
Northern Ireland Golden Pints 2025
2025 has certainly been an interesting year. One in which I had a memorable big birthday, Andrew became The Artist Formerly Known as Prince, Chancellor Rachel Reeves didn’t lie, and we were a…
quareswally.com
December 28, 2025 at 8:22 PM
"Hey Roy! If only we could know your favourite beers of the year in one easy to read article."
Ahem. Well...
quareswally.com/2025/12/28/n...
Ahem. Well...
quareswally.com/2025/12/28/n...
Walked down Bedford St in Belfast this morning and past the former Deane's Vin Cafe and thought, "that could be a super venue for a micro pub, if only our outdated licensing laws would allow it to happen a lot easier than it is at present" 😒
December 24, 2025 at 10:09 AM
Walked down Bedford St in Belfast this morning and past the former Deane's Vin Cafe and thought, "that could be a super venue for a micro pub, if only our outdated licensing laws would allow it to happen a lot easier than it is at present" 😒
**NEW BLOG POST** Let's get into the festive spirit by reading about Bullhouse sliding into some supermarkets.
quareswally.com/2025/12/21/a...
quareswally.com/2025/12/21/a...
A Bullish Market
Belfast’s Bullhouse Brewery sure is making big strides into the supermarket scene, as you can now purchase Hoppy Days IPA in 310 selected Asda stores across the UK and three pale ales –…
quareswally.com
December 22, 2025 at 11:47 AM
**NEW BLOG POST** Let's get into the festive spirit by reading about Bullhouse sliding into some supermarkets.
quareswally.com/2025/12/21/a...
quareswally.com/2025/12/21/a...
A great night in Derry started with Rough Brothers Ebrington Ale in the hotel and a Foyster stout at Walled City Brewery 😃
December 8, 2025 at 5:54 PM
A great night in Derry started with Rough Brothers Ebrington Ale in the hotel and a Foyster stout at Walled City Brewery 😃
1/1 Northern Ireland's Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, has bafflingly rejected an independent report which gave recommendations of why and how to reform the outdated licensing laws in NI.
With his rejection, he effectively attempted to put a red pen through the possibility...
With his rejection, he effectively attempted to put a red pen through the possibility...
November 19, 2025 at 11:36 PM
1/1 Northern Ireland's Communities Minister, Gordon Lyons, has bafflingly rejected an independent report which gave recommendations of why and how to reform the outdated licensing laws in NI.
With his rejection, he effectively attempted to put a red pen through the possibility...
With his rejection, he effectively attempted to put a red pen through the possibility...
Following on from my recent post about awful low alcohol beers at M&S, I just wanna say hello again to everyone I met at @belfastbeerfestival.co.uk where I was enjoying much tastier low ABV beers. If you want a low beer, try these - exclusively NOT for sale in M&S 😆
November 10, 2025 at 2:43 PM
Following on from my recent post about awful low alcohol beers at M&S, I just wanna say hello again to everyone I met at @belfastbeerfestival.co.uk where I was enjoying much tastier low ABV beers. If you want a low beer, try these - exclusively NOT for sale in M&S 😆
Some beer gurus rejoiced at the supposed demise of the Milkshake IPA. Thankfully those clever Beer Hut boys had other ideas 🥰
November 7, 2025 at 10:16 PM
Some beer gurus rejoiced at the supposed demise of the Milkshake IPA. Thankfully those clever Beer Hut boys had other ideas 🥰
Not peaking too soon I'm rightly having my first pumpkin beer of the year after Hallowe'en. Belter.
November 7, 2025 at 2:42 PM
Not peaking too soon I'm rightly having my first pumpkin beer of the year after Hallowe'en. Belter.
Last year I wrote a piece on why the Belfast Beer & Cider Festival matters and why you should attend. It's back. It's on right now. I'm pouring beers. Come say hello.
quareswally.com/2024/11/21/w...
quareswally.com/2024/11/21/w...
November 6, 2025 at 3:10 PM
Last year I wrote a piece on why the Belfast Beer & Cider Festival matters and why you should attend. It's back. It's on right now. I'm pouring beers. Come say hello.
quareswally.com/2024/11/21/w...
quareswally.com/2024/11/21/w...
I recently sampled five low alcohol beers from M&S. My detailed notes say you should avoid these five low alcohol beers from M&S. You're welcome.
November 3, 2025 at 6:58 AM
I recently sampled five low alcohol beers from M&S. My detailed notes say you should avoid these five low alcohol beers from M&S. You're welcome.
Another bonkers brew from the lovable weirdos at Vault City Brewing in Edinburgh. They have a reputation for creating wacky sour beers and this one joins the very long line of those gone before.
White Velvet is 6% ABV and labelled as a white dessert sour. Additions of coconut milk and banana 👀...
White Velvet is 6% ABV and labelled as a white dessert sour. Additions of coconut milk and banana 👀...
October 27, 2025 at 6:14 PM
Another bonkers brew from the lovable weirdos at Vault City Brewing in Edinburgh. They have a reputation for creating wacky sour beers and this one joins the very long line of those gone before.
White Velvet is 6% ABV and labelled as a white dessert sour. Additions of coconut milk and banana 👀...
White Velvet is 6% ABV and labelled as a white dessert sour. Additions of coconut milk and banana 👀...
🎵one of these kids is doing his own thing 🎵😄
October 17, 2025 at 12:14 PM
🎵one of these kids is doing his own thing 🎵😄
Crazy to think that there's much tastier local beer availability in Northern Ireland's coastal towns of Portrush or Kilkeel than there is in Albufeira, Portugal. Still, the craic was mighty with these loons 😁
October 16, 2025 at 6:57 AM
Crazy to think that there's much tastier local beer availability in Northern Ireland's coastal towns of Portrush or Kilkeel than there is in Albufeira, Portugal. Still, the craic was mighty with these loons 😁
When you find the place which fits you perfectly 😅
October 7, 2025 at 9:55 AM
When you find the place which fits you perfectly 😅
Great to see independent beer events happening right across Northern Ireland this weekend - from Portrush to Kilkeel to Lisbellaw in Co. Fermanagh 🍻
Portrush Beer Festival
Beer Hut Brewing Company
The Dog and Duck Inn
Portrush Beer Festival
Beer Hut Brewing Company
The Dog and Duck Inn
October 2, 2025 at 5:08 PM
Great to see independent beer events happening right across Northern Ireland this weekend - from Portrush to Kilkeel to Lisbellaw in Co. Fermanagh 🍻
Portrush Beer Festival
Beer Hut Brewing Company
The Dog and Duck Inn
Portrush Beer Festival
Beer Hut Brewing Company
The Dog and Duck Inn
A reminder if you want to have a look at a list of all Northern Ireland's breweries and where they are on a map, it's right here 🍻
quareswally.com/northern-ire...
quareswally.com/northern-ire...
Northern Ireland’s Commercial Breweries and Brands
26 at the last update (September 2025) 22 breweries and 4 contract brands. Only referencing operating breweries and brands since this blog’s creation in 2012. Click here for an interactive br…
quareswally.com
September 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
A reminder if you want to have a look at a list of all Northern Ireland's breweries and where they are on a map, it's right here 🍻
quareswally.com/northern-ire...
quareswally.com/northern-ire...
There's been a fair bit of chat recently about this new pickle sour beer from Belfast's Bullhouse Brew Co.
It's an opinion divider and conversation starter but if you are a fan, I doubt you'll have a session of these things. There's plenty of salty and sharp pickle juice but one was enough for me 😆
It's an opinion divider and conversation starter but if you are a fan, I doubt you'll have a session of these things. There's plenty of salty and sharp pickle juice but one was enough for me 😆
September 19, 2025 at 2:01 PM
There's been a fair bit of chat recently about this new pickle sour beer from Belfast's Bullhouse Brew Co.
It's an opinion divider and conversation starter but if you are a fan, I doubt you'll have a session of these things. There's plenty of salty and sharp pickle juice but one was enough for me 😆
It's an opinion divider and conversation starter but if you are a fan, I doubt you'll have a session of these things. There's plenty of salty and sharp pickle juice but one was enough for me 😆
A wee 340 mile round trip on the motorbike to the lovely town of Roscommon. If only the beer choice was as appealing 😐 made do with Lagunitas, Weihenstephan, Angelo Poretti and Tiger.
September 14, 2025 at 7:35 PM
A wee 340 mile round trip on the motorbike to the lovely town of Roscommon. If only the beer choice was as appealing 😐 made do with Lagunitas, Weihenstephan, Angelo Poretti and Tiger.
Boundary Brewing do make tasty stout. I could list their fantastic imperials over the years but I'll dial back the ABV love and give this 7.1% Untitled Release the round of applause it deserves.
It's a collab with legends The Kernel Brewery and is as smooth as a Joey Tribbiani chat up line.
It's a collab with legends The Kernel Brewery and is as smooth as a Joey Tribbiani chat up line.
September 11, 2025 at 7:53 PM
Boundary Brewing do make tasty stout. I could list their fantastic imperials over the years but I'll dial back the ABV love and give this 7.1% Untitled Release the round of applause it deserves.
It's a collab with legends The Kernel Brewery and is as smooth as a Joey Tribbiani chat up line.
It's a collab with legends The Kernel Brewery and is as smooth as a Joey Tribbiani chat up line.
I'm being deliberately being slow in working my way through the last bottles of my favourite beer from the now ex-brewery Hilden at Lisburn.
Barney's Brew, a 5% ABV wheat beer, launched in 2008 as a tribute to the 19th century baker Barney Hughes, creator of the Belfast Bap.
Barney's Brew, a 5% ABV wheat beer, launched in 2008 as a tribute to the 19th century baker Barney Hughes, creator of the Belfast Bap.
September 8, 2025 at 9:06 AM
I'm being deliberately being slow in working my way through the last bottles of my favourite beer from the now ex-brewery Hilden at Lisburn.
Barney's Brew, a 5% ABV wheat beer, launched in 2008 as a tribute to the 19th century baker Barney Hughes, creator of the Belfast Bap.
Barney's Brew, a 5% ABV wheat beer, launched in 2008 as a tribute to the 19th century baker Barney Hughes, creator of the Belfast Bap.