**New blog post** on a new beer-led restaurant in Derry, masterminded by the north west's brewing alchemist, Declan Nixon. Exciting times ahead! quareswally.com/2026/10/09/d...

Derry Takes Flight

Declan Nixon is known as many things in the Irish beer scene. To simply call him a brewer is so beyond the realms of an understatement it’s criminal. Add in adjectives such as alchemist, lege…

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Another belter weekend at the Portrush Beer Festival. Thanks to all volunteers, those brewers who poured outstanding beers and anyone who listened to my nonsense for two days.

Pre-Portrush Beer Festival aperitif sir? Don't mind if I do.

Too early for a Christmas Ale? A 3½ year old (2023) bottle of God Jul from Norwegian legends, Nøgne. 8.5% ABV and not overly boozy, fruit cake and light nutmeg wisps from this, but I feel it probably tasted better in 2023/4 than it does now in 2026. If you have one, drink it soon.

That was a fun 170 miles of blinding sunshine then torrential rain out into the wild west of Donegal via Caisleáin Óir Hotel Annagry and Highlands Hotel Glenties. Both fine purveyors of Errigal Brewing Company (it's brewed at the Caisleáin Óir)

What a cracking night in The Sunflower pub at the launch of new Belfast brewery, Treble Brewing & Blending. A mostly saison based venture, expect no hazy IPAs from these guys.

Following on from yesterday's post, the first Northern Irish microbrewery to start canning beer was Knockout with its Southpaw IPA. Canned January 2017.

Ten years ago, I completed a solo motorbike charity run where I visited all 24 of Northern Ireland's microbreweries in 36 hours. Here's the incredibly generous bottle donation I received from those breweries - note that not one beer was being canned in NI in the summer of 2016.

Choose grunty motorbikes. Choose 700 miles of twisty Scottish Highland roads. Choose a beer named after a character in your favourite movie of all time and wondering can it get any better? Choose a pilsner. Choose Five Kingdoms. Choose Renton.

Beer people are great people @ Outpost Festival, Dog & Duck Inn, Fermanagh, Northern Ireland.

A memorable biking trip to the Cairngorms includes a night at the superb Wasted Degrees taproom at Blair Atholl. Great service, lovely family atmosphere and a top quality barleywine 😉

Well then. That'll be be the Belfast Bullhouse 10th birthday festival ❤️

**New blog post** a few words on football and a silly drinks challenge. quareswally.com/2026/07/23/a...

A World Cup Challenge: 32/48

I’m a massive football fan. I played league football for a significant number of years before my legs told me to wise up. Quite a few who played with me over those years and saw me hit the si…

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My pointless mission to consume as many beverages from participating World Cup countries comes to an end. It was a bit of craic and I surprised myself by reaching 32 😄 31. 🇺🇾 Uruguay - Juanico Albariño 32. 🇩🇿 Algeria - Hamoud lemonade

Another couple ticked off in my pointless quest to grab as many beverages from World Cup countries. Really didn't think I would reach thirty 😀 Happy weekend everyone! 29. 🇨🇭Switzerland - Emdbrau Shandy 30. 🇿🇦 South Africa - Fitch & Leedes Ginger Ale

World Cup country drinks mission continues with no. 28 🇵🇹 being a bit easy as I'm in Portugal 😎 Take your pick from micro breweries Barona, Nortada and Musa or macro beers Super Bock, Cristal and Sagres.

Sad to see the end of McCracken's brewery of Portadown 😔

Different kinds of finds as my quest for in-shop purchases of beverages from participating World Cup countries continues. 25. 🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia - Luna Iced Coffee 26. 🇪🇬 Egypt - Mom's Food Blendy Smoothie Guava 27. 🇧🇷 Brazil - Guaraná soft drink

The eagle-eyed may spot a nasty can of Foster's in my continuing quest for beverages from participating World Cup countries. Let the slagging begin 😛 20 🇦🇷 Argentina - Quilmes lager 21 🇦🇺 Australia - Foster's 22 🇭🇷 Croatia - Garden Brewery DIPA 23 🇳🇴 Norway - Lervig IPA 24 🇪🇸 Spain - Rosa Blanca lager

Into the high teens as my quest for beverages from participating World Cup countries continues. Summer weather means the fruit drinks are out. 17. 🇸🇪 Sweden - Rekorderlig Pineapple & Kiwi 18. 🇩🇪 Germany - Schöfferhofer Pineapple 19. 🇳🇿 New Zealand - Old Mout Mango & Passionfruit

The numbers increase as my quest for beverages from participating World Cup countries continues. 14. Moosehead Lager - Canada 🇨🇦 15. Galipette Rosé Cider - France 🇫🇷 16. Stiegl Radler - Austria 🇦🇹

This one's a bit different as I continue my quest for beverages from participating World Cup countries. 11. Istak Strawberry AF Beer - Iran 🇮🇷 12. Traubi Raisin Juice - Iraq 🇮🇶 13. Wild Tiger Energy - Jordan 🇯🇴

Board this Manchester bus and you're not a passenger. The number plate is calling you a ...

Continuing my quest for beverages from participating World Cup countries. 8. Efes - Turkey 🇹🇷 9. Asahi - Japan 🇯🇵 10. Modelo - Mexico 🇲🇽

"A beer festival in Antrim? It'll never work." Fools.

Happy #BeerDayNI Enjoying a collab NEIPA from Tilt & Pour and Heaney. If you've 5 mins, read this excellent piece from Steven at Tilt & Pour www.tiltnpour.com/blog/finding...

Gonna see how many beverages I can have from participating countries at the FIFA World Cup. Kicking off with Bavaria 0 IPA (Holland), Newbarns & Siren collab (Scotland and England) and Bud Lime (Czechia) 😁⚽️

Calling all drinkers, pubs, retailers and breweries! Monday June 15th is the annual Beer Day NI - a day to celebrate all beer brewed by independent breweries across Northern Ireland 🍻 #BeerDayNI #northernireland

Seems right to have this on the opening day of the 2026 World Cup and thinking back 10 years to our incredible time at Euro 2016. A rotbier (red lager) from Our Brewery, Randalstown, Northern Ireland.