Labour TD Alan Kelly’s Intoxicating Liquor (Breweries & Distilleries) Bill 2016 last week passed the second debate stage unopposed in Dáil Éireann and will now go to legislative committee.

If signed into law, it will enable craft beer, cider and spirit makers to sell their wares to visitors rather than having to offer them as part of a guided tour.

“The Bill includes safeguards such as time restrictions of between 10am and 6pm for sales, and fines to ensure owners don’t sell alcohol that is not brewed on site,” Kelly explains. “And there’s a clause preventing the license holders from applying for the types of exemptions and/or extensions to opening hours that pubs and clubs for example, can apply for. The objective here is simple - to remove a regulatory barrier to growth and support an expanding industry in Ireland.”

Black Donkey’s Richard Sibbery and Lough Gill’s Tony Wickham are just two of the brewers who’ve told Hot Press that taproom sales are essential to the expansion of their businesses.

Already welcoming over 5,000 people a year to their Dromhale HQ are Killarney Brewing Company who run hour-long tours from Tuesday-Saturday, which culminate in a complimentary beer tasting. You’ll also be able to enjoy pizza from their wood-fired oven and meet new brewer, Michael Bank, who’s just arrived in the Kingdom from New York.

“Michael’s a really talented guy who’s going to take us to the next level,” enthuse General Manager Barry Spellman. “We’ve a new beer, Rutting Red Ale, coming soon and will be doing our medal-winning Spailpín Saison again for the summer. We’ve also got lots of fun stuff planned for the Killarney Beerfest, which is in its fourth year and running from May 26-28 in the INEC. YellowBelly, Kinnegar, Franciscan Well, Galway Bay, 9 White Deer, Wicklow Wolf, Black Donkey and The Porterhouse are just a handful of the breweries who are joining us there.”

See killarneybrewing.com for more.

Hot Press whistles were comprehensively whetted this week by O’Hara’s 51st State, a 6% New England-style IPA which is a veritable riot of passion fruit, orange, apricot and peach flavours.

Our perfect beach body diet currently precludes it, but once we’ve shifted those few ounces – okay, stone – we’ll give the recommended Blue Stilton and Eton Mess food pairings a go.

It was good to see so many of the fine establishments listed in our Best Of Ireland special picking up Irish Restaurant Awards last week.

It was a double celebration for 5 Fenn’s Quay, a long-time Cork City favourite of ours who won both Best Customer Service and Best Kids Size Me gongs. Presided over by local produce evangelist Kate Lawlor, the food is never less than sensational.

If you’re heading to the Dublin Food Cooperative or have a Fresh branch near you, keep your tastebuds peeled for the Popsy Daisy range of gourmet ‘corn, which comes in Whiskey Salted Caramel, Maple Moose Munch, Apple Crumble and Mocha Java flavours. They’re all organic, FairTrade and dangerously addictive.