Online tickets for the Irish Craft Beer Festival, which returns to the RDS from September 7-9 with Hot Press, naturally, in the thick of things, are available now priced from just €5. We’ll have an extended preview in our next issue as part of our latest Drinks Special.

Among those taking part are Wicklow Wolf who limber up on August 26 with their own Harvest Hop bash in Roundwood. Along with quality nosh and beverages, you’ll be able to feast on Kíla, Clash Jam Wallop, Mick Heslin, Tadgh, Suso Choir, Roisin El Cherif and lots more musical treats. Tickets priced €35 are available from eventbrite.ie.

The hottest table – and barstool! – at the moment in Galway is to be found at SALT (163 Upper Salthill. Tel: 091 448 441. saltgalway.com), which had us won over the moment we clapped greedy eyes on their North African-style All-Spiced Irish Lamb Neck, Shoulder & Rack with Roasted Courgette, Sautéed Potatoes, Aubergine Caviar, Chickpeas & Spiced Tomato Jus. Washed down with a Smoked Bacon Maple Old Fashioned and some live jazz, you’ve a particularly wild part of the Atlantic Way!

Sticking with openings, and having cooked up a storm in Bray, Mt. Everest of Katmandu is bringing its super-tasty Nepalese and Tibetan fare to the Wicklow Street, D2 premises formerly occupied by Stanley’s.

The barbecued spicy Monkfish Tareko is a stunning dish, as are the pan-fried Chow Chow noodles, which you won’t find on too many Irish menus. mteverestofkathmandu.com.

That most celebrated of Northern Irish butchers, McCartney’s of Moira, made it onto Late Night With Seth Meyers last week with their new Gin & Tonic Sausages. Sisters Judith Millar and Sarah Price have also come up with a Kopparberg Pear Cider banger, which is likely to bag them yet another Great Taste Award. mccartneysofmoira.com

A two-storey, 300-seat rooftop restaurant offering 360-degree panoramics of the city-centre will top the new-look Central Bank Building on Dame Street. The plan is to be up and running in time for Christmas 2018. We’re not sure it’d pass advertising muster here, but as part of their sponsorship deal with the Gambrinus brewery, top flight Czech club FK Viktoria Zizkov have installed beer can-shaped managerial dugouts.

Tipple of the Fortnight

GALWAY BAY 10% TWO HUNDRED FATHOMS WHISKEY BARREL AGED IMPERIAL STOUT

It’s not cheap – expect to pay upwards of €8.50 for a 500ml bottle – but this wax-sealed limited edition is truly a world-class beer. At 10% it’s a sipper rather than a glugger, which, if you can resist popping the cap straight away, improves with age. Closer in style to a barley wine than it is your common a garden stout, Two Hundred Fathoms’ big chocolate, fig and vanilla notes combine perfectly with the peaty smokiness of the whisky casks supplied by the good folks at Teeling’s.

To chill or not to chill is the big question. Hedging our bets, Hot Flavours sticks it in the fridge, and then enjoys the different flavours that emerge as it heads towards room temperature. However you choose to drink yours, you’re in for a treat!