Christmas comes early for Team Hot Press as Indie Beer Week returns from June 22-July 1 with a record breaking number of Irish breweries participating.

Tours, tastings, music, food and much more can be looked forward to as caps are popped, rings pulled and pumps worked overtime throughout this hop-adoring country of hours.

A quick look at the indiebeerweek.ie Events section reveals the scope of the “Real Beer, Real People!” celebrations.

“The idea is to familiarise people in communities with the breweries that are there,” says Rick LeVert from Donegal’s Kinnegar Brewing. “It’s a national initiative but with a very local component to it. We’re celebrating the huge dispersion of breweries from up here in Donegal to Waterford, Wicklow, Leitrim, Longford, Louth, Kerry… it’s truly a nationwide thing.

“A lot of people have this view of craft beer – at this stage we should just be calling it ‘beer’ – being a highfalutin thing whereas it’s absolutely not,” Rick continues. “The reason Kinnegar has been able to grow is the fantastic support we’ve received from people in our immediate catchment area. They love the idea that the beer they’re drinking is from a couple of miles down the road. There’s a real sense of connection. “Each brewery’s got its own way of doing things, which is reflected in the huge diversity of Indie Beer Week events. The only ‘qualification’ you need to get involved with what’s happening all over the country is liking beer!”

Sadly, having yet to develop Padre Pio-like powers of bilocation, Team HP will have to settle for the following shindigs, which are very much the tip of the beery iceberg. Please note that a lot of the events require pre-registering.

June 22: After a few hometown snorters in Bar Rua on Clarendon Street, Dublin 2 where Carrig Brewing are staging their Indie Beer Fest, we’re zooming down to Blacks of Kinsale for their 7pm-midnight open house.

June 23: It’s up with the lark as we head north to Galway Bay Brewery for a chunk of their 11am-5pm beer ‘n’ BBQ session. Back then to Dublin for a first glimpse of the Porterhouse’s state of the art new brewery in Glasnevin. Tour times are 1pm, 2pm, 3pm, and 4pm. The company chopper will then fly us to Metalman’s own pub on Merchants Quay in Waterford from where a 2pm-6pm scavenger hunt – with plentiful beer breaks - will commence. More helicopter fuel will be guzzled as we hit Roscommon Town for the night’s Black Donkey’s tap take-over in JJ Harlow’s. Ours is a pint of Buck-It Hybrid Amber Ale, thanks!

June 24: At least one long, lingering Indie Beer Week day has to be spent in the pub. Seeing as we’re out west, we’re going to grab a high-stool in The Swagman in Sligo and sup on their own Ned’s Red and brilliantly named Shtuff.

June 25: We’ll be resuming in picturesque Redcross where Wicklow Brewery have interactive tours and tastings at 2pm and 5pm. Make sure to try the St. Kevin’s Red while you’re there.

June 26: We’ve no idea what Kinnegar’s 6am-7am Brewery Bootcamp comprises off, but will find out when we start our day in the Donegal beer capital, Letterkenny. After a power nap, we’ll be back at 6pm for some further Kinegar Fermentation Fun!
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June 27: Having treated ourselves to a much-needed lie-in, we’re hitting up the Bridewell Brewery in Clifden for one of their excellent interactive tours, which today are at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm. Needing to collect some fresh undies, we’re returning to the capital for the Hope Beer Open Day in Howth, which kicks-off at 3pm.

June 28: In preparation for the final Indie Beer Week push – and with Y-front crisis averted – we’re going to take it easy and confine ourself to the 7pm-9pm meet the brewer tasting session in the Porterhouse on Parliament Street.

June 29: Carlow’s very fine T Street venue beckons as 12 Acres Brewing throw a rock ‘n’ suds party from 8pm-11.30pm with a repeat performance tomorrow.

June 30: Massive fans of their The Sinner IPA that we are, we’ll be first with our nose pressed against the glass for the O Brother Open House festivities in Kilcoole, start time to be confirmed. Saturday whistles whetted, we’ll be enjoying more of the same at the Dungarvan Brewing Company who are welcoming all-comers from midday-5pm, and then darting to Limerick where the fab Emma Langford is headlining a Downs Syndrome Association fundraiser in the new Treaty City brewery.

July 1: Our Indie Beer Week marathon ends in Templemore where White Gypsy are throwing a Canada Day party from 1pm-5pm with a Maple Leaf-fluttering array of tasty beers and eats.

Wherever you end up, and whatever’s in your glass, have a fabulous Indie Beer Week!

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