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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 9h

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 01/10/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 27/09/2026

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 19/09/2026

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)

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 06/09/2026

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 27/08/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 26/08/2026

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 19/08/2026

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 15/08/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 10/08/2026

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 😉

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 01/08/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 20/07/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 10/07/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 07/07/2026

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 05/07/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 02/07/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 30/06/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 29/06/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 25/06/2026

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 🇦🇹

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 23/06/2026

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 🇯🇴

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 21/06/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 19/06/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 15/06/2026

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...

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 14/06/2026

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) 😁⚽️

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 12/06/2026

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

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 11/06/2026

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.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 08/06/2026

Honoured to once again represent my old football team (and score) in a charity memorial game. Then back home for a Hazy Caprese basil pale ale by Heaney Farmhouse Brewery 😍

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 27/05/2026

What a scorchio few days to choose for a 602 mile round trip from County Antrim to Mayo and Galway 🌞 Sticky and twisty roads, stunning scenery, great craic 🏍🍻

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 23/05/2026

I guess beer pump designers at Coronation Street don't know how to spell Lager or Bière. So many more questions too. 🙈 #coronationstreet #corrie

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 20/05/2026

The Need for Mead. It's definitely a rhubarb mead kinda day, whatever that means. Lovely sharp, tangy rhubarb on top of the sweet honey mead. Anyone else enjoy a good mead? 💷 Vineyard, Belfast

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 28/04/2026

25 taps at Lacada Brewery's taproom in Portrush. Go visit the Secret Brewery, if you can find it 😉 #northernireland

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 16/04/2026

We know that Track Brewery is one of the UK's best and I was fortunate to visit the taproom recently. Take a 15 min walk from Piccadilly train station for a cracking environment with friendly staff and to be able to savour a draught Gold Top DIPA is just mwah! 🍻👌🏼

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 07/04/2026

Easier to find a Scottish mild in Ballycastle than a Belfast pale ale. Perusing the beer shelves of the town's Co-op intrigued me. I couldn't find the Boundary/Co-op beer but did pick up Dark Bothy, the supermarket's 4.2%ABV collaboration with Fyne Ales from Argyll and Bute.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 02/04/2026

Old words on a new blog post. quareswally.com/2026/04/01/b...

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 31/03/2026

*Public Information Announcement* Avoid this Mexican beer, a cousin of Corona. A taste as exciting as boiled rice. You're welcome 😁

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 30/03/2026

A weekend when the County Antrim branch of Mensa 😉 (some of which are lager-only drinkers!) headed to Liverpool and discovered the Azvez and Adroit Theory collaboration 10% ABV P(DOOM) cream stout 😱 As thick as a mud smoothie, it's a front runner for 2026 GB Beer of the Year 🤩

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 23/03/2026

Boarded Verdant's annual Double IPA hype train but was more excited at taking my first garden beer photo of 2026. God bless that yellow dot. This year's Putty is more vegetal than previous versions but is it worth the £8.50 price tag? Just about.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 17/03/2026

Wishing you all a happy St. Patrick's day ☘️

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 13/03/2026

History lessons, hard facts and square mash tuns at Bullhouse Brew Co. A good wee piece here from @craftbeerchannel.bsky.social - hope you visit Belfast again soon Jonny! 😊🍻 youtu.be/FqjEP0vkpEg?...

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Bullhouse Brewery is thriving against all the odds.

YouTube video by The Craft Beer Channel

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 12/03/2026

There's a Northern Ireland beer scene outside of Belfast? It was a pleasure to share a bit of knowledge in this month's Best of British magazine.

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Roy@QuareSwally Beer Blog @quareswally.bsky.social · 08/03/2026

A quality stout oozing with chocolate and blackberry notes at County Down's new brewery, Bangor Bay Brewery. Based at The King's Quay pub in the city (yes, its a city) 😂 there's currently a 150L brew system in place with plans to expand to 3,000L.

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