It all started with
Inishmacsaint.
I’ve been a fan of the Fermanagh beer for a while now and wanted to know more about the Lough Erne
island here in Northern
Ireland which bears its name, the cross and
6th century monastic remains.
Also, as I live over two hours drive away I had no idea of exactly where
it was. Praise the Lord for the
internet. After much searching I found
its exact location. I became intrigued
by the island and thought it would be a great idea to take a photo of the beer
bottle in front of the church sign on the island.
Then in a second I began planning similar photos for other 
A bit nerdy and sad,
yeah, but what the heck. It would be a
bit of fun to do. What was even better,
my new wife and fellow ale drinker Gillian said she would come with me on my
placename quest, so surely it couldn’t have been that pathetic an idea?
So the adventure was
on. First two to be done were Belfast
Lager at a “Welcome to Belfast” sign (there’s a similar sign on the M2 motorway
outside the city but maybe that wasn’t the best place to stop for a photo!) and
College Green Belfast Blonde at College Green, Belfast (technically yes,
College Green is the brewery name rather than the beer but this is my quest,
right?)
Others followed in a
matter of days like Ards Ballyblack, Whitewater’s award winning deep fruity
Clotworthy Dobbin at Antrim’s Clotworthy Arts Centre; the fresh Clanconnel
Weaver’s Gold at Weaver’s Court; and a quartet of 
After talking to
Charles from Ards Brewing at the Belfast Beer Festival, I’m hopeful that he’ll
produce another batch of the hoppy Pig
Island pale ale soon - I've just to find out where it is! According to him, it’s one of the
smallest islands in Strangford Lough and the name reflects the size of his
business. It’s quite small. So my fun continues… Anyone got a boat?
Oh yeah, I still haven’t been to Inishmacsaint!
Oh yeah, I still haven’t been to Inishmacsaint!
