They said I was mad. Well that's not really true, though Mrs W did look at me weirdly in the dark when I proposed the idea at 1am one February night. That idea being motorbiking to all of Northern Ireland's physical micro/nano brewery sites in a short designated period (later to be decided at 36 hours). I love my craft beers and I love riding my bike but the two don't like each other for obvious reasons. However this was an acceptable way of combining them both.
So once I got the idea in my head, that was that. Lots and lots of emails/texts/DMs later, 24 breweries were contacted (there are other contract breweries in NI but they couldn't be visited for obvious reasons) and a route planned - all for a specific charitable cause which can be
found here.
August 15th arrived and I set off at 8.10am on a gorgeously warm and sunny Monday. I had 36 hours to bike 500 miles and visit 24 breweries. Let's do this!
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ROUTE 500:
Carrickfergus, Mid Antrim, Ballycastle, Portrush, Derry City, Greysteel, Plumbridge, Donaghmore,
Enniskillen, Derrygonnelly, Armagh, Newry, Kilkeel, Ballygowan, Greyabbey, Belfast, Hilden, Derriaghy. |
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| 1. Hillstown, Ahoghill - MONDAY 8.55am |
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| 2. Barrahooley, Martinstown 9.30am |
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| 3. Glens of Antrim Brewery, Murlough Bay 10.30am |
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| 4. Lacada, Portrush 11.15am |
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| 5. Dopey Dick, Derry 12.30pm |
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| 6. Walled City, Derry 1.00pm |
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| 7. Northbound, Campsie 1.30pm |
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| 8. O'Connor Craft Beer, Greysteel 2.15pm |
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| 9. Pokertree, Carrickmore 4.15pm |
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| 10. Red Hand Brewery/The Brewer's House, Donaghmore 4.45pm |
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| 11. Inishmacsaint, Derrygonnelly TUESDAY 10am |
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| 12. Sheelin, Bellanaleck 10.30am |
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| 13. Station Works, Newry 12.30pm |
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| 14. Mourne Mountains Brewery, Warrenpoint 1.10pm |
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| 15. Whitewater, Kilkeel 2.00pm |
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| 16. Farmageddon, Ballygowan 4.30pm |
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| 17. Ards Brewing, Greyabbey 5.15pm |
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| 18. Bullhouse, Newtownards 6.00pm |
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| 19. Hercules, Belfast 6.30pm |
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| 20. Boundary, Belfast 6.50pm |
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| 21. Knockout, Belfast 7.00pm |
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| 22. Brewbot, Belfast 7.20pm |
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| 23. Hilden 7.45pm |
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24. Black Mountain Brewery/Speckled Hen Pub, Derriaghy 7.55pm
MISSION COMPLETE IN 35 HRS 45 MINS! |
So many thanks to mention...
- First of all, to Darren at Pokertree who helped me pick the bike up when I dropped it in his drive!!! :-(
- To every single brewer who answered their email/texts/messages, gave up their time to meet me on the run, encouraged me and donated money or stock to be balloted for charity. Anyone wanna win some beer?
- To Kim at
Fastway Couriers NI who enthusiastically gave her support and pledged to transport the donated stock after the run.
- To the
Westville Hotel in Enniskillen for discounting the family rooms on the Monday night. (Mrs W and the kids drove to Fermanagh to meet me at the halfway point)
- To everyone on social media who liked, shared and retweeted my progress over the 36 hours.
- To the higher entity who provided the massive orange ball in the cloudless sky for the entire two days. The dry roads made for a wonderful and memorable ride around Northern Ireland.
- And finally to everyone who donated to the charitable cause,
again details here. Over £1,100 raised. I'm genuinely humbled by your generosity and kind words.
Thank you,
Roy
