Ah, good ol’ trustworthy beer. My love for you will never die

A quote from none other than Homer Simpson, who we all know has a wee penchant for a drop of beer. I didn’t but then a year in Australia happened. I came home after a year there with a new love of beer as well as a new found respect for Irish butter (Aussie butter all tasted rancid to me) and about a stone’s worth of good times on me. It was so worth it.

While I really enjoy a beer, it wasn’t the be all and end all when I learned of my Coeliac diagnosis. I was much more worried about finding decent GF crackers (no joy yet lads), crisps and sausages.

I need not have worried either way as I have learned over the past number of years that GF beer is widely available in Ireland. There are also new brands becoming available on a regular basis, hurrah!

My first introduction to gluten free beer was Estrella Daura, now known as Daura. It’s apparently the world’s best GF beer…..but to me, it’s GF, it’s beer and often it’s the only option. It’s good too, don’t get me wrong! Widely available in Dunnes throughout the country as well as local off licences (just ask yours if they can stock it), Daura is also really over priced. I’ve paid everything for €7.99 for 4 bottles to €10.99. In Spain, I have paid as little as 90c for a bottle in the local shop.

Most recently, the folks at Celia Lager sent me some samples to try. Celia is a Czech lager, it’s really light and tasty and definitely my favourite lager at the moment. Mos really likes it too and he’s a bonafide beer enthusiast or at least that’s what he tells himself. They are working on getting stocked throughout Ireland, both North and South so hopefully you’ll see them available in your local pub and off licence soon.

I really enjoy some of the GF ales on the market too, namely Nick Staffords who also do a good lager and Greens, who also have a nice Pilsner. Greens are widely stocked in Supervalu throughout the country while you’re more likely to find Nick’s in specialist off licences. Greens are usually around €2.70 ish for the 330ml and Nick’s are usually around €4 for the 500ml.

I found this Mongozo Pilsner in Blackrock Cellar recently also, tasty!

Some other options for coeliacs include Crabbies Ginger Beer as well as the known options like Cider. For full brand listings please use your Coeliac Society handbook or your trusty pal, google.

Some known stockists of GF beer:

Dunnes Stores – Nationwide, usually Daura

Supervalu – Nationwide, usually Greens

O’Briens Off Licences – Multiple locations

Castle Off Licence, Tralee, Kerry

Blackrock Cellar, Blackrock, Dublin

Baggot Street Wines, Dublin

Deveney’s – Dundrum, Dublin

Drink Store, Dublin

Hollands – Bray, Co. Wicklow

Martins Off Licence, Dublin

Redmonds Off-Licence, Ranelagh, Dublin

Matsons, Dublin

McHughs Kilbarrack, Dublin

Bradley’s, Dublin

 

Bars and restaurants

The Vic, Tramore, Co. Waterford

Dicey Reillys, Ballyshannon, Co. Donegal

Bunsen Burger, Dublin

Counter Burger, Multiple Dublin locations

Milano, Nationwide

Lighthouse Cinema, Dublin

Against the Grain, Dublin

Solas, Dublin

Red Torch Ginger, Dublin

Bull & Castle, Dublin

The Black Sheep, Dublin

Anseo, Dublin

Lord Edward, Dublin

Bernard Shaw Pub, Dublin South

Blackbird, Rathmines, Dublin South

PMacs, Dublin Centre

JW Sweetman, Dublin

Porterhouse Temple Bar, Dublin

The Back Page, Dublin