We will be heading to Ireland soon and of course we want to go to pubs to enjoy the music, but I really care less about alcohol, especially beer, lagers or Guinness. I do not mind a mix drink occasionally.
Are their different options? Will I stand out?
Do they smoke in these pubs?
Agree with Emma, you'll see all the smokers gathered right outside the door - I had to hold my breath until I got inside the pub, yuk. You can drink anything you like. I like a good beer but can't stand Guinness so I never drank that. One thing I had never tried until an Irish pub was beer and cider mixed (this was quite a while ago, now it's popular everywhere). I thought it sounded horrible but it was very good, especially the pear cider and beer, I kinda got hooked on it.
jameson, ginger ale and a twist of lime. No foo foo drinks. I like Guinness and a cider if it is dry enough.
I appreciate the replies!!
Mixing beers used to be very popular and seems to be making a comeback. Advisable to avoid asking for a black and tan by name (stout and bitter) though in Ireland. Some other old and probably inadvisable and or obsolete terms:
Grandmother = old and mild
Mother-in-law = old and bitter
Boilermaker = brown and mild
M & B = mild and bitter (even more confusingly May and Baker)
Dragon's blood = barley wine and rum
Black velvet = Guinness and champagne
Blacksmith = Guinness and barley wine
I loved the draft Bulmers or Mangers cider (not bottles and not over ice), and would fly back just to have a pint. Also, you might be surprised by drinking a Guinness in its natural habitat. I don't like dark beer and thought it was delicious. Try it at least once, then move on to other options.
The ciders are excellent -- there will usually be a choice -- my favorite is Bulmer's. And definitely not over ice.
Bulmer's for me, please!
Greeting from Ireland, have no fear about asking for a' black and tan' in any Irish pub if thats something you'd like to drink. Not one Irish person would care, and if any would, then they need their head examined!
Enjoy our pub culture...
Le meas/with respect
Stephen McPhilemy
Rick Steves Ireland Tour-Guide
Dingle & Derry
You clearly haven't experienced where use of the term 'black and tan' caused offence and the person asked to leave the bar.
Of course that might be isolated and maybe in the past now, but why risk the potential of sourness. Just ask for stout and bitter.
hmmm..... all this talk about mixing beer when I said I don't like beer!!! Lol!!
I googled Bulmer's cider which sounds like a possibility, are the various flavors available in many pubs?
I have not personally seen flavors of Bulmers in a pub.
Bulmers (Ireland) used to be owned by Bulmers (UK). When it was sold it retained the use of the Bulmers name in Ireland only.
Magner was however the name of the person who started the Irish company in the first place.
No idea though what UK Bulmers is called in Ireland ...
The last time I was in Ireland, we spent a couple of nights in Temple Bar. Lots of fun, and I'm not a drinker. I like to have one drink and I seem to remember enjoying a "Shandy"? Is that a half beer, half lemonade?
Well, I live in the "south" in the USA, and am a lightweight. So, Emma, I guess I'm a "shandy drinking southerner", and proud of it! :-)
Any suggestions on white wines to drink?
Bulmers and Magners are the same thing, bottled under different names. I have seen bottles of Magners in Ireland. I am not aware of more than one flavor (super yummy). Cider has about the same alcohol content as beer. I've been told that bottled is better than draft because it's fizzier. If you like bourbon, try some Irish whiskey. Jameson & ginger is a common drink (Jameson whiskey, ginger ale, and lemon wedge). I don't remember being in a pub that didn't have a full array of spirits and liqueurs.
Also, pubs have very good food. For a tasty, filling and cheap lunch, order the soup of the day; it's vegetarian and thick and comes with fresh baked black soda bread and butter, all for €5.
Having seen what goes on in pubs in Ireland (especially hen and stag parties), unless you are stark naked, I don't think you will stand out, no matter what you do. You can also stand for a few minutes and/or wander through the pub listening to the music - if you like the music and the ambiance, get a drink and stay. If you don't, go on to the next one. If you want to smoke, you can take your drink outside with you.
Explore the pubs. They are often a warren of different rooms (and more bars) and very interesting. Talk to the other patrons. Everybody in pubs is talkative. Actually everybody in Ireland is talkative. I guess it's the Blarney Stone.
One of my tour guides was an Israeli woman who did her master's thesis on the Irish pub. She lived for weeks at a time in Clifden (a town of about 2000 in Galway) and spent hours every day in one of the pubs , never drank a drop of alcohol and became good friends with half the town.
Ireland was one of the first places to ban smoking in pubs.
Don't skip the pubs. It's where the fun happens. Sit at the bar and talk to the locals. Soak up the music. The Irish people are wonderful. If you don't drink alcohol, no biggie. I did love the bulmers. I had never had cider before. One of the ladies told me they drink the bottled Bulmers (light) poured over ice. Draft is draft. I tried both but preferred draft. But if you are not a drinker, you could nurse one over ice for a while longer. And the Guiness is different. I waited until the last few days to try it (we were at the storehouse and couldn't much avoid it.) well suddenly I like Guiness! When we got home I ordered one when we went out. One sip and gave it to the hubs. Definitely different over there.
There was one great pub inDublin called Cobblestone that I read about in a guide book.we just popped in late afternoon( after dragging my husband all over trying to find it.) musicians just got together and played in the little front alcove. It was a family affair, with a couple of kids sitting next to their da with their homework after school. I the break I learned that one of the fiddle players just walked in. She was from Bulgaria and living in Dublin to study traditional Irish. Just a great experience. Kenmare, if you get there has some lovely pubs.
Oh, and one question I kept getting when talking to people in Ireland about our trip was, "well, how did you find us?" I kept answering about good maps and websites and guidebooks and such until I realized they meant, "are you having a good time?"
This thread makes me excited for our trip next year. Loved the pubs in London & the ones in Ireland sound even better!
The only pub I visited in London that was close to as interesting was Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese. Every pub I visited in Ireland and North Ireland as well was great. And you don't need to sit at the bar to chat, you can talk to the folks at the next table, or just walk up to a table and say hi. You'll be amazed at the variety of people you meet and the stories you hear.
We're just starting our 3rd week in Ireland. Depending on my mood and the time of day, I have ordered Guinness, Savignon Blanc, hot tea, Diet Coke, Jameson/ginger ale/lime, and even just water (if I'm also having food). No one reacted to any of my choices except when I said "hot tea". I was told "we don't serve any other kind"! So just order whatever you want (except iced tea). No one cares!
