Open Gate beers for Belfast pubs

Diageo Ireland has made some of its range of experimental brews from its Open Gate Brewery in St James’s Gate available to 25 pubs in Belfast in a limited edition capacity.

Diageo’s experimental brewery – the Open Gate Brewery – has welcomed thousands of visitors into the brewery-pub on Thomas Street since it opened to the public last November.

Now it has moved out from the brewery and installed its Open Gate Brewery tap in selected pubs in Belfast so that its experimental beers such as 1516 Pilsner, Chocolate and Vanilla Stout, Antwerpen Export stout and Strawberry Porter can be sampled by the general public with new small-batch brews being introduced every two months.

“Since we launched The Open Gate Brewery, we’ve had many requests from publicans and consumers to make our small-batch brews available beyond the Open Gate Brewery so that people can experience our beers,” explained Peter Simpson, a Senior Brewer in the Open Gate Brewery.

Although some brews will remain exclusive to The Open Gate Brewery others are now available initially in 25 Belfast pubs.

Over the coming months, Open Gate Brewery taps will also be installed in select pubs in Dublin.  The first beer to be rolled out was a Rye Pale Ale, said Peter, adding, “It’s an evolution of the Rye Pale Ale brew that we created for our association with Offset back in April”.

This full-bodied blond beer tastes slightly sweet “with grapefruit coming though”.

Keep an eye on www.guinnessopengate.com/partner-pubs for partner pub listings.