Kickstarting things off for 2025, the first two episodes of this new season will highlight beer and food producers who are exhibiting at one of Ireland's largest festivals, Bord Bia Bloom at Phoenix Park. With a little help from IrishBeer.ie, they
decided to first see which of the participating beers would work best paired
with fish and seafood. The results are delicious!

EPISODE 1
If you’re going to be sampling some of Ireland’s best seafood, the setting is
key. Thankfully, the good folk over at Kish Fish Café in Howth very kindly
allowed us to record in their office. With views right out onto the Irish Sea,
it was the ideal location, and they were the perfect hosts!

Managing Director Tadhg O'Meara told us all about how the Kish Fish business started in Dublin’s city centre, and they’ve successfully expanded to become vital
wholesalers and operators of their fantastic seafood cafe on Howth pier.
After settling in, Kian Louet-Feisser from Carlingford Oysters joined the
table and got shucking! He shared details of how his family started the
business in the 70s and now ships their marvellous molluscs worldwide.

With his operation just down the road in Kilbarrack, Wim De Jongh from
Hope Brewery didn’t have as far to travel and he brought with him the ideal
beer to match with those oysters. His “Overboard Witbier” was quite literally
designed to pair with seafood. It's wheat beer and malt base provided a
creamy texture but it was the addition of orange peel and juniper berries in
the brew that really bounced beautifully off the salinity of the oysters.

Our second pairing began with another amazing Irish family business - Mag
Kirwan from Goatsbridge Trout made the journey from Kilkenny. She
proudly told us all about how it all started in the 1960s, servicing local
restaurants, to now being a beloved nationwide product available in multiple
supermarkets.

Their whiskey-dill-infused rainbow trout was her choice for
a beer pairing, and it was sublime with Irish Pale Ale from O’Haras. This
was brought down by Sergiu Leu from the brewery’s sales team and he got
into how O’Haras (also known as Carlow Brewing) got started nearly 30
years ago by owner Seamus O’Hara. Over those three decades, they have
very steadily managed to build up a brilliant portfolio as well as excellent
international distribution. The dry hopping technique they employ for this
ale gives it a long, zesty finish, which cuts through the soft smoke and spice
of the fish.

Both of these pairings can be enjoyed at Bord Bia Bloom, which runs from
May 29th - June 2nd in Phoenix Park.

Stay tuned for our second Bord Bia Bloom episode coming in two weeks as we delve into what types of beers can be paired alongside some sweeter, more dessert-type dishes!