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We had a leisurely start, which was great after such a hard day yesterday. 

On the way to  Howth Golf Club for our 9:20 starting time, we drove through Monday morning traffic. The kids are just back to school all wearing their school uniforms, the littlest in orange (patriotic colors). A couple of boys even had a few golf clubs stuffed in their backpacks or trying to ride bicycle with clubs across the handlebars.. 

The course was close by, but we didn’t know  that it is on the side of the hill! Oh dear. The advertising did say “beautiful views.” Big hint. We would be climbing and climbing, and gasp, climbing, and hitting lots of unexpected shots to crazy greens and possibly losing a few balls. All that was true, but there was still the odd fabulous shot, encounters with real Irishmen and a fine Indian meal afterwards. Great fun.

Afterwards, we were pretty tuckered from walking 4 1/2 miles. John had carried his own bag and I pushed a trolley for the round. We did have energy for one more outing. We both wanted to visit  Portmarnock Golf Club. Just to check if they had a tee time for tomorrow. They didn’t so I took pictures and bought ball markers. Looks like we’ll stick to our plan which will be a surprise for tomorrow. 

Today we meant to stay near the hotel so we had time to rest up for our next adventure. A pub crawl. (John was a bit tuckered and said that the way he was feeling it would definitely be a “crawl.”)

Pub crawling, the notes:

We decided to take the D2 crazy driving double decker “night bus” in to Dublin because it would take us right where we needed to go —back to The Spire. 

Irish bars don’t have TVs and sports bars I meant for people to get together and talk

Basic facts of beer:

Ale is top fermenting  quick yeast

Lager is longer bottom fermenting—stored longer, from Pilsa in Czech Republic

Belgian beers are ale, 

Wild yeast makes sour beer

Dark beer— stout, added roasted barley in the mix. East Germans used roasted barley for coffee when they couldn’t get it

Like chicory from the south— like creme brûlée— caramel

British system, imperial pints determines strength

IPA- made in the UK was sent to India for British soldiers there. Extra hops were added to keep it fresh for the long trip and the heat.

2008-2009 micr breweries started when financial crisis started. Craft beers

Tour started because a tourist wanted a pint of craft beer.

Hops come from us. 

1. Bru brewery, hoppy
2. Astara stout, Galway Bay (called porter because the porters carrying produce in london)
3. IPA  India pale ale, Full Sail (zero is .05) American style, strong aromas, reaction to criticism of weak Am beer, light beers