If today has done nothing else it's reconfirmed my believe that *most* pubs and restaurants care not a jot about local (or 'craft') beer. They will put in a token tap, as it's expected, or put a few bottles on thier drink list to bulk it out ...

... but they don't restock, don't train their staff and, when it comes down to it, don't really care. One pub said that the were waiting on a supplier delivery and that 'all [they] do are ales anyway' - whatever that means. That was exactly what I was looking for/asked for...!

Later in a restaurant I was sold a house pale ale brewed by 'a gang up in Dublin' that was unpale ale-like, unpleasant and unfinishable. Its bottle conditioned local replacement was given to me with a half pint glass of ice! I had to teach the server why I needed a pint glass.

Who's to blame? The retailer? The supplier? The consumer? Probably a bit of all three but I think it ultimately rests with the latter for allowing it to happen. Am I being too precious about this and possibly preoccupied? Maybe but either way the experiences soured my day a bit.

Thanks everyone for the replies, and apologies for the typos - I was on a roll. I probably need to digest this trip and spit it out in a blog post or two. It's been a thought provoking few days - I'm enjoying our trip but haven't *quite* scratched that wanderlust itch yet ...

... It may have made me a tad narky.