Great Trips... Made Better With Beer!
The Beery Soul of Ireland - With Utepils Brewing Co.
June 15 - 25, 2023
We are proud to be selected as the "Utepils Brewing Beer Trip of the Year for 2023"! Join some of the owners of Utepils Brewing, from Minneapolis, Minnesota, on this exploration of breweries, beers, pubs, and music across the sea.
Dublin, Limerick, Dingle, Ballyvaughan, and Galway, oh my! Classic Pubs, amazing scenery, great music, excellent meals, small breweries, and the Irish folks! Summer in Ireland is hard to beat!
The history, people, and landscapes of Ireland are rich and varied. And slowly, but surely, its deeply rooted pub and music culture is making a little room at the bar for good, local, craft beer. Join us for a thorough investigation of this beer trend.
With stays in bustling Dublin, vibrant Galway, soulful Ballyvaughan, spectacular Dingle, and historic Limerick, this trip offers a great variety of land and seascapes, archaeology, pub culture, architecture, folklore, history, and friendly Irish people, not to mention a good sampling of craft brews. Great hotels in excellent locations serve as comfortable bases, and travel by private coach offers opportunities for sampling local flavors along the way!
We'll explore the pubs of Dublin, the lanes of Limerick, the scenic Dingle Peninsula, the Burren, the Cliffs of Moher, the streets of Galway, and drink with the locals at more than a few hand selected pubs and craft breweries -- with time to explore along the way.
Trip Price (Land-only, Based on double occupancy)
$3,495 per person | Single Room add extra $785
Beer Highlights & Brewery Visits
Craft breweries in out-of-the-way places | Hand-picked pubs loaded with history and a good beer list. | Traditional music pubs | Beer focused meals | Time for Guinness and Jamesons too!
Overnight Stays*
Fine, centrally located hotels,9 nights total:
2 nights Dublin | 2 nights Limerick | 2 nights Dingle| 1 night Ennistymon| 2 nights Galway |
Included Tours
Locally Guided Tours in Dublin, Limerick, and Galway. Plus pub crawls & touring on our private transportation -- the "Beer Bus"
Include Meals
9 Breakfasts | 4 Lunches | 3 Dinners
Arrival & Departure
Trip Begins in Dublin | Ends Galway, Ireland
Flights to Shannon International or Dublin would both work for this trip, depending on your city.
Daily Itinerary*
Day 1, Thursday - June 15
Fly to Ireland
Fly to Ireland - bound for Dublin. There are several transfer options including shuttles, buses, and private transfers.
Overnight aloft.
Day 2, Friday - June 16
Walking tour, Dublin Welcome Dinner
Upon arrival in Dublin, check into our hotel not far from the River Liffey in the heart of the city. We'll begin with a locally guided city tour/pub crawl en route to our welcome dinner. The rest of the evening is free. Dublin is a vibrant city with lots of Irish spirit and thriving pub, arts, and music scenes. And some great craft beer pubs featuring Irish and international beers, and a few whiskeys too.
Overnight in Dublin. (D)
Day 3, Saturday - June 17
Free day in Dublin, craft beer pub crawl, Jamesons? Guinness Storehouse?
All Day is free in the City on the Liffey, Today you have a chance to wander the parks, visit Trinity College, explore local neighborhood pubs, or take in a couple of Dublin's famous institutions -- the Guinness Storehouse and the Jameson Distillery. So many choices for a summer day in Dublin. The evening is free – with many great restaurants, pubs, and live music venues see.
Overnight in Dublin. (B)
Day 4, Sunday - June 18
To Limerick via Kilbeggan Distillery, historic Pub lunch, and Bunratty Castle.
A leisurely start this morning as we check out and move on to Limerick. Along the we'll visit historic Kilbeggan Distillery, stop at an authentic pub for lunch, and visit the castle and folk museum at Bunratty. A pint or two at Durty Nellie's is likely in order, before we head to Limerick and our hotel located in the heart of historic Limerick. The evening is free for pub exploring or relaxing after a big day.
Overnight in Limerick. (B, L)
Day 5, Monday - June 19
Explore Limerick, Local Brewers, Pub Music
This morning after a hearty Irish breakfast, we'll set out on foot with a local guide for some history, legends, and a chance to plan your day in what was known for centuries as the most beautiful city in Ireland. Afternoon and evening are free. Several good food, beer, and music options await. We will be sure to visit Crew and other local Irish beer venues.
Overnight in Limerick. (B)
Day 6, Tuesday - June 20
To Dingle Peninsula, via Adare and Tralee
Depart Limerick this morning bound for Ireland's wild southwestern coast – the Dingle Peninsula and County Kerry. Along the way we will stop in Adare for some postcard pictures and perhaps a pint. Continue to Tralee for a traditional pub lunch with some local beers, before landing in Dingle, along it's eponymous harbor, our home for two nights. Dinner and the evening are open, with time to explore and gather for music and food in the small city.
Overnight in Dingle. (B, L)
Day 7, Wednesday - June 21
Western Kerry Brewery, Explore Dingle Peninsula, Music and Pubs in Dingle Town
This morning, after breakfast (maybe a morning walk along the harbor) we will travel like locals, by bus, along the scenic drive to Western Kerry Brewery for a tour, tasting, and local lunch. Back to Dingle or beyond this afternoon. The local bus service is excellent with many places to stop and explore.
Overnight in Dingle. (B, L)
Day 8, Thursday - June 22
From Kerry to Clare, visit Western Herd Brewing, to Ennistymon
After breakfast and a chance to bid farewell, we leave Dingle, headed to County Clare and the city of Ennistymon. En route we will make a stop for lunch (on your own), before continuing to Western Herd Brewery, set historically in a 'shed' built by the family grandfather on their remote farm. We will hear a few stories, see the old buildings, visit the brewery, and taste the full range of beers. A short drive takes us to Ennistymon. Check-in, and regather for dinner.
Overnight in Ennistymon. (B, D)
Day 9, Friday - June 23
To Galway, Cliffs of Moher, The Burren Brewery, Galway City Tour / Pub Crawl
Our short stay in Ballyvaughan, positions us well for today explorations. Visit the lunar-scaped Burren, a dolmen, a ruined castle, a faery circle perhaps. We will stop in Lisdoonvarna – home to the matchmaker festival – for lunch and beer at the Burren Brewery. This afternoon, we'll visit the mighty Cliffs of Moher and their modern visitors center. After time to walk, explore the cliffs, and snap some acrophobic photographs, we head to Galway for the final 2 nights of the trip. Check-in and regather for a guided walk around town – a pub stop along the way, of course.
Overnight in Galway. (B, L)
Day 10, Saturday - June 24
Free Day in Galway City, Farewell Beer Dinner
Today is free to explore Galway, pub-crawl, see the sights or shop. Daytrips to the Connemara or the Aran Island are possible today (weather permitting). Tonight we'll celebrate a happy trip at our Farewell Dinner, with a nice local beer list, and stories and pub tales from the trip. Cheers!
Overnight in Galway. (B, D)
Day 11, Sunday - June 25
End of the trip...
Alas, time to go home. Transfer to Shannon or Dublin Airport are easily arranged.
Overnight Your House. (B)
Trip Deposit (per person)
$400.00
Number of person:
* The deposit is refundable less a $50 cancellation fee up to 60 days prior to departure. For cancellations made less than 60 days prior to departure, the full deposit will be forfeited. For cancellations made after final payment, refunds will be made (where possible) according to service contracts and supplier guidelines; these refunds will be based on recoverable expenses. See the full Terms and Conditions here.
TRAVEL DETAILS:
Air Travel is not included. Travelers are encouraged to use mileage awards, travel outside group dates, or visit other European cities while abroad to make the most out of the trip. Please confirm the trip's operation before purchasing air tickets.
Most Trips officially begin in the lobby of the first hotel. Meeting times, information about getting from the airport or train station to the hotel, the detailed itinerary, hotel addresses, and a trip roster will be included with your Final Trip Documents, which you'll receive 2 - 3 weeks before the trip.
How we travel on tour: All included excursions and visits include transportation. Within the cities, we rely on walking and private or public transportation (uber, taxis, busses, trams, etc.). Travel between cities is by private motor coach, luxury van, ferry, and/or rail.
REGARDING INCLUDED MEALS AND BEER:
We don't mess around when it comes to food and beer. Restaurants -- tried and true -- have been carefully selected, based on quality, local knowledge, and insider tips. On a Beer Trip, included meals mean you may order as you please - including beer, appetizers, dessert, etc. We are not stingy -- a lot of food and beer is included on every Beer Trip.
PLEASE NOTE:
A BeerTrips beer tour is best suited for somewhat adventurous, beer-loving travelers who want the camaraderie and structure of a tour, as well as the opportunity to explore independently. Planned events, brewery visits, locally guided tours, and some excursions are, of course, formally "guided". Travel days, on trains, public means, or the beer bus, as well some group walks, are blissfully unstructured, though travelers can always rely on the support and assistance of the trip leader.
THIS ITINERARY IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE:
In rare cases, it may be necessary to alter the itinerary based on brewery or hotel availability, force majeur, acts of dieties, common sense, or bad weather, etc. Smaller breweries, as well as the Trappists, are often unable to commit to hosting groups until a couple of weeks before we arrive. Substitutions, when necessary, will be as good as what we replaced. And, don't worry, the beer is always good!