A Birthday Trip to Belfast

A friend’s birthday, so an opportunity to take a look at some of the pubs and beers in Belfast. There’s more than Guinness if you care to take a look. Not that there’s anything wrong with Guinness of course.

Belfast turned out to be a great city for beer, with modern brewery taprooms and traditional Victorian snugs sitting (almost) side by side. Throw in some fantastic street art and the odd cask ale, and it made for a cracking few days.

Not strictly in order as I’ve grouped the pubs into (rough) areas. Apologies for my lack of Belfast geographical nous if the locations are a bit loose.

City Centre

The Garrick

Area: West of City Hall
Style: Cosy traditional pub
Visit order: 1

After a bit of sightseeing, this was a welcome stop for a break. Alcoves and plenty of wood. A bigger room and an outside area for when the snug gets a little too snug. A relaxed atmosphere and a pub I returned to as it was in the centre of town and handy for a drop in. The Althea went down a treat.

Bullitt Espresso Bar

Area: By Victoria Square
Style: Stylish hotel bar
Visit order: 9

I think we were initially drawn in by the sign outside. Then the Steve McQueen picture. Only afterwards did we realise it was actually a hotel bar.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Guinness	Guinness Draft	4.2%

Bittles Bar

Area: Opposite Victoria Square
Style: Traditional “flat iron” bar
Visit order: 13

Famous for its caricatures on the walls and its “no halves” policy. We duly ordered pints (even though the halves is a Guinness thing) and enjoyed the wall art.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Hercules Brewing Co	Yardsman – Belfast Pale Ale (keg)	5.6%

Linen Quarter

Linen Hall Bar

Area: Near Spoons
Style: Irish Style
Visit order: 2

All the requirements of an Irish themed pub are here, live music included. Lively and with a good atmosphere. However, I would have liked a little more choice on the beer front.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Heineken Ireland	Beamish Irish Stout	4.1%
Heverlee	Heverlee Blond Lager (keg)	4.4%

The Crown Liquor Saloon

Area: Opposite the Grand Opera House
Style: A National Trust Gem of a Pub
Visit order: 4

It would have been remiss of us not to visit here given its reputation. It’s a beauty of a pub with the old fittings, booths and flooring intact. Being run by Nicholson’s it also serves cask ale. We’d visit upstairs later in the trip to try out the menu.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Timothy Taylor’s Brewery	Golden Best	3.4%

The Crown Dining Rooms

Area: Above The Crown Liquor Saloon
Style: Restaurant with history
Visit order: 12

Upstairs this time and a couple more decent pints accompanied by a good bite to eat. The upstairs isn’t as much of a beauty as the main bar, but still a good location for food.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Timothy Taylor’s Brewery	Landlord	4.3%
Budějovický Budvar	Budweiser Budvar (keg)	5.0%

University Quarter

The Woodworkers

Area: University
Style: Craft Ale Pub
Visit order: 3

Had been looking forward to this one and the pub didn’t disappoint. Unfortunately, we managed to arrive five minutes before quiz night took every table in the building. The selection on the beer board emphasised the serious failure of planning on our part. We grabbed some excellent beers and headed next door for a bite, so not a wasted visit.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Neon Raptor	Crushing Blows (keg)	4.2%

Cathedral Quarter

Sunflower Public House

Area: North side
Style: Traditional, lively pub with an extensive beer garden
Visit order: 5

Another highlight. The bar was packed thanks to an impromptu session that was taking place. We grabbed a beer and headed outside. Equally packed. A good sign for an evening so early in the week. The cage on the door, now a tourist attraction in itself, is a reminder of darker times.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Kinnegar Brewing	Scraggy Bay (keg)	5.3%

Kelly’s Cellars

Area: By Castlecourt shopping centre
Style: Landmark Pub
Visit order: 6

An old stone building (around 1720) with a modern covered outside area. A fine looking pub with the usual suspects on the bar. Another buzzing location. A great photo opportunity for the team.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Guinness Open Gate Brewery Dublin	Citra IPA	5.0%

The Deer’s Head

Area: South side
Style: Victorian saloon and brewpub
Visit order: 10

Another Belfast landmark. Spacious, with an impressive long bar. Some of the crew returned later for the music session and the local craft beer.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Bell’s Brewery	Garfield NEIPA	4.7%

The John Hewitt

Area: South side
Style: Legendary traditional social enterprise pub
Visit order: 11

A pub that’s run by the Boundary Brewery people. And sure enough, it meant quality Boundary beers to sample.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Boundary Brewing	Tomorrow’s Dream (keg)	3.4%

Ulster Sports Club

Area: High Street
Style: Classic sports club with cosy bar
Visit order: 14

I’d been looking forward to this one. The name itself is enough to make you, well me, want to visit. It has a great club feel and we received a warm welcome in the front bar before venturing further back to take a seat in the back where the pool table and table football were in constant use. Another place that I could spend the whole evening, but schedules demand movement.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Out Of Office	Pencil Pusher	4.0%

East Belfast (Connswater)

It had been a long day, and somehow I managed to completely forget to take any photographs of these two fabulous locations. I think that is probably a compliment, as I was clearly too busy enjoying the beer, pizza and atmosphere to remember to capture them.

Bullhouse East

Area: Newtonards Road
Style: Modern Brewery Taproom
Visit order: 7

A Glider trip out of town and well worth the effort. Spacious interior and a bar with 20 taps. Always a good sight. Good smells also emanating from the wood-fired pizza oven located in the beer garden. Reader, I confirm that both the beers and the pizza were excellent. I’d happily camp out in here until all beers had been tried. Sadly, time didn’t permit this approach so we moved on after a couple.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Bullhouse Brew Co	Spratt’s (keg)	4.0%
Bullhouse Brew Co	Road Trippin’ (keg)	4.0%
Bullhouse Brew Co	Frank The Tank (keg)	5.0%

Boundary

Area: Newtonards Road
Style: Modern Brewery Taproom
Visit order: 8

You make your way to a brewery taproom and another turns up practically next door. The running club had taken over the pub when we arrived and one of the rooms was hosting wine tasting a little later. Great to feel the community vibe here.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Boundary	Pillows	4.3%

The Airport

Northern QTR

Area: Airport
Style: Airport Bar
Visit order: 15

And with that, we were heading home. Just time for a pint of Harp with all the folk going on holiday. The bar was doing great business serving the thirsty many heading off for some R&R.

Brewery	Beer	ABV
Guinness	Harp Premium Lager (keg)	4.5%

Not my first visit to Belfast, but my first to many of the pubs above. As a real ale fan, I’d been a bit concerned about the lack of options. I needn’t have worried. Belfast’s brewing scene is in rude health, with excellent beer available well beyond the obvious names. Particular highlights for me were Bullhouse, Boundary and Out of Office. I’ll happily return to continue working my way through the beers I didn’t have time to try.