Enjoy Those Tipples

Enjoy Those Tipples

Going to the pub, short for "public house," is Northern Ireland's favorite national pastime and every village, no matter how small, has at least one, and usually several. In fact, rural pubs are often indistinguishable from the house next door, so it pays to check with the locals for the best place for a pint and a bit of "craic." In Belfast and Derry, ornate Victorian inns sit side by side with new, brash bars playing loud music. In the last five years, dozens of ultramodern bars and nightclubs full of hip, fashionable young things have sprung up, particularly around the university area of Belfast. When it comes to the tipples, northerners are as fanatical as their southern counterparts and virtually every bar stocks a mind-boggling array of locally brewed and imported lagers, ales, stouts, and ciders. Guinness, of course, is the perennial favorite, but don't be surprised when the bartender asks you if you would prefer "normal" or "cold-flow." The latter was introduced in the mid-1990s and serves up a colder pint. Older drinkers, however, remain true to the original "porter" and simply ask for a pint "of the black stuff." Local lagers, like Harp, are popular and, at about £2.20 a pint, are often a good deal cheaper than imported beer. Smooth and creamy Caffrey's ale is delicious, but be warned: it packs quite a punch. Beer comes in two sizes -- a "pint" and a "glass" (a half-pint). Then, of course, there's Bushmills whiskey, which makes a great Irish coffee (hot coffee with a shot of whiskey dropped in it, topped with a thick layer of double cream). As a general rule, kids are welcome until 6 PM, as long as they are accompanied by an adult. As a rule, bars that serve food are always more child-friendly.