Aidan Murphy – who makes Galway Hooker with his cousin, Ronan Brennan – is deeply serious. You can’t make a pale ale as fine as Galway Hooker – it is one of the iconic drinks of modern Irish craft brewing – without being deeply serious. Mr Murphy has the degree in food science from UCC. He has the Master’s in brewing and distilling from Heriot-Watt University. He has brewed in the Isle of Man, and in San Francisco. Hooker was established in 2006, and right from the out the drink was fashioned with food in mind.
When we first tried the beer, it fair blew us away, and one moment we treasure especially was a glass of Hookerdrunk sitting at the bar of The Oarsman, in Carrick-on-Shannon, on a summer’s afternoon. It was one of those moments when time stopped. Galway Hooker didn’t conquer us, it seduced us. Hooker is one of the high points of the Irish craft beer revolution. Do not miss it.
