Toners-Smithwick Red Ale

I had this Irish Red Ale at Toners Pub on Baggot Street in Dublin. This pub features dark wood, mirrors, and and wooden dividers between some tables and sections of chairs to give it a cozy, relaxed feeling. It was quiet and you could easily hear the conversations of others, although we did come here on a Sunday night. The barman was friendly and happily answered some of my questions.

As for the beer, it pours a coppery-reddish color with a creamy white head, but fairly thin, only about a half finger head. The aroma is of a light sugary sweetness with some bready malts mixed in. The flavor is fairly simple, bready malt with some sweetness on the palate. Somewhat light in body, leaving the mouth slightly dry, but with some sweetness on the lips. Hops were very restrained with only a hint of some grassy flavor toward the finish. Overall, an easy drinking beer for a casual night out.

As for the rest of my travels, these first few days have been all about getting settled. Day one was spent getting groceries, toiletries, and learning how to turn on the internet. Becky and I were very tired, but forced ourselves to stay awake to avoid jetlag lasting too long.

Day two was much more pleasant. Most stores seem to open later on Sundays in Ireland, only around lunch time. This allowed us to have a quiet morning before heading off to the St. Stephens Shopping Centre a little before lunch. On our way to the mall we walked a bit through St. Stevens Green. This park was absolutely beautiful. It combined ponds, bridges, birds, greenspaces, and sculptures very well, having something for everyone. There were also a variety of historical plaques informing Becky and I about the Easter Rising of 1916 and ensuing violence. This place was absolutely gorgeous, and while I don't have any pictures of it today, we will be back to spend some more time there. Upon arrival at the mall, the most obvious thing is the ginormous glass clock hanging from the ceiling. There was a good mix of stores, pretty similar to your normal American mall, just with different names. After that, we had lunch at a cafe with a fitting ambiance, noisy with an inviting atmosphere, and it had some tasty sandwiches. After lunch we wandered down Grafton Street, a pedestrian street filled with shops. Overall, these first two days have been a whirlwind of getting the necessities, but soon I believe we will be able to settle down and enjoy the city.

Cheers!