Summer means sitting astride benches dappled in sunlight, knees touching; jovial under the influence of the sun because beer garden season has officially begun.
An Samhradh is the season when it’s completely acceptable to walk around semi-naked chomping on an ice cream. The time of year when the birds chirp a little louder, the sun shines a little brighter, and the beer flows a little freer. It’s a magical time, a fleeting moment when Ireland collectively decides that the best place to be is in an outside part of the pub, sipping on a cold one.
As the days stretch longer and suddenly the sun rounds that corner, we embrace it more fervently than most. This is because we’ve spent a whole heap of the year in pissing down rain and battling gale-force winds during storms named after someone’s granny. An Irish summer can feel like barely two and a half days of proper sun. So when that rolls around, you simply must be in a beer garden, condensation running down the outside of your pint glass. We are constitutionally required to nod at one another and say ‘some day for it’.
But why? Is it the chance to soak up some much-needed vitamin D or the opportunity to socialise in a relaxed, informal setting? Maybe it’s just the allure of being able to bring your furry friend along for the ride?
According to a recent survey, beer gardens are the nation’s favourite place for a pint, beating out friends’ gardens and even music festivals. There’s something undeniably magical about sitting outside after work on a warm summer’s day, surrounded by good company over a few pints. It’s a vibe, a feeling, a vibeeling, if you will.
What is it about the sun that turns us into beer garden devotees? According to Rayyan Raja Zafar, a researcher at Drug Science (yes, that’s a real thing), it all comes down to neurotransmitters and something called “cue reactivity.” Apparently, our brains are wired to associate sunshine with feeling good. You have a boost in mood as soon as you’re in the sun, not just because it’s a nice day but because your body actually warms up and the cells start releasing serotonin. when it’s sunny, your whole body changes.
For many of us this engages ‘sesh mode’ and a little gremlin perches on our shoulder, leans in and gently whispers “Get the pints in.” It’s like Pavlov’s dogs but with sunny afternoon pints instead of bells.
The humble beer garden originated in Bavaria, Germany, in the 19th century. These outdoor oases allowed breweries to peddle their wares during the scorching summer months. Fast-forward to today, and beer gardens have become an essential part of the pub experience all over the world.
In Ireland, they come complete with heaters, lamps, blankets, and the prerequisite ashtray because even in our warmest months it gets cold as the sun sets and we like to drink late into the night.
Navigating the intricacies of beer garden season can be a daunting task, especially when it comes to finding the perfect spot to bask in the sun. Some places are covered so you only get the shade, others are north facing and don’t get the last of the evening rays. Top that off with the fact that some are wildly more popular than others and there can be mental queues for the bar and you have yizzer selves a conundrum.
Some of the best beer gardens in our fair city can be found in Toners, Hynes, Lucky’s, Harry Byrne’s, Gibney’s, Bootleg, The Strawberry Hall and The Anglers Rest.
Now that the weather is warmer and the world is opening up, we are all even more delighted to drink in the happiness and togetherness of the beer garden.
Because when the sun decides to make an appearance in a country known more for its rain than its rays you gotta just give in to the temptation. After all, beer gardens are the crowning glory of the modern pub experience.
Words: Shamim De Brún
