Elite Event: Ugly Jumpers at Sin é

Okay, so here it is.
I went to the event with a thumping headache. I was slightly late. I didn’t have an ugly jumper (ahem, specifically for the event) and while I was there I didn’t taste the beers (though I had a bottle of the Belfast Blonde later) or have any cocktails. I also only spoke to two people I hadn’t met before.
Does that mean it was a bad event? No, not at all. My first time in YEARS in Sin É, a bar I’ll definitely be back to, and my first Unilocal event since the Science Gallery. I actually do think it was a good event — those that were on form for it, on time for it and wanted to get stuck in enjoyed it and those that didn’t — well, I can see why it won’t have been the highlight of your week.
This *was* a small event and it *was* on a Monday, but generally for these to work you need to get in there, to talk to people, to mix and mingle and try and taste and chat. I didn’t go to people so people didn’t come to me. I didn’t ask for stuff to be put in my hands so it wasn’t. I wasn’t expecting to have an unbelievably brilliant OMG time, so I didn’t.
I did however see a new venue that I’ll go back to, try some new beers that I’ll definitely have again AND got to see just how much Unilocal has grown in a year, so that’s great. I did see people enjoying themselves and I did see people I’d like to get to know more, so next event, I plan to not have a headache and to get in there.
Unilocal is what you make it and the events are too. Kudos to Annie, who, in fairness, got us all free drinks in a Dublin bar. Well done to the brewery guys as well — a little more information next time that we can take home (like your address on Unilocal for example) may be helpful but beyond that I’m glad I went and look forward to the next one!
I promise to say hello to strangers next time. I’m a little bit shy. :-/

how can you go wrong with ugly jumpers (SWEATERS, dammit!), free beer, weird cocktails and a surly bartender? plus Sin E is teh awesum :) i wish i could say i participated in the dress-​up, but alas, i’ve never owned a christmas jumper, nor do i plan to in the near future.
i’m not much of a beer person so i only went as far as the small samples, but Mister Beer Snob Husband kept going back for more, so they musta been good.
i went for the salty dogs instead, expecting something, well, salty. luckily they were some concoction involving ginger beer and limes and quite easy to drink. so easy in fact that when a friend and i went up to ask for 4 (not all for us!), the barman replied «you mean 2, right?» and kinda went off on a bit of a rant about how many he’d made already and something about his fingers smelling like lime. i dunno, i personally like the smell of limes…
in the end we got the 4 we ordered with a firm statement that those were the last anyone was going to get for the night. maybe he said something about running out of ginger beer, but it was lost in all the grumbling.
but i digress…
it was a good turnout and i got to see quite a few familiar faces, not to mention Joshua’s light show! that alone was was enough for me :)

very festive. Mince pies, beer and cocktails (lose a star for the grumpy barman!) kudos to the jumper wearers and happy Christmas to all!

Always a fan of Sin é, and having it to ourselves for an evening was great. California Wine Imports did a great job with the beer tasting and were more than generous with the flow of beer after their presentation.
The group attending was also top notch, and very cool to talk to.
A great evening with friends and beer! You can’t go wrong.

Cool music and interesting presentation about the microbrews. The Headless Dog was really good. The people were friendly and thanks to Annie I know have a purple Unilocal tshirt. Lovely.
On Sin E’s part, I was sad they announced the sampling of Revolutionary Red so late in the game. I had a pint and it was delicious – a sort of thick cherry crème soda without too much sweetness. Now I know.
I was looking forward to a Salty Dog cocktail but was told they stopped making them. What were they even?

Went for the beer, stayed for the company.
Thanks to everyone for tolerating the crazy conversations, helping me find my headphones, and giving back my scarf (albeit having taken it first).
Great night was had by all! Well, by me anyway, I didn’t actually consult anyone when coming up with that sweeping generalisation.

Another great Unilocal event. Kudos to Annie for organising it!
The only negative was the lack of people wearing ugly jumpers. Although, Joshua made up for everyone by going all out with a fantastic flashing ensemble. (Just to clarify, he didn’t actually flash anyone.)
My plus-​one was definitely wearing the ugliest jumper. And he was just a little bit too proud of his tight mustard patterned polo-​neck that could double as a musty carpet from the 1970s.
There were free Salty Dog cocktails and beer tasting. As I was driving, I asked for a non-​alcoholic alternative. The barman nearly had a stroke. I don’t think anyone had ever requested anything booze-​free before.
Great cast of Unilocalers attended and there were mince pies galore. What’s not to love?!

Lessons learned at the Event:
1) After sewing a string of christmas lights to myself and adding a sassy ornament to my jumper’s zip, I may have a career in fashion design.
2) After several Salty Dogs, which I had never tasted but intend to drink regularly going forward, I start to believe that the above may actually be true.
3) The first Belfast Blonde I enjoyed last night was better than the Galway Hooker I once had in a dark bar. Smoother, and a better aftertaste.
4) The second Belfast Blond I enjoyed was better than the first, as I was learning how to really enjoy the experience.
5) The Belfast Blonde jokes get old fast… but after having a few I didn’t really care.
6) Mince pies are baked in little foil tins that taste AWEFUL.
7) Bystanders, perhaps jealous of my sassy ornament zipper pull, will happily watch me attempt to eat a mince pie with foil still attached. They will also, helpfully, point out how I SHOULD have eaten it as my head reels from the shock of all that metal against my fillings, once they stop laughing.
8) Dublin Unilocal swag is awesome.
9) Annie’s events are awesome. Actually, we already knew that.