Although this documentary has a niche subject matter (Irish craft microbreweries), there is a lot to uncover and connect with here.
All of the contributors involved are very engaging, if not a little reserved at times during the sit-down interviews, which I assume is so far off what they usually do on a daily basis. It was really interesting to hear how regulations are a lot stricter there for independent microbreweries in Ireland compared to other parts of the UK. There was a lot of talk of a "certain stout" that has dominated the landscape, but with more education and support, the general public are slowly starting to try new things and enjoy a variety of craft beers produced by these very passionate, knowledgable and resourceful independent brewers. If you're a supporter of the "little guy" or the underdog, this will be a highlight. It was also really interesting to hear how a lot of these brewers had actually lived and worked in the states, learning from the craft beer scene out there, and bringing back that experience to develop the Irish craft beer scene.
My only slight concerns with the film is the lengthy running time and under-utilised variation of cinematography in these amazing venues! Due to the length and in-depth nature of the technical chat by all the contributors, the documentary could be a harder sell for casual viewers BUT for passionate beer fans, brewers and casual home brewers, there will be a lot here to enjoy and process.
Overall, although a little too long for me, it was a really interesting film and I really enjoyed learning about the craft scene in Ireland and embracing the passion of the people leading the craft beer scene there. I had very little awareness or knowledge of this side of the industry but this is why I love trying out new documentaries, especially indie ones, as you'll always learn something new or unexpected.