Why I just love sloping off for Austrian cider

PROST! And look me in the eye. No, I’m not being rude, it’s just that it’s impolite not to when you’re clinking glasses in Austria.

I fixed my eyes this week on Austrian friends who had come to our shores to share their latest brews.

Muttermilch Brewery were on an exchange visit after O’Hara’s trip to Vienna where they collaborated on a brew ‘Coffelia O’Hara’, a coffee-stout vollbier.

Billed as an Austrian Tap Takeover it was organised by The Carlow Brewing Company which imports Stiegl Beer from Salzburg.

Muttermilch’s charming head brewer Marina Ebner kept our glasses filled on the night with Vienna Lager and Pils. Unbeknownest to me there is a roaring Austrian cider trade too and BlakStoc head brewer Karl Karigl, pictured, above kept his hopped apple ciders pouring as well as a collaboration dry hopped cider he’s producing in Bagenalstown with Falling Apple.

I’m happy to report I left in one piece which is more than can be said for my first trip to Austria at 19. Talking of collaborations this was an Austrian/Australian one in Kirchberg, involving a party game with a glass boot of Pils and forfeits. It was a pitstop after a bus trip to the Munich Beer Festival. Suffice to say I was in no fit state for white water rafting the next day.

We took in Salzburg too on that trip, and, needless to say, I almost missed the bus which would have left me stranded in Mozart’s and the Von Trapps’ city. There are worse places to be cast adrift.

TUI has two enticing offers for next month

•30 May, Dublin to Salzburg, Hotel Obermair, Mayrhofen, 3*, B&B, seven nights from €444pp

•30 May, Dublin to Salzburg, Hotel Modlinger, Soll, 3*, B&B, seven nights from €469pp.

Visit www.tuiholidays.ie, Call 1850 45 35 45.

And if you see barhops hammering a nail into a piece of wood, don’t freak... it’s a national pastime!