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BEER BUFF CHRIS LANDS COVETED GIG AS ALDI’S OFFICIAL BEER TASTER 

Chris McShortall from Co. Cork beats applicants from all over Ireland to become ALDI’s new beer taster!

Cheers to that! Chris McShortall from Co. Cork has been named as ALDI’s Official Beer Taster. 

In July, ALDI launched a nationwide search and called on beer connoisseurs across Ireland to apply explaining why they should be considered for this un-beer-lievable gig and be in with a chance of receiving a selection of free beer from ALDI to sample, taste and review.

ALDI received submissions from hop-fuls across Ireland with Chris chosen because of his passion for all things beer. Based in Co. Cork, he’s the co-founder of the Instagram account @stoutwatch where he reviews pints of stout from pubs across Ireland. He first discovered ALDI’s selection of Irish craft beers and stouts during lockdown and quickly became a fan.

For his efforts, Chris will now receive a curated selection of beers in exchange for brew-tally honest and valuable feedback around each beer’s taste, flavour, and appearance. His feedback will then be used by ALDI’s buying team to help decide what beers are included in the store’s autumn and winter range. 

Speaking about his exciting new role, Chris McShortall said: “I am over the moon to have been chosen as ALDI’s Official Beer Taster. Over the years, I have been impressed by the selection of craft beer and stout available in ALDI.I am really looking forward to sampling ALDI’s new range of Irish craft beers and sharing my thoughts with the team as well as opening people’s eyes to the incredible beers available in ALDI!” 

John Curtin, Group Buying Director at ALDI Ireland, said: “We were inundated with fantastic applications from beer enthusiasts across Ireland, but Chris really stood out to us. At ALDI, we are so proud to offer customers a vast range of great quality, affordable and award-winning beers in stores nationwide. We are delighted to have Chris on board and to have his input when choosing the autumn- winter beer range.”

ALDI is committed to offering premium, award-winning Irish craft beer to customers at everyday low prices and works hard throughout the year to source the finest craft beer from breweries across Ireland. With the price of a pint slowly creeping up, customers can rest assured that they will find premium quality beers in ALDI at a mere fraction of the price that they cost elsewhere. Head to your nearest store to discover award-winning lagers, IPAs, stouts and more! 

Don’t forget, Oktoberfest Beer Festival hits ALDI stores from Thursday 21^st September and will include the recent IQFDA 2023 Gold award-winning DOT Brew Side Step IPA €2.49. ALDI also took home the title of Drinks Retailer of the Year 2023 at the Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards!

For a non-alcoholic beer option why not try the Roadworks Non-Alcoholic IPA €1.59 or opt for the newly launched Strana 0.0 €1.79 which hit stores 11^th September.

See below for a range of Oktoberfest beers launching in stores from September 21^st:

• Bitburger Premium Pils €1.59 (330ml) 4.8% ABV
• Brewdog Oktoberfest Lager €1.99 (330ml) 4.7% ABV
• Body Board Gluten Free IPA €1.99 (440ml) 4.2% ABV
• Back Pack American Pale Ale €1.99 (440ml) 4.6% ABV
• DOT Brew Irish Red Ale €2.29 (440ml) 5.8% ABV
• Lough Gill Festbier €2.29 (440ml) 5.8% ABV
• DOT Brew Cyro Pop East Coast IPA €2.29 (440ml) 5.2% ABV
• DOT Brew Kveik Pale €2.29 (440ml) 4.2% ABV
• Whitewater Hoppel Hammer IPA €2.29 (440ml) 6% ABV
• Rascals Brewing Yankee White IPA €2.49 (330ml) 5% ABV
• DOT Brew Side Step IPA €2.49 (440ml) 5.8% ABV. From Dublin’s DOT Brewing. Bright golden IPA with stone fruit and orange aromas.
• Galway Hooker Sixty Knots IPA €2.49 (440ml) 5.5% ABV

See below for a range of beers available in 160 ALDI stores nationwide now:

• Galahad 79 $0.99 (500ml) 2.5% ABV. Traditionally brewed French lager with reduced ABV.
• Roadworks Non-Alcoholic IPA €1.59 (500ml)<0.5% ABV.
• Strana 0.0 €1.79 (440ml)<0.5% ABV.
• Dead Centre Lemon Radler €1.79 (330ml) 2.2% ABV. Brand new Radler from Dead Centre Brewing in Athlone, Co. Westmeath. A delicious blend of craft Irish lemonade and Irish craft blonde ale.
• ALDI IPA €1.99 (330ml) 4.5% ABV. ALDI’s exclusive collaboration with Brewdog.
• Brown Bear Gluten Free Lager €1.99 (500ml) 4.1% ABV. Winner of Silver Medal at the FreeFrom Food Awards 2022.
• Sailor Sam Hazy IPA €1.99 (440ml) 5.5% ABV. Brewed by Dundalk Bay Brewery exclusively for ALDI. Winner of Bronze at Irish Quality Food and Drink Awards 2022.
• Whistle Mountain IPA €1.99 (440ml) 5.5% ABV. Mountain Ale from Sligo’s Lough Gill Brewery. Smooth, soft, silky texture with a slight haze and low bitterness.
• Birra Mapelli €2.39 (500ml) 4.6% ABV. Premium Italian lager.
• Armagh Craft Cider Dry €2.49 (500ml) 4.5% ABV. Gold winner at Blas na hÉireann Awards 2022.
• Roadworks Pale Ale €2.49 (500ml) 4.5% ABV. Won Gold at the World Beer Awards 2023, Silver at World Beer Awards 2020 and Bronze Medal at Global Beer Masters 2020.
• Brown Bear Double IPA €2.96 (500ml) 7.5% ABV. Won Gold at the World Beer Awards 2023, 2-star Superior Taste Award at the ITI Awards 2021 and Silver at the World Beer Awards 2020.