DUBLIN beer lovers are in for a week-long treat starting this Friday as the city’s independent pubs and off-licences will be flowing with some of the finest new brews on the market.
It’s all part of Irish Craft Beer Week, which will be followed by the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival at the RDS from September 5-8.
It’s a celebration of Irish craft brewing and cider making with a little whiskey distilling thrown in for good measure – or measures as the case may be!
The Irish craft beer industry is thriving in a time of national recession, indicating that while we may have less money to spend on drinking, we’re perhaps a little more particular about what we do drink.
Over half of the existing 37 independent breweries and cider makers in Ireland have only been in business since 2009. Sales rose by an incredible 42.5 per cent last year and are expected to increase by at least a further 35 per cent this year.
This rise was experienced in both domestic (55 per cent) and international (25 per cent) market places.
Despite this being an industry which owns only approximately 0.4 per cent of the Irish beer market, it’s a growth industry that’s expanding on a daily basis and increasing its following and interest from Irish consumers.
Featuring approximately 25 craft producers of beer and cider, the RDS festival is expected to attract over 8,000 visitors throughout the weekend of September 5-8.
This year the festival is looking forward to showcasing niche brands, new products and pipeline products, as well as providing craft-beer and cider lovers with food and drinks, pairing advice and the opportunity to meet some of the up-and-coming brewers at the first ever Irish nano-bar.
Co-Founder of the Irish Craft Beer Festival, Seamus O’Hara, says the Irish craft beer industry really is booming at the moment.
“Year-on-year growth is at an all-time high and the interest from the public in our craft and trade is making this sector a great one to be involved in at the moment,
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“Craft beer and cider making is about so much more than a beverage. The complexities of flavours and the intricacy of the brewing process make it possible to create the myriad of different products – all unique and interesting in their own right.
“We are all thoroughly looking forward to opening the doors to the RDS on September 5 to show Ireland what we have been up to for the past year.
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Breweries featuring at the festival include O’Hara’s, Dungarvan, White Gypsy, Eight Degrees, Trouble, Galway Hooker, West Kerry and Dingle. Cider makers include McIvors, Stonewell, Armagh and Tempted?.
This year the festival will open on the Thursday evening, offering visitors the opportunity to come early and experience some of the showcasing festival brews as well as new products recently launched.