E-Malt.com News article: Ireland: Report shows craft beer industry is booming in Ireland

Minister Coveney has launched the first official development and economic impact report on microbreweries in Ireland. The report was commissioned by the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland (ICBI), an association set up earlier this year in response to the dramatic growth within the micro brewing market in Ireland, ftt.ie reported on November 21.

Although significant growth and development within this market was noted in recent years, there was no numerical or growth research carried out prior to this to quantify the market growth and the resultant economic impact of such.

Seamus O’Hara, spokesperson for the ICBI and of Carlow Brewing Company, said: “A natural first step of an association is to establish an official piece of research on what impact its industry is having on both the national economy and on its operational market.”

The report was researched and written by Bernard Feeney, a respected economic consultant. Some of the key findings within the report include:

A significant increase in the number microbreweries occurred in the last two years. It is estimated that there are 33 microbreweries operating in Ireland, the majority of which are microbreweries engaged in own production. At least 17 other microbreweries are at development stage, with the majority expected to be in operation by end 2014, when the total number could rise to some 50 microbreweries.

The output of craft beer by microbreweries amounted to some 49,000 hl in 2013. Based on trends to date, this will rise to 71,000hl in 2014, or .9% of the market. This contrasts with an equivalent figure of 26,000 in 2011 and 37,000 hl in 2012.These figures indicate that production of beer by microbreweries grew by 32% by volume in 2013 and is set to grow by at least 45% in 2014.


21 November, 2014