The Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival kicked off in the RDS Dublin yesterday, featuring over 30 craft beverage producers, and approximately 100 craft beers and ciders. the event runs until the 8th September.
As well as a range of craft beer exhibitors, including O’Hara’s, Dungarvan, White Gypsy, Eight Degrees, Trouble, Galway Hooker, Galway Bay, West Kerry and Dingle, this year's event also features food and drinks pairing advice from Dunne & Crescenzi and the first Irish NanoBar.
Within the craft beer sector, industry sales rose by 42.5% last year and are expected to increase by at least a further 35% this year. This rise was experienced in both the domestic (55%) and the international (25%) market places, despite an overall decrease in domestic alcohol and beer sales. The craft beer sector currently accounts for 0.4% of the Irish beer market.
“The Irish craft beer industry is booming at the moment," says Seamus O'Hara, co-founder, Irish Craft Beer Festival. "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. 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."
© 2013 - Checkout Magazine by Stephen Wynne-Jones
