Craft Masters take over RDS
Having attracted over 12,000 visitors last year, the organisers are once again predicting a record turn-out of punters to reflect the record number of breweries and cider makers signed up to date.
In addition, this year’s organisers have announced the international guest brewery line-up of Logan Plant’s Beavertown and Odell’s Brewery from the US. Guests will be granted unlimited access to brewers, festival special brews, one-off collaborations and masterclasses featuring top Irish chef Kevin Dundon and the master of craft in the US, Doug Odell.
The event also plays host to the launch of the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland’s annual economic report (in association with Bord Bia) as well as the launch of the Independent Craft Beer of Ireland symbol, a symbol to clearly differentiate independent Irish craft beer from beer “disguised” as such.
The Independent Irish Craft Beer symbol offers reassurance to consumers that the beer they’re buying is what it says on the bottle – that the brewery the beer came from is independently owned and small-scale, a registered micro-brewery as recognised by the Revenue Commissioners and that the brewer has complete ownership of the brand.
The number of Irish micro/craft-breweries has quadrupled in four years – currently sitting at around 90 nationwide. Total turnover in the industry reached €40million last year and is anticipated to grow to just under €60 million this year, an 11-fold increase since 2011.
Based on the 2016 estimates for Irish craft beer production and consumption, the share of craft beer in overall Irish beer production and consumption has risen approximately six-fold since 2012.
The production micro-brewing sector has directly created 167 extra jobs in the past year and there are production micro-breweries in operation in 23 of the 26 counties.
The show represents the pinnacle of the year within the Irish craft beer and cider industries.
The festival also offers a selection of the capital city’s favourite food producers.
