Brown Bear craft beer sales soar
Irish craft beer is proving a major hit with shoppers nationwide, with customers purchasing one bottle of ALDI’s exclusive Brown Bear craft beer range every 16 seconds over the past year*.
Brown Bear range
Brewed exclusively for ALDI Ireland by Carlow Brewing Company, the award-winning range highlights the strength of Irish supplier partnerships and the growing consumer appetite for locally produced products.
Behind the scenes
To celebrate the story behind the success, content creator Daragh Curran visited Carlow Brewing Company to explore the brewery, meet the team behind Brown Bear, and discover the craftsmanship involved in producing the range.
See Daragh’s behind-the-scenes experience here.
Crafted using carefully selected ingredients and traditional brewing techniques, every batch of Brown Bear undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure consistency, flavour and quality.
The range has earned recognition at leading national and international awards, further cementing its reputation among beer enthusiasts and industry judges alike.
Leading the range is Brown Bear Gluten Free Lager €1.99, a crisp and refreshing lager with a clean malt profile and smooth finish.
It was awarded Gold at Blas na hÉireann 2025, Country Winner and Gold at the World Beer Awards 2025, and Silver at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2025.
Joining the award-winning range is Brown Bear IPA €1.99, winner of Silver at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2025, offering vibrant citrus and tropical fruit notes with a balanced hop character.
Brown Bear Double IPA €2.96, awarded Bronze at the World Beer Awards 2025 and a 1-Star Great Taste Award 2025, delivers a bold, full-bodied flavour with an intense hop profile and satisfying bitter finish.
Jordan Donnelly, head brewer at Carlow Brewing Company, said: “We are passionate about producing beers that showcase the quality and creativity of Irish brewing.
“Our partnership with ALDI Ireland has allowed us to bring the Brown Bear range to shoppers right across the country, and seeing the response from customers has been incredibly rewarding.
“The recognition from respected industry awards, alongside continued growth in demand, reflects the dedication of our team here in Carlow Brewing Company and the quality of the beers we create.”
The success of Brown Bear reflects ALDI’s ongoing commitment to supporting Irish suppliers and bringing award-winning locally produced products to shoppers nationwide.
The award-winning Brown Bear range is available exclusively in ALDI stores nationwide, giving customers the opportunity to enjoy quality Irish craft beer at great value.
See below for the range of products available in ALDI stores nationwide:
- Brown Bear IPA (500ml) €1.99 Secured Silver at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2025.
- Brown Bear Gluten Free Lager (500ml) €1.99 Secured Gold at Blas na hÉireann 2025. Country Winner & Gold at World Beer Awards 2025. Won Silver at the Irish Quality Food & Drink Awards 2025.
- Brown Bear Double IPA (500ml) €2.96 Secured Bronze at the World Beer Awards 2025 and 1-Star at the Great Taste Awards 2025.
