Craft breweries up 500% in 5 years – report

While craft beer consumption has grown from 0.6% in 2012 to 3.0% in 2017, craft beer production has risen from 0.4% of all beer produced here in 2012 to 2.3% last year according to a new report Craft Beer and Micrbreweries in Ireland 2017 from Bord Bia.

According to the report, both consumption market share and production market share have each increased by more than 500%. Irish Craft Beer is performing well across all fronts, from the number of production facilities to production output, market share and exports, notes the report.

The number of craft breweries in Ireland has grown by more than 500% in the last five years, with 72 now in operation, up from just 15 in 2012 and employment in these facilities has exceeded 500 for the first time ever, increasing employment in local and rural communities.

Output from these breweries has also grown significantly, from 37,000HL in 2012 to more than 176,000HL in 2016, representing growth of almost 475%. The volume of production destined for export is estimated at 22% or 39,000HL.

“While it’s acknowledged that the Irish craft beer category is still very young and that these levels of growth are from a low base, the growth has been sustained over a number of years and looks set to maintain its upward trajectory,” commented Denise Murphy, Beverage Sector Manager at Bord Bia, “As the category expands, the importance of export business increases for the sector. Demand for craft beer is rising in most markets around the world, driven by consumer preferences for premium product and artisan production.”

Bord Bia will once again host Marketplace International in April next year. This meet-the-buyer event will provide an opportunity for Origin Green-verified suppliers to meet with a number of distributors and buyers from Ireland and around the world on April 12^th 2018 in the RDS in Dublin.