The Irish Craft Beer & Cider Festival 2014 starts Thursday 4th September

Now in it's fourth year, the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival returns to the RDS in Dublin from the 4th – 7th September 2014. This year’s line-up consists of over 40 breweries and cider makers – totalling an astounding number of over 200 Irish produced beverages on offer! Irish Craft Beers truly have arrived!

The craft beer and cider industry in Ireland has witnessed explosive growth over the past 12 months and reflecting this this festival has witnessed a 300% growth in both brewers and attendees since its conception in 2011. The festival attracted over 11,000 visitors last year and the organisers are once again predicting a record turn-out with a record number of breweries and cider makers signed up to date. In comparison to last year’s 25 producers, this year has seen an increase of over 60% in the number of breweries attending, a reflection of the massive growth of this local Irish market sector.

Seamus O’Hara, Co-Founder of the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival

Seamus O’Hara, Co-Founder of the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival and owner of the Carlow Brewing Company, comments, “Having been through previous ‘renaissances’ of Irish Craft Beer, this feels different. This is market segment establishment. Working within the sector of Irish craft brewing is exciting. We are working in tandem with so many local organic markets, from the entrepreneurs and small businesses of the country, to collaborating with vintners, independent off-licences, retail outlets and some of the most creative marketing and distribution agencies in the around - every day is different in brewing in Ireland at the moment.”

This year the team also welcomes back two Irish distillers, Porterhouse and Teelings. Both distillers are at the cusp of what is now predicted to be the next huge development in the Irish drinks sector – spirit distilling and the opening of Irish distilleries.

Seamus’ colleague and Co-Founder of the festival, Bruce Mansour, adds, “Four years ago, when we opened the doors to Ireland’s first Irish Craft Beer Festival, we had just over 10 exhibitors. When we discussed craft beer with patrons, we were met by confused faces and excited palates. Now, four years later, we are being educated by our patrons on the diversity and constant growth and expansion of this unique and local industry. Brewed locally and distributed internationally, this industry is a story of success, creativity, perseverance and uncapped potential growth.”

This year’s festival promises to bring visitors an experience that is unrivalled throughout the country. It is the pinnacle of the year within the Irish craft beer and cider industries. For four days, each supplier sets up its own space within the venue and chats with consumers, enjoying discussions about the intricacies of each unique combination of flavours making every individual product stand out from the next.

Pictured at the launch of the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival 2014 were:
 Cathal O'Donoghue, Rascals Brewing, Michael Reddy, Teelings, Ronan Brennan, Galway Hooker,
Clementine Mac Niece, McIvors, Alan Wolfe, McGargles, Gabriel Corcoran, Teelings, Lisa Quilter, McGargles,
Gerard Costello, Costellos, Jonathon Scott, Soctt Irish Cider and Jamie Groome, White Gypsy.
Front row: Co founders of the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival:
 Seamus O'Hara, O'Hara Brewing and Bruce Mansour, Make it Happen.

Irish Breweries and Irish Cider makers participating include: 

5 Lamps, Armagh Cider, Black’s, Black Donkey, Blackstairs, Barrelhead, 

Bo Bristle, BRU, Costello, Dingle, Dj’s Juice and Ciders, Eight Degrees, Founders, 

Franciscan Well, Galway Bay, Galway Hooker, Hilden, Independent, Jack Doyle’s, 

Kinnegar, Mac Ivors, McGargles, Metalman, Mountainman, N17, Nine White Deer, 

O’Hara’s, Rascals, Scott’s Irish Cider, Stonewell Cider, Stone Barrel, The White Hag, 

Toby’s Cider, Trouble, White Gypsy, White Water, West Kerry. 

Distilleries include: Teeling Whiskey Co., Porter House & Dingle Spirits. 

(Guest breweries in attendance are Alltech, Brasserie Castelain, Founders and Lefevre Cidre)

Slainte - A Complete Guide to Irish Craft beer and Cider

The Festival will also play host to the launch, on Thursday evening, of "Slainte - A Complete Guide to Irish Craft beer and Cider", written by Kristen Jensen and Caroline Hennessey, the Co-Founders of the Irish Food Bloggers Association. This book is packed with everything you need to know and will guide you through a brief history of craft brewing and cider-making and introduce you to all the Irish producers. It is also a key resource for novices and connoisseurs alike in how to savour beer and cider, match them with food and even cook with them, all topped off with listings of relevant organisations and events and a glossary of key terms.

Some of the Dublin's favourite food producers will be cooking up a storm including Jane Russell Sausages, Cillian the Pie Man, Dave’s Wood Fired Pizza and Oisin’s Crepes in the City.

The festival will once again open its doors on Thursday evening at 5pm, showcasing festival brews and launching new products – an opportunity to experience the newest and freshest brews within the industry!

Win an Irish Craft Beer and Cider Hamper

VOTE for your Favourite Irish Craft Beer and Cider HERE: http://www.beoir.org/icbcf/awards.php 

Everyone who votes will be entered into a draw to win an Irish Craft Beer and Cider hamper. Closing date is the 3rd of September.

Find out more at www.irishcraftbeerfestival.com 

and follow the Irish Craft Beer and Cider Festival on Twitter @IrishBeerFest

Zack