Carlow Brewing Company

Ireland has traditionally had a long history of brewing. At the beginning of the nineteenth century there were over two hundred breweries in the country, producing a wide range of Irish beer. However, this number dropped significantly by the twentieth century due to the dominance of a few large and famous breweries. Today, there are only about 15 breweries in the country, with most producing mass-produced beer, backed by formidable marketing budgets.

After seeing the wider range of beers available in bars in the United States and Continental Europe, Seamus O'Hara established the Carlow Brewing Company in 1996[5] along with his brother Eamon.[3] Due to the dominance of macro beers in Ireland at the time, the brewery was initially very export orientated.[5] In the last few years Irish interest in the brewery, and craft beer in general, has increased.[6] In 2017, Carlow Brewery Company acquired Craigies Cider and Hijos de Rivera, a Galician brewery, purchased a 32% stake in Carlow Brewing.[7]

• Aldi Specially Selected Traditional Irish Ale - 4.3% Irish red ale.[8] Brewed for Aldi.[3]
• Carlow Buckley's Golden Ale - 3.8% Blonde ale.[9]
• Carlow Curim Golden Celtic Wheat Beer - 4.3% Wheat ale.[10]
• Carlow Goods Store IPA - 4.4% India pale ale.[11]
• Carlow O'Haras Celebration Stout - 6% Dry stout.[12]
• Carlow O'Haras Celtic Stout - 4.3% Dry stout.[13]
• Carlow O'Haras Druids Brew Stout - 4.7% Dry stout.[14]
• Carlow O'Haras Irish Pale Ale - 5.2% American pale ale.[15]
• Carlow O'Haras Irish Red - 4.3% Irish red ale.[16]
• Carlow O'Haras Leann Follain - 6% Dry stout.[17]
• Carlow O'Haras Smoked Ale No. 1 - 5.2% Smoked beer.[18]
• Marks and Spencer Irish Stout - 4.5% Dry stout.[19] Brewed for Marks & Spencer.[20]

Beer in Ireland

• Official website