The Place of Irish Craft Beer: Exploring the growth and evolution of the Irish craft brewing industry post-1990.
Craft Beer has exploded as a global phenomenon over the past three decades (XX). Hoppy, bitter pale ales; smooth, refreshing and lighter lagers and the inimitable dark, rich, heavy stouts are just a few of the types of beer that have attracted and sustained the attention of drinkers and brewers alike. At a time when many younger drinkers have turned to hard liquor and binge drinking (XX), craft beer offers a countervailing picture of drinking behaviour. Although typically higher in alcohol content, craft beer has been characterised by the phrase: ‘less of better’ – an appreciation a deliberate decision to consume less (and often pay more) of a better thing. And so it pitches itself as a ‘healthier’ alternative of consumption and one that seeks to address global concerns around dilution of local culture resulting from increased mobility and the permeation of an always-on, globally connected social media.
Words Describing Irish Craft Beer
A v quick tag cloud scrapped from the brewers websites and labels – approx 1500-1700 descriptions.
Locations of Working Irish Microbreweries, April 2018
What Are Irish Brewers Brewing?
Using the BAA classifications, breaking down approx. 2,200 individual brews between 2010-2018.
Average ABV of Beer / County
Again using approx. 2,200 brews between 2010-18 computing and placing average ABV of beers brewed in particular counties.
Microbreweries per 100,000 residents
Looking at number of microbreweries per 100,00 residents of each county in the Republic.
Microbreweries Over Time
Charting spatial and temporal growth of Irish craft brewers.
Wheel of Irish Beer Styles
Using same data as the stream map of beer types, a different representation from 2,200 brews of BAA typology interactive.