Page 19 - Craft Beer and Independent Microbreweries in Ireland 2018
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Current Performance of the Independent Microbrewery Sector
Source: Compiled by the author based on survey data; refers to 75 production microbreweries in operation in
mid-2018.
2.3 Output
The output of craft beer by independent production microbreweries amounted
to some 157, 000 hectolitres (hl) in 2017. This represents a 10.7% increase on
the 2016 figure of 142, 000 hl. In absolute terms, output rose by 15, 000hl.
This represents a significant reduction in the rate of growth of output of recent
years. In 2016 and 2015, output grew by 31% and 56% respectively Almost 20%
of microbreweries experienced a decline in output in 2017, an increase on last
year’s figures of one in six.
As part of the survey, microbreweries are asked about their anticipated output
for the current year (2018). Usually, microbreweries tend to take an optimistic
viewpoint of their situation. However, almost one in eight microbreweries are
anticipating that their output will not increase in 2018.
The slowdown in the rate of growth of output overall, the brewery closures and
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