Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne goes down well as tastes change
DRINKING habits in West Kerry have changed since the establishment of Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne 10 years ago.
The Ballyferriter brewery is at the head of the wave of micro breweries that have developed in Ireland over the last 10 years and with it has come a change in drinking habits.
People have been slowly over time won over to support the local enterprise, aptly descibed by one customer in the pub on Saturday as “
“People have made the switch”, one customer aptly noted in Bric’s pub on Saturday as Beoir Chorca Dhuibhne celebrated its 10th annniversary. Part of the reason for the switch has been locals supporting local industry, but more important is that good beer wins good customers.
The hrewery was set up by Adrienne Heslin who needed to expand her bar and food business amid a declining local population.
“If I can feed people and there is a licence on the premises, I asked myself can I make the beer for them as well?” said Adrienne. This was at a time when the bar’s locals were committed porter and larger drinkers and producing a beer for their tastes was a process of trial and error.
Over time Adrienne and her team haave added different combinations of herbs and fruits from the garden to the brew and have produced a range of beers that are proving increasingly popular. Over the 10 years the brewery has grown and now employs three people full time as well as providing six seasonal jobs.
Adrienne Heslin started the brewery in partnership with Dónal Ó Catháin and now runs the business herself with the assistance of Paul Ó Loinsigh and brewer Daniel O’Connor, whos is from Melbourne but has West Kerry connections through his grandfather was Tómás Ó Connor, a vet from Goat Street.
Production runs at 2,400 litres a week and the beer now sells in Dublin’s top off-licences as well as 50 outlets in West Kerry, with beer on tap available in 15 pubs in the area.
As for future plans, Adrienne’s main aim is to maintain consistency of supply to meet the rising demand. Ten years on, the first micro brewery in Kerry is holding its own and remaining ahead of the curve.