Brewery in US promotion
JAMES Ward, founder of Lough Gill Brewing Company which is based in Cleveragh Business Park together with one of his brewers, Jordan Donnelly, recently returned from a successful business trip to Rhode Island and to New York to promote Irish craft beer and in particular the Lough Gill range of craft beers.
Lough Gill Brewing Company was first introduced to the State of Rhode Island through a trade mission organised through the Ireland West Trade Centre, which is a collaborative effort by a number of local authorities in the Western region, including Sligo County Council through the Local Enterprise Office.
One of its key roles is to assist small businesses to gain a foothold in the American market. Through the initiative, James had previously been introduced to Seán Larkin, Brewmaster and owner of Revival Brewery in Rhode Island who in turn introduced him to McLoughlin Moran Distributors. The outcome was a distribution deal with McLoughlin Moran for Lough Gill Brewing Company. The outcome was a collaborative brew by Lough Gill Brewing Company and Rhode Island’s Revival Berewing Company of a New England IPA using all Irish based malt from The Malting Company of Ireland in Cork. Many tasting events were also hosted by James and Jordan during their time in Rhode Island for the run-up to St. Patrick’s Day.
They subsequently travelled to Buffalo, New York, where they were invited by Mike Shatzel from the Shatzel Group to brew alongside the Thin Man Brewery. Buffalo has really embraced the Irish culture including Lough Gill product.
Over last weekend, Lough Gill Brewing Company hosted events in seven different bars across the city and also tasting sessions in a number of the Consumer Beverage Center stores owned and run by a second-generation Irish man, Neil Kavanagh, whose family hailed from Manorhamilton.
James said the trip was a great opportunity for him not just to promote the Lough Gill range of beers but also Sligo and the North West. “We are out here building lasting relationships with businesses who are supporting what we are doing in Sligo. The US is a very important and growing part of our business.”
John Reilly, Head of Enterprise in Sligo County Council/Local Enterprise Office said he was very pleased to have been able to assist the company through the trade centre initiative to establish additional business linkages in the USA.