This chart details the number of microbreweries and contract craft brewers entering the market. Microbrewers (light green) operate a physical plant with a head brewer and potentially assistant brewers. Contract or gypsy brewers (light blue) are brewers that brew at one of these physical brewers but do not have ownership or exclusive use of the physical plant. The beer brewed by the contract or gypsy brewer is sold under their own name and brand and they possess a license to brew. The overall number of operating microbreweries in a particular year (shown in orange) accounts for new microbreweries as well as breweries leaving the market.
The pioneering stage sees a handful of new entrants every year from 1981, some of whom continue, some of whom fail after a few years. The combination of the Celtic Tiger and the introduction of preferential tax benefits sees a building of sustained momentum with an increasing number of brewers entering the market and more finding continuing success. The growing consumer demand from the economic crisis (anecdotal evidence suggests that when purchasing power is constrained, consumers tend to spend less on better things – especially foodstuffs) and growing awareness of Irish craft beer led to a swelling of market entrants after 2012. During the years of significant growth it is important to note the large proportion of contract/gypsy brewers entering the market. While there is a continuing growth of the craft beer sector, it is clearly maturing, with fewer new entrants and a growing capacity amongst existing breweries. The number of microbrewers in the Irish craft beer market during this third phase becomes relatively stable with a sustained base of over 100 microbreweries for most of this period.
(Sources: The Revenue Commissioners, 2005, Hennessey & Jensen, 2014; Beoir, 2022; untapped (2023); Assorted corporate websites)