Today (Thursday, November 7) is International Stout Day and Drinks Ireland | Beer, the representative body for the beer industry in Ireland, is celebrating by highlighting the global reach of Irish stout.
According to Drinks Ireland | Beer, stout accounted for 63% of all beer produced in Ireland in 2018 and it is estimated that approximately 400 million litres of stout was exported from Ireland last year. Additionally, according to the Brussels-based Brewers of Europe, Ireland was the seventh biggest exporter of beer in Europe in 2017, with stout being a major contributor to Ireland's ranking. Ireland exports beer to over 60 countries.
Drinks Ireland | Beer stated that stout accounted for 29.3% of all beer consumed in Ireland in 2018, making it Ireland's second favourite beer variant after lager. The organisation said that while stout's share of the beer market has declined from 35.5% in 2009, it is still a high percentage share compared to other beer markets, and, like ale, approximately 80% of stout consumed in Ireland is in the on-trade, compared to 55% of lagers.
"Renowned For Its Quality And Excellence Of Taste"
Head of Drinks Ireland | Beer Jonathan McDade commented, "Irish stout is renowned for its quality and excellence of taste around the world. A whopping 500 million litres of stout was produced in Ireland in 2018 to be enjoyed by consumers at home and abroad, demonstrating the sheer size of this exciting and dynamic homegrown sector. The combination of Ireland's recognised global stout brands as well as an expanding range of craft stouts are the bedrock of Ireland's brewing reputation.
"I hope that beer drinkers around the world take note of the innovation, heritage and cultural significance of Ireland's stout beers on November 7."
© 2019 Hospitality Ireland – your source for the latest industry news. Article by Dave Simpson. Click subscribe to sign up for the Hospitality Ireland print edition.
