A new craft beer brewery called Ballykilcavan Brewery, located on a farm at Stradbally, Co Laois, has opened with plans to sell its first beers in April.
The farm, which has been family-owned since 1639, will brew beers such as pale and dark ale's as well as an oatmeal stout, using malt made from barley grown directly on the farm, reports leinsterexpress.ie.
Current owner, David Walsh, said future plans entail the addition of a visitor centre and taproom on the farm.
Walsh, commented: "With our maritime climate, we produce some of the best malting barley in the world. I wanted to take our barley and produce top-quality tasty beers from it."
Discussing the farm's new direction, Walsh added: "When I took over the farm in 2004, it was still just about viable, but with farm incomes falling all the time and three young children to support, the time has come to try something different. I want to make sure that I am not the last member of my family to be lucky enough to live and work here."
