Northern Irish success at Dublin Beer and Cider Festival
Four Northern Ireland companies gained awards at the Dublin Craft
Beer and Dublin Craft Cider Festival, a unique competition, which
allows craft brewers to showcase their brews, to have them rated,
tasted and analysed by an expert, international panel of judges.
The four Northern Ireland winners included the recently established Mourne Mountains craft brewery in Warrenpoint, county Down, which
gained a silver medal in the main craft beer category. The event
was held from 5-7 February.
It's thee first major award for Mourne Mountains brewery, which was formed last year by Connaire McGreevy, with Tom Ray, master brewer and Sl?ngha, the legendary figure who travelled over from Greece and was one of the first people to produce beer using water from the
Mourne Mountains.
The small brewery has produced five beers using the waters of the
Spelga Dam, high in the Mournes, Northern Ireland biggest mountain
range.
Connaire McGreevy says: "Craft beer is something I've been
passionate about for many years and as a keen traveller I've visitedcraft breweries and bars all over the world and have seen how
exciting the industry can be.
"I wanted to take that passion and my research to produce the finest
artisan beers in the country and cater the growing thirst for local brews".
The new brewery's main beers are its Mourne Gold pale ale, Red
Trail red IPA and Big Rock wheat beer while it has also created two special seasonal brews; Mourne Mist Pilsner and East Coast IPA.
The five new beers launched by the brewery are available both on
draft and in bottles, with production overseen by Tom Ray, who has
brewed award-winning real ales for microbreweries in England and
worked at a number of global breweries.
The brewery was launched at an event at its Warrenpoint brewery
attended by Sl?ngha, an ancient figure who travelled over from
Greece and was one of the first people to produce beer using water
from the Mournes.
"His story is part of the inspiration behind Mourne Mountains Brewery, as we're just the latest in a long line of brewers to call these mountains home," Connaire adds.
Three Northern Ireland cider makers gained medals including MacIvorsin Portadown, county Armagh, winner of a silver medal.
The other Northern Ireland companies gained bronze medals.
They were:
Long Meadow Cider in Loughgall, county Armagh and Tempted of
Lisburn, county Antrim. Long Meadow gained two bronze medals for itsBlossom Burst and unique Oak Aged Cider. Tempted was awarded silver for its Strawberry cider.
Sponsored by Alltech, awards were presented in eight different
categories of beer, establishing the best examples of each. Entrants to the Dublin Craft Beer Cup were judged on appearance, aroma,
flavour, body, style and quality.
Head judge Dr. Gear?id Cahill, a brewmaster with almost 20 years'
experience, said: "The standard of craft brewing in Ireland and
internationally is rising all the time. There is great interest
among brewers in achieving independent expert recognition for their beers. The Dublin Craft Cup and medals awarded to brewers are a
fantastic accolade from independent, experienced beer judges and
showcase the finest quality craft beers.
"Cider makers are demonstrating their craft in increasing numbers
with a fantastic range of craft ciders now available. Alltech is
delighted to announce the Dublin Craft Cider Cup and medal awards
to recognise the finest quality ciders and provide independent
accolades to cider makers, increasing awareness of their brands."
Beer and Dublin Craft Cider Festival, a unique competition, which
allows craft brewers to showcase their brews, to have them rated,
tasted and analysed by an expert, international panel of judges.
The four Northern Ireland winners included the recently established Mourne Mountains craft brewery in Warrenpoint, county Down, which
gained a silver medal in the main craft beer category. The event
was held from 5-7 February.
It's thee first major award for Mourne Mountains brewery, which was formed last year by Connaire McGreevy, with Tom Ray, master brewer and Sl?ngha, the legendary figure who travelled over from Greece and was one of the first people to produce beer using water from the
Mourne Mountains.
The small brewery has produced five beers using the waters of the
Spelga Dam, high in the Mournes, Northern Ireland biggest mountain
range.
Connaire McGreevy says: "Craft beer is something I've been
passionate about for many years and as a keen traveller I've visitedcraft breweries and bars all over the world and have seen how
exciting the industry can be.
"I wanted to take that passion and my research to produce the finest
artisan beers in the country and cater the growing thirst for local brews".
The new brewery's main beers are its Mourne Gold pale ale, Red
Trail red IPA and Big Rock wheat beer while it has also created two special seasonal brews; Mourne Mist Pilsner and East Coast IPA.
The five new beers launched by the brewery are available both on
draft and in bottles, with production overseen by Tom Ray, who has
brewed award-winning real ales for microbreweries in England and
worked at a number of global breweries.
The brewery was launched at an event at its Warrenpoint brewery
attended by Sl?ngha, an ancient figure who travelled over from
Greece and was one of the first people to produce beer using water
from the Mournes.
"His story is part of the inspiration behind Mourne Mountains Brewery, as we're just the latest in a long line of brewers to call these mountains home," Connaire adds.
Three Northern Ireland cider makers gained medals including MacIvorsin Portadown, county Armagh, winner of a silver medal.
The other Northern Ireland companies gained bronze medals.
They were:
Long Meadow Cider in Loughgall, county Armagh and Tempted of
Lisburn, county Antrim. Long Meadow gained two bronze medals for itsBlossom Burst and unique Oak Aged Cider. Tempted was awarded silver for its Strawberry cider.
Sponsored by Alltech, awards were presented in eight different
categories of beer, establishing the best examples of each. Entrants to the Dublin Craft Beer Cup were judged on appearance, aroma,
flavour, body, style and quality.
Head judge Dr. Gear?id Cahill, a brewmaster with almost 20 years'
experience, said: "The standard of craft brewing in Ireland and
internationally is rising all the time. There is great interest
among brewers in achieving independent expert recognition for their beers. The Dublin Craft Cup and medals awarded to brewers are a
fantastic accolade from independent, experienced beer judges and
showcase the finest quality craft beers.
"Cider makers are demonstrating their craft in increasing numbers
with a fantastic range of craft ciders now available. Alltech is
delighted to announce the Dublin Craft Cider Cup and medal awards
to recognise the finest quality ciders and provide independent
accolades to cider makers, increasing awareness of their brands."