By Business & Finance 
The Irish Brewers Association has today welcomed a new report by Europe Economics, commissioned by the Brewers of Europe.
The report found that the number of brewing companies increased significantly in Ireland between 2013 and 2014, up from 30 to 50.
The-beer related contribution to employment in Ireland was also up by between 2013 and 2014, to 44,741 jobs.
The report showed that companies are responding to the opportunities and challenges they are facing by increasing investment, particularly in product development.
The industry exported 2,807,000hl of beer in 2014, microbrewery production is increasing, with 40% of microbreweries exporting to other markets and the value added by the beer sector to the economy was €1.72bn in 2014.
The report also found that the total beer related contribution to government revenues increased from 2013 to 2014, with increases in excise duties and on-trade and off-trade VAT, in particular.
Jonathan McDade, head of the Irish Brewers Association, said: “The Irish beer industry is experiencing an exciting period of development, with 20 new brewing companies opening across Ireland between 2013 and 2014. As the report states, investment in product development is also up.”
He continued: “These trends reflect an increasingly diverse beer sector, with more high-quality Irish beer products for consumers at home and abroad. This is having a knock on effect on employment, up by around 370 between 2013 and 2014 to almost 44,800 jobs.”
