'We've got the solution to the downturn in the pub trade'
A MITCHELSTOWN based brewery believes that the downturn in Irish pubs can be saved if publicans offer their customers a greater variety in product.
Scott Baigent of Eight Degrees Brewery this week said that he and business partner Cam Wallace consider craft beers to have the potential to be 'the wine of Ireland' in terms of its marketing and appeal.
The comments come in the wake of a damning appraisal of the Irish pub scene by John Mckenna, editor of the Bridgestone Guide to the 100 Best Restaurants in Ireland 2012. Mr Mckenna says that restaurants are surviving the recession as they all offer customers a unique product, unlike 'dinosaur' pubs that sell the same draught beers.
"It's an exciting time to be in craft beers," Mr Baigent said this week.
"It has been really interesting to see how restaurants match our beers with dishes, and even use our products as ingredients in dishes."
That interest has spread to bars too.
"Since October we noticed an upswing in the number of publicans who had just stocked a standard selection and then looked at their line up of taps and realised that it really wasn't working at all for them. They then called us to see what they can do differently.
Starting less than a year ago with bottled beer, Eight Degrees has since installed draught lines in pubs across Dublin, Cork, Galway, Leitrim and across the country, with demand for new taps keeping the Mitchelstown company busy for the weeks ahead.
Mr Baigent added that the bottled product remains incredibly competitive, and that local support is strong.
"We have our bottles on shelves adjacent to mass market slabs of beer going at a discount price, practically given away and it makes no difference – we are going for a different market.
"It has been good to see people adopt a shop local approach. Here in Mitchelstown the Supervalu is the single largest outlet in the country.
"People will embrace their local business," he said.
Over 20 Cork eateries made the list of 100 restaurants, including Ballyvolane House Castlelyons, the Gougane Barra Hotel and O'callaghan's Delicatessen, Bakery & Café in Mitchelstown.
- JOE LEOGUE
