• O’Hara’s Stout is Number 1 in the World !
• Curim Gold wins Award

Head Brewer Brendan Flanagan 
and Managing Director Seamus O’Hara 

Head Brewer Brendan Flanagan and Managing Director Seamus O’Hara were present at the Guildhall to receive the medals and speak to and pose for Photographs with their Medals to the numerous Journalists from the British and International Press. The Stout which was launched in  May 1999 is one of three products naturally brewed at the Brewery and Visitors Centre in Carlow.

The Brewing Industry International Awards, established in 1886, are held in the highest esteem throughout the brewing world and confer the International Marque of Excellence on a winning brewer, the brewing team and the brand. This year there were a total of 732 entries from 42 countries around the world competing in various different categories. O’Hara’s Stout was entered in the "International Dark Milds, Stouts and Porters competition" of which there were a total of 75 entries . Dublin Brewing Company also won a bronze medal in the same category. The achievement of both breweries is proof of the quality of Irish Microbrews on the Irish market. Shepard Neame (the oldest brewery in England), had to be content with silver. The Irish Microbreweries have done particularly well in the competition with Dwans Rich Ruby ale also won a bronze medal in the International Keg Ales Competition. The popularity of Irish Microbrewed beers has increased significantly in the last number of years with consumers becoming more adventurous and seeking an alternative to the more bland mass produced big brands.

The judging panel for the Brewing Industry International awards comprised of 33 of the worlds most distinguished brewers from 13 countries with a combined brewing experience of 740 years between them. Their brief in judging the different beers was two fold firstly in terms of its sensory appeal (i.e. taste, smell etc) secondly to accredit the commercial worth of the beer quality. Because of the esteem associated with winning such a prize and the expertise of the brewers judging the beers considerable steps were taken to preserve the anonymity of all the beers during the judging.

The news of the award comes at a time when things are going very well for the fledgling brewery set up in June 98. When contacted the Awards Marketing and Press officer John Bass acknowledged the achievement of Carlow Brewing Company as significant particularly when you consider the age of the brewery and the numbers of entrants competing. Carlow Brewing Company now have all of their 3 products Curim gold wheat beer, Molings Red Ale and O’Hara’s Stout available in 500ml bottles in off licences around Ireland and have just begun to export to the UK where there has also been considerable demand for Carlow’s natural Irish craft brews.

For further information on the awards see ‘The Competitions Website at www.brewingawards.org

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Curim Gold wins Award

Curim Gold Celtic Wheat beer was one of the winners in the Independent Irish Brewers Competition, which was judged by renowned beer critic Michael Jackson in the Porterhouse in London on March 12^th last. Curim won silver in the combined Lager and Wheat category being beaten only by the Messrs Pils brewed by Messrs Maguire Brewpub. The competition is an annual event which brings together the microbreweries in Ireland of which there are now 11 in total with more on the way. The competition was run to coincide with the festival of Irish Beers which ran in the Porterhouse in Dublin and London from the 12^th – 19^th of March. The festival gives an excellent opportunity to the public to taste all the Irish microbrews under the same roof and to enjoy the huge diversity that exists between the beers.