Independent brewers warn of closures as costs spiral

Ireland’s craft beer sector is under mounting strain as rising input costs, outdated licensing laws, and new water tariffs squeeze margins. Recent closures — including Killarney Brewing and Distilling (50 job losses) and Black Donkey Brewery — highlight the growing fragility of the industry.

Brewers cite “astronomical” input inflation, supply chain disruption, Covid aftershocks, and US tariffs as key pressures. New 9.8% water charge hikes, set for October, are being described as “unsustainable,” with industry leaders warning more closures are imminent.

Industry voices — including the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland (ICBI), Carlow Brewing’s Seamus O’Hara, and Rye River Brewing’s Tom Cronin — stress that rising utility costs, especially water, threaten the viability of an already struggling sector where beer is “90% water.”

With pubs also closing at an accelerating pace, brewers are urging government to ease legislative and cost burdens to protect jobs, competitiveness, and local production.

Read the full article for a deep dive into the pressures reshaping Ireland’s independent brewing landscape.