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"oblivious":5auby328 wrote: Still lots of tap space[/quote:5auby328]

Not any more. It's easier to get fridge space in a lot of pubs than it is to get tap space. Just about!

"nigel_c":qrrd5eex wrote: Quote error. Bit awarkward on a phone.[/quote:qrrd5eex]

No worries <!-- s:) --><img src="{SMILIES_PATH}/icon_smile.gif" alt="" title="Smile" /><!-- s:) -->

&amp;quot;Tube&amp;quot;:245w3837 wrote:

&amp;quot;oblivious&amp;quot;:245w3837 wrote: Still lots of tap space[/quote:245w3837]

Not any more. It's easier to get fridge space in a lot of pubs than it is to get tap space. Just about![/quote:245w3837]

I could well believe that, but move in tap space will have to come form publican been proactive and take a gamble.

&amp;quot;Da Dub&amp;quot;:y5wuo06v wrote: It's Scary! There will definitely be casualties. To survive, a brewery will have to get the support of their area,and get pouring in their locals. There are not enough outlets selling craft to cope with the output of 60/70 breweries. Independent off-licences that would have taken anything Irish in the past are now culling beers based on the sales.[/quote:y5wuo06v]

Scary? Nah, it's great to see. Craft beer is still only a tiny percentage of the beer drinking market. Hopefully with increased public awareness we'll see the sector grow to take a bigger slice of the market rather than craft breweries competing against each other.

&amp;quot;St. Fursey&amp;quot;:24nqblzt wrote: Scary? Nah, it's great to see. Craft beer is still only a tiny percentage of the beer drinking market. Hopefully with increased public awareness we'll see the sector grow to take a bigger slice of the market rather than craft breweries competing against each other.[/quote:24nqblzt]

The sector is growing and will continue to grow, but in my opinion, it won't grow fast enough for 60 breweries to survive. For bottles they are all targeting the same outlets- perhaps 30 decent independent off-licences. That's about 200 Irish bottled beers to add to all the world beers that they stock. There is genuinely not enough shelf space. If the supermarkets get involved then maybe there will be a market for all the bottled beer, but that creates another problem, the independents will be pi##ed-off that the products they supported from the start are now in the multiples.
On draught they are again targeting the same outlets. I know that more and more pubs are pouring craft beers which is great but will there be enough taps for all the breweries? There are 9/10 breweries in Cork alone- they have to be already competing against each other.