Better known as O’Hara’s Brewery, Carlow Brewing Company was founded in 1996 by the O’Hara family and is one of the most successful and oldest of Ireland’s craft breweries. The brewery is located in Bagenalstown, Co. Carlow, the heart of Ireland’s historical hop- and malt-growing Barrow Valley region, where the water supply is particularly suited to brewing stouts and ales.
The brewery is independent and family owned. A new custom-built brewery was opened in 2009 and expanded in 2011 with the addition of a new automated kegging line, more tank capacity and more warehouse space.
Founder Seamus O’Hara explains the philosophy: “We have gone back to basics and brew our beers as they used to be brewed – with natural ingredients and no artificial additives. We believe this leads to a superior quality product with robust body, taste, flavour and aroma.” Enthusiastic consumer response certainly bears this out as well as a host of awards over the years.
Available in both bottle and cask, there are five beers in the core range: O’Hara’s Irish Stout, O’Hara’s Leann Folláin, O’Hara’s Irish Red, O’Hara’s Irish Pale Ale and Curim Gold Celtic Wheat Beer. Additions to the range include O’Hara’s Natural Blonde and an oak-aged version of Leann Folláin as well as the seasonal Winter Star amber ale.
In 2017 Carlow Brewing Company announced their acquisition of Craigies Cider, founded by wine expert Simon Tyrrell and Wicklow farmer Angus Craigie, and the highly regarded Irish craft cider brand is a valuable additon to a growing portfolio of brands which includes Falling Apple Irish craft cider.
Craigies Cider only produce vintage ciders and the lead brands, ‘Ballyhook Flyer’ and ‘Dalliance,’ are the fruits of a philosophy that views cider production inthe same way as wine.
The Craigies team believed that "Irish cider achieves its greatest complexity and expression as a blend and that each apple should reflect its regional origins as well as its specific fruit characteristics, and also that their ciders should reflect the year in which the fruit was grown." An admirable philosophy, and perfecly matched to the vision of Seamus O'Hara and his team.
The acquisition included Craigies cider production equipment, enabling Carlow Brewing Company to bring all cider production in-house to the Bagenalstown microbrewery, and facilitate support of local apple growers and producers.
Tours of the brewery give Ireland’s indigenous brewing history and include tastings, though they must be arranged in advance. The beer is available in bottles and on draught throughout Ireland as well as in 20 countries around the world.
Carlow Brewing Company also own a pub in Kilkenny city, Brewery Corner (see entry).
