TOPIC:

"RichSib":289u3767 wrote: what license or licenses are required to operate a microbrewery in Ireland[/quote:289u3767]You need a brewer's licence, issued by the Revenue Commissioners, and the local council will need to approve you for food safety purposes.

"RichSib":289u3767 wrote: I'm also curious as to why, in my very limited experience, none of the current Irish microbreweries are producing any high ABV beers, all seem to be producing similar session strength beers.[/quote:289u3767]Most of them are aiming at the pub trade, and session strength beers are what Irish people drink in the pub. The high tax and limited market for specialty beers are part of it.

It is changing, though. As Saruman says, there are two 7% ABV beers from the Porterhouse, Carlow have added some stronger beers to their core range, and White Gypsy have plans for strong bottled beers too.

"RichSib":289u3767 wrote: Where are the craft brewed barley wines, Imperial stouts and Belgian strong ales?[/quote:289u3767]Well there's not much point in making a fake-Belgian ale when you're an hour away from Belgium and any decent off licence will carry a wide range of Belgian beers.

"TheBeerNut":3nqazzh3 wrote: You need a brewer's licence, issued by the Revenue Commissioners, and the local council will need to approve you for food safety purposes.[/quote:3nqazzh3]

And....Tax Warehouse bond, deferred payment guarantee, Department of Agriculture to become a licensed animal feed operator (even if you're giving the grain away!), discharge license from local authority, Health and Safety Authority inspections, steam boiler insurance inspections, HSE food safety...

Interestingly, it's the council discharge license that makes me the grumpiest. It seems a little harsh to charge EUR900-1500 each year on top of the water and waste water charges to administer a discharge license.

"Scoby":iccgypys wrote: Tax Warehouse bond, deferred payment guarantee[/quote:iccgypys]But theoretically you can pay your tax as soon as the beer is brewed, can't you? Not that I'd recommend any real business actually doing that.

"Scoby":iccgypys wrote: Department of Agriculture to become a licensed animal feed operator (even if you're giving the grain away!)[/quote:iccgypys]But surely not if you're just dumping it.

"Scoby":iccgypys wrote: discharge license from local authority, Health and Safety Authority inspections,[/quote:iccgypys]Comes with any manufacturing business really, wouldn't it?

"Scoby":iccgypys wrote: steam boiler insurance inspections,[/quote:iccgypys]Strictly necessary?

"Scoby":iccgypys wrote: HSE food safety[/quote:iccgypys]Ah, I thought it was just the Council did that. Am I wrong, or do they both do them?

"TheBeerNut":34wvx1ro wrote: But surely not if you're just dumping it.[/quote:34wvx1ro]

Very interesting report on Heinekens declassification of spent grain from waste to food stuff

[url:34wvx1ro]http://www.epa.ie/licences/lic_eDMS/090151b2803557e4.pdf[/url:34wvx1ro]

"Spud 395":3e1jek3s wrote: Interesting read and it makes sence to sell the spent grain rather than dump them at a cost.[/quote:3e1jek3s]

Presume this is common practise in the brewing industry, as the F Well's spent grain also goes for farm feed.