Craft beers to get their own labelling system

IN THE wake of Heineken’s announced investigation into some of its products being sold as ‘craft’ beers, a new labelling system for Irish craft brewers was launched this week, writes Brian Moore.

Recently, an alleged locally-brewed beer, which was sold as ‘Beanntrai Bru’, was removed for sale in West Cork following a complaint to the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI). However, the new labelling system from the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland (ICBI) aims to ensure that consumers are aware of where their beers are brewed. ‘We have been working on this system for over a year now, but it certainly is timely, given the recent announcement by Heineken,’ said brewer Seamus O’Hara of O’Hara’s Brewery.  The ICBI label will appear on all bottles, cans and taps at point-of-sale.