The founders of Dungarvan Brewing Company have sold the Co Waterford craft beer company for an undisclosed sum after an “incredible” 13 years in operation, it has announced.
The family microbrewery was established in 2010 by its head brewer Cormac O’Dwyer, his wife Jen Uí Dhuibhir, his sister Claire Dalton and her husband Tom Dalton. Ms Dalton, who is the company’s sales and marketing director, posted about the sale on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter.
“After an incredible journey that has spanned over a decade I am thrilled to announce that Dungarvan Brewing Company is passing into new hands,” she wrote. “Tom Dauber, an incredibly talented and passionate individual, will be taking the helm as the new owner and steward of our beloved brewery. We are incredibly fortunate to have found a buyer who is keen to continue the legacy of the brewery, and Tom has exciting plans to take the business into its next phase, bringing with it growth and development of the brand and beers.”
Latest accounts filed for Dungarvan Brewing Company Ltd show that it made a loss of €56,929 in the year to the end of December 2022, leaving it with accumulated losses of €117,289 at the year end.
A note to the accounts, which were signed off in mid-August, said the company was “dependent on the ongoing support of its investors and bankers in order to provide adequate working capital to fund the future trading activities of the company”, adding that it was meeting its day-to-day working capital requirements through an overdraft facility that was “repayable on demand”.
It added that the directors considered it “appropriate to prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis”.
Ms Dalton, who intends to continue to be part of the business working alongside the new owner and his team, said that when Dungarvan Brewing Company began the Irish craft beer scene was “just starting to find its feet” and she thanked people for their support.
The company’s beers include Helvick Gold Blonde Ale, Copper Coast Red Ale, Black Rock Irish Stout and Mine Head American Pale Ale.
“The journey of Dungarvan Brewing Company has been one filled with challenges and triumphs. We’ve witnessed a remarkable transformation of the Irish craft beer scene from just a handful of breweries to a vibrant, diverse and dynamic community that has gained recognition on the global stage,” she said.
“It’s been an absolute privilege to be a part of this evolution, and I am immensely proud of the role Dungarvan Brewing Company has played in shaping the industry and our local community. The past couple of years have been a true test of resilience for all of us in the brewing world. But through it all we’ve seen incredible solidarity and innovation within the craft beer community, and I have no doubt that it will emerge stronger than ever.”
