A recent study by TheTaste.ie has shown that lager is still the preferred beverage among a majority of Irish beer drinkers. 45% of the 1,300 respondents in the survey said that lager was their favourite, 22% preferred IPAs, and 11% favoured stout.
The study aimed to investigate the preferences of beer drinkers in Ireland, including what they drink and where they drink it – and over 50% of respondents have said that they either always or often pair beer with food.
Whereas wine was once the preferred drink to accompany a meal, Irish people are increasingly pairing off food with different varieties of beer.
45% of beer drinks say that, although there has never been so much choice with regards to beer, they believe there should be more choices.
40% of people love drinking out at the pub with their friends, while 16% prefer to have a drink in the comfort of their own home.
Jonathan McDade, Head of the Irish Brewers Association commented:
“Beer remains Ireland’s favourite alcohol beverage, accounting for just under 45 per cent market share of all alcohol consumed in 2017.
“What’s really exciting to see is the increasing diversity in the sector. There is a huge amount of Irish-made beer products now available on the market and in our pubs and off-licences across the country. It’s also interesting to see how consumers are becoming more sophisticated in their beer choices and are often pairing their beer with food in restaurants.
“Like the French with wine and the Germans with beer, we should be proud of this homegrown sector. I hope to continue to see plenty of new beer products come to the market in 2019 and continue to offer beer drinkers a wide range of choice.”
