Pamela Ryder

After over a decade with Diageo, Pamela Ryder joined Rye River Brewery in Co Kildare as head of marketing. In less than one year, the company behind McGargles craft beer has grown from three core employees to 44, with distribution in over 15 countries and exciting plans for 2015.

After over a decade with Diageo, why did Pamela Ryder decide to leave the corporate world and join a start-up brewery set up by two ex-colleagues in Kilcock last September?

“When I visited the brewery I just knew I had to be a part of it,” says the marketing manager, who explains that founders Alan Wolfe and Niall Phelan’s enthusiasm was just “infectious”.

“I recognised that the role would provide me with opportunities that I would have had to wait years to experience in a multinational drinks company.”

Indeed, with the US launch of the McGargles brand – not to mention working with bars, off-licences and retailers in Ireland, including Lidl, in developing the Crafty Brewers beer range – no day is quite the same.

“The timing of our US launch couldn’t be better as it coincides with St Patrick’s season, so there has been quite a bit of travel to New York, Chicago and Canada,” she explains, adding that McGargles is currently served in 150 pubs in New York and over 30 in Chicago, with Florida next on the agenda.

But while export is the future – with distribution in over 15 countries – Rye River also has exciting plans for Ireland, where it’s also the agent for Bavaria and San Miguel.

“In just over a year we have gone from three core employees to over 44, with up to 50 jobs planned for by the end of this year,” says Pamela, explaining that expansion plans include installing their own bottling facility and building a 5,000 sq ft visitor centre with a shop, 80-seat cafe and conference facilities. While Pamela says corporate life could be repetitive, craft beer provides new learning opportunities every day.

“It’s not for the faint hearted and it doesn’t mean that your work is easier. If anything, I am busier now than I’ve ever been. The difference is the balance Rye River Brewing Company strikes between hard work and making you feel that you are a part of a family, not just a bolt in the wheel of a corporate machine.”

And her own tipple of choice?

“I would have say Uncle Jim’s Stout served with a warm chocolate pudding is my absolute favourite,” she responds. “For now.”

Janice Dunne

Blogger and festival organiser Janice Dunne (AKA @MrsBeerSnob) believes there is a craft beer to suit everybody.

She might go by @MrsBeerSnob on Twitter, but Janice Dunne believes the world of Irish craft beer is a lot more down to earth than people think.

“I know when I first started out I was quite daunted by it,” she admits, “but I definitely feel that there is a beer out there for everybody.”

Indeed, the craft beer blogger says she was more likely to order a Bulmers Light or a Coors until she tried an English-style red ale on a trip to Leeds with her husband Wayne.

Returning to Ireland, the couple started to explore the Irish craft scene and with Janice’s encouragement Wayne blogged about their experiences on www.irishbeersnob.com.

As her confidence grew, however, she also began writing for the site, though laughs that she and her husband often differ in their verdicts.

“We disagree quite a lot,” she says. “Wayne would be very big into hops, whereas I’m more into malty, caramel-tasting red ales.”

At present, Janice’s favourite Irish craft beers include Brú Brewery in Trim’s flagship Brú, Killanny Red from Brehon Brewhouse in Monaghan and Eight Degrees’ in Cork – she says their Howling Gale ale is the perfect accompaniment to a curry.

While craft beer appreciation is very much a hobby, last year she and Wayne started organising mini craft beer festivals in conjunction with local pubs and are planning a 2015 summer series.

“We just found that a lot of people can’t make it to Dublin for the big festivals, so we just thought if we could bring it to different parts of Ireland more people could be introduced to craft beer and get more opportunities to taste it,” explains Janice.

She is also a member of the Dublin Ladies Craft Beer Society.

“It’s a great, welcoming environment,” she says, “especially for women who may feel intimidated going in different bars on their own.”

She and Wayne also recently started a home brew club in their hometown of Navan and it’s heartening to know that even connoisseurs don’t always get it right.

“Our third batch was a disaster,” she laughs.

Caroline Hennessy

Whether it’s whipping up a batch of chocolate and stout brownies, or proclaiming that women boast better palates for beer, Caroline Hennessy’s mission is to make the Irish craft sector accessible to all.

“I’m a desperate person to go to the pub with,” admits Caroline Hennessy, “because I will insist on getting something different ... and then sit there and taste everybody else’s.”

Well, it’s all research for the Ballymaloe graduate and Bibliocook blogger, who is not only part of the Eight Degrees Brewing team in Mitchelstown, but also co-author of Sláinte: The Complete Guide To Irish Craft Beer & Cider.

While always interested in craft beer, it was only when Caroline lived in New Zealand with her husband Scott Baigent that she realised how exciting the industry could be.

“Within 15 minutes’ walk of where we lived there were three different craft breweries,” she recalls. “I remember walking into the pub the first night after coming back to Ireland, I was like: ‘What am I going to drink?’”

Luckily, Scott solved that problem. Teaming up with friend Cam Wallace (“Cam spent about a year sleeping on the floor of our house while we were trying to get things up and running”), the pair launched Eight Degrees Brewing in 2011, with a core range that includes Barefoot Bohemian Pilsner lager, Howling Gale Irish pale ale, Sunburnt Irish red ale and Knockmealdown Irish stout.

Employing eight people, Eight Degrees is now in the process of expanding from a 15 hectolitre brew house to 64 hectolitres, having recently acquired second-hand equipment from Mauritius. As a foodie, Caroline has found that one of the most effective ways of promoting Eight Degrees is to demonstrate how craft beer can be used in cooking. Indeed, her famous chocolate Knockmealdown stout brownies have changed many a preconception.

Raising awareness of the wider industry was also the motivation for writing Sláinte: The Complete Guide To Irish Craft Beer & Cider with Kristin Jensen. Caroline is especially excited about the women making waves in craft brewing – including pioneers like Gráinne Walsh of Metalman Brewery in Waterford, Sarah Roarty of N17 Brewery in Tuam and Adrienne Heslin of Beoir Corca Dhuibhne – and is heartened by the increase in women attending festivals like the Alltech event.

“Everybody tastes things differently ... but I think women have better taste buds,” she adds, tongue-in-cheek.

And as for those who don’t know where to start?

“Never be afraid of saying to the barman: ‘I’m a Heineken drinker, what would you recommend?’ or ‘What’s your local beer?’” she advises.

“Always go for a glass, don’t go for a pint, taste it and see what you think ... and taste everybody else’s.”

Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair

Dates: 27 Feb - 1 Mar

Venue: Convention

Centre, Dublin

Tickets: From €15 on entertainment.ie