Quintessential Brands Ireland has leaped from whiskey to craft beer, with its investment in Armagh-based Clanconnel Brewing Company. Quintessential Brands will manage the international sales, marketing and distribution of the brewery’s McGrath’s Irish Ales brand, while Drinksology will continue to distribute the brand on the island of Ireland.

Based in Lurgan, Co.Armagh, Clanconnel Brewing Company was established in 2008 and brews six ales under its McGrath’s brand. The range is sold throughout Ireland and distributed in the UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Italy.

Quintessential has taken a one-third stake in the Lurgan brewer, and aims to develop the Premium Irish Ales brand into one of Ireland’s leading craft beer brands. The move comes shortly after its recent €10 million acquisition of the Dublin Whiskey Company, and the acquisition in 2014 of First Ireland Spirits.

Clanconnell founder Mark Pearson will continue to hold one third of the joint venture, with Design agency Drinksology founders Richard Ryan and Steven Pattison holding the other third.

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Warren Scott, CEO of Quintessential Brands, said: “This new joint venture with Clanconnel Brewing Company is an exciting development for us. Craft beers are increasingly posing a challenge to the established brands and we are delighted to be in a position to provide the perfect platform to bring the handcrafted McGrath’s Premium Irish Ales to a wider audience.”

Pearson added: “The demand for craft beer is growing rapidly and  we see this partnership as a key development which will enable McGrath’s Premium Irish Ales to become a real competitor on the international stage.”

Quintessential Brands took over the Dublin Whiskey Company last month, part of a €10 million investment including a new distillery as a home for its portfolio of Irish whiskey brands, including The Dubliner and The Dublin Liberties.

Quintessential Brands entered the Irish market with the acquisition of First Ireland Spirits in 2014 which included an Irish creams and liqueurs brand portfolio and production facility in Abbeyleix, Co Laois. Quintessential says it has invested €4 million to double the production capacity of First Ireland Spirits, including the introduction of a comprehensive whiskey bottling operation.

Photo: Warren Scott with Darryl McNally of Dublin Whiskey Company.