‘This business was founded on passion and is ending on pragmatism’ – Brewery owner blames licensing laws for closure
Richard Siberry and Michaela Dillon at Black Donkey Brewing
One of the popular brews. Photo: Black Donkey
An Irish craft brewery has closed after over a decade in business, blaming the country’s alcohol licensing laws for making it “prohibitively expensive” to sell to customers.
Black Donkey Brewing – the Co Roscommon firm behind such beers as Sheep Stealer, Happy Out and Sergeant Jimmy – last week told staff and customers that it had closed.
Richard Siberry, who founded the brewery in 2014, said the marketplace had changed “irreversibly” after Covid. He added that increasing costs and competition in the sector had made the craft-beer business increasingly challenging.
It should be simpler for breweries to open taprooms and sell beer on-site
“The business was founded on passion, and it is being ended on pragmatism.”
“I have maybe eight years left in my working life. I thought when I started Black Donkey that it would provide a nice little pension fund for me. It looks like that’s not going to be the case, given the time left.
“I have to do what is right for me and my wife and get out there and become a better earner than I have been for the last couple of years.
“Unfortunately, that is going to preclude me from staying as a brewery owner because the margin is just not here to pay me what I think I should be earning at this stage of my life.”
One of the popular brews. Photo: Black Donkey
The Black Donkey business – which has no debt – is up for sale. He is also seeking buyers for its brewing equipment. Last year, a deal to buy the brewery was agreed but ultimately fell through.
“Effectively now, if somebody wanted to come in and buy the business lock, stock and barrel, I would be more than happy to talk to them,” Siberry said.
“But I’m in a position now where I am going to start selling off the capital assets, the brew house, the fermenters – all the various bits and pieces we have.
“It is going to net me a lot less than selling the business as a going concern, but at least it’s mine. I have the luxury of selling it – we are not being forced into it. This is purely a business decision.”
Weighing up the various challenges in the craft brewing sector, Siberry said the licensing regime was a “major impediment to growth”.
He said he believed it should be simpler for breweries to open taprooms and sell their beers on-site.
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