Sustainability

Transforming Tom Crean’s epic tale into an eco-friendly brew story- where adventure meets sustainability… one pint at a time!

BREWING A BETTER TOMORROW-OUR SUSTAINABILITY STORY

  • At Tom Crean Brewery Kenmare, sustainability and innovation fuel our journey. We’re inspired by Tom Crean’s epic spirit, crafting an eco-friendly brewing story where adventure meets sustainability, one pint at a time.
  • Our Mission: Exceptional Beer, Gentle on People and Planet.
  • Brewing is our passion, and so is protecting the planet. Beer production can be resource-intensive, but we’re committed to practices that respect and preserve these valuable resources. Great beer shouldn’t come at the earth’s expense.

OUR PATH TO SUSTAINABLE BREWING

VEGAN-FRIENDLY BREWS

  • Our eleven unique beers are vegan, made with just four ingredients, and contain no preservatives, coloring, or artificial flavors. They’re unpasteurized and unfiltered, making for a truly natural drink.

ECO-FRINDLY BREWING PRACTICES

  • Night time Brewing: We run our mash tun at night to take advantage of lower energy costs, which is further insulated to minimize  heat loss.
  • Eco- Friendly Cleaning: We are transitioning from harsh cleaning agents to environmentally safer alternatives.
  • Spent Grain Repurposing: We convert spent grain into silage, feeding our own livestock, with the addition of locally foraged seaweed it provides an outstanding food supply.
  • Innovative Cooling System: Instead of energy draining coolers, we use a “free air conditioning” system that draws in cool air over night to keep beer stocks cool.
  • Mediterranean Style Window Shuttering: To keep the hot sun off our metal shutters we erected a second shutter to limit heat transmission to our cool storage area.
  • Smart Space Heating: Our office is warmed by the tap room chiller, while a wood burning stove heats the brewery during tours in the winter months, using sustainably sourced wood.
  • Sustainable Consumables: Our soap we produced naturally ourselves from waste beer and spent grain, toilet tissue and out merchandise range are sourced sustainably.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND SUSTAINABLE POWER

  • Solar Powered: First in the industry (2019) to go solar, and now exploring vertical wind turbines.
  • Energy Efficient Consulting: Partnered with SEAI for optimized energy use.
  • Electric Deliveries:  Local deliveries via “Beerzilla” our solar powered cargo quadbike.

ECO FRIENDLY INFRASTRUCTURE

  • Eco Friendly Construction: Our breweries building adheres to the best practices in sustainable construction.
  • Zero Waste Approach: A bio-digester converts organic waste into fertilizer and methane for cooking, while wastepaper is shredded for packaging. LED lighting with sensors enhances efficiency.

INNOVATIVE SUSTAINABILITY PROJECTS

  • Carbon Capture Initiative: Developing a system to capture CO2 from brewing and repurpose it for organic farming, turning a waste product into a growth booster.
  • Creative Projects: Growing mushrooms from spent grain, repurposing waste yeast, and foraging local seaweed for food, beer, and livestock feed.

EDUCATION AND SUSTAINABILITY TOURS

  • Our sustainability tours educate visitors on how responsible choices can shape a better world—one pint at a time

LEADERSHIP

  • Passionate Leadership:  Bill Sheppard & Aileen Crean O’Brien lead our vision of sustainable brewing and living, pioneering Tom Crean Brewery’s eco-friendly legacy.