The National Centre for Brewing and Distilling at Teagasc Oak Park in Carlow is Ireland’s integrated pilot‑scale hub for malting, brewing, distilling and dealcoholisation. Combining hands‑on process development, analytical and sensory services, and skills training to speed product innovation from grain to glass.
Based in Ireland’s principal grain‑growing region, the National Centre for Brewing and Distilling provides producers with a complete pilot‑scale capability for product development, process optimisation and workforce development. Our modern malting, micro‑ and pilot‑brewhouse, pilot distillery, and dealcoholisation systems are supported by laboratory testing and sensory facilities. That combination lets established breweries, craft start‑ups and maltsters test recipes at representative scale, optimise yields and quality, de‑risk scale‑up, and access training and industry‑focused CPD, all within a cluster that links grain, malt, brewery and distillery supply chains.
The Centre’s uniqueness comes from its end‑to‑end, industry‑facing model: we link cereal agronomy and malting with pilot brewing, distillation and dealcoholisation, and back this with laboratory analysis, sensory science and practical training. Unlike isolated labs or off‑site contract brewers, Oak Park reproduces commercial process conditions at pilot scale, so innovations are tested under realistic thermal profiles and fermentation regimes before producers invest in full‑scale capital or market launches.
Our team work directly with producers to co‑design trials, troubleshoot process bottlenecks (efficiency, flavour consistency, stability) and implement sustainability improvements. We also support regulatory and quality requirements, shelf‑life trials, and offer access to consumer testing panels when required.
Located within a dense industry cluster and adjacent to commercial grain supplies, the Centre shortens the development pipeline: grain selection or novel cereal trials can flow into malting and pilot production. For industry this means lower technical and commercial risk, faster time‑to‑market and a skilled talent pipeline through targeted training, apprenticeships and student placements.
For more information contact Lisa Ryan, Manager of NCBD.