Cheers from craft brewers Lineman for the local support

LOCKDOWNS impacted the little guys in business more than most, but thankfully there has been plenty of support from the general public for SMEs – the backbone of a local economy.

One such SME that appreciated the support it received is Rathcoole-based craft brewers Lineman.

Mark and Vivienne Lucy are the husband-and-wife team behind the business – the former a master brewer with an encyclopedic knowledge of everything beer-craft related, while Vivienne handles the nuts and bolts of design, sales and marketing.

“The pandemic was a double-edged sword,” said Vivienne.

“Where we are, there was a push to buy local and Irish. There seemed to be a groundswell of support not just in Dublin but nationally. That helped us, and we got a lot of good feedback.

“We started off slow, handing out samples, but some of the pubs have been very supportive like L Mulligan Grocer (Stoneybatter), a lovely gastro pub that supports Irish producers. A lot of people have been willing to give us a go.”

Since they established Lineman in 2019, Mark has created a diverse range of beers, including an Astral Grains Foreign Extra Stout, which came second in the Irish Craft Brewers Beer of the Year competition.

They are working towards the development of a core range from their brewery in Greenogue Industrial Estate.

Currently, Lineman craft beers are stocked in places like Molloys, and they export to Russia, Netherlands, Italy, Spain and Northern Ireland.

“We were picked up by a four corners distributor, which led to high ratings and exports. This all happened as a result of people supporting local during Covid,” said Vivienne.

“Mark is very much into craft beers, he studied up on the classic styles and with regard to the works of Michael Jackson (a journalist known for his influential books about beer and whiskey). When we go on holidays to Belgium, it is to see breweries.”

The business also received support in the early days from South Dublin LEO, which Vivienne says was vital to get “up and running” and in accessing supports from established professionals, training days and vouchers.

Lineman’s maiden beer was First Light, a grisette sold on draught and bottle.

“It is very particular to the style of the area in France and Belgium, and industrial place, the drink itself a yeasty flavour, not as heavy going. It was thirst-quenching for workers in that area but that died out. Mark resurrected it.”

Stouts, Belgian-styles, IPAs and mixed fermentations, you name it, Mark “puts his own edge on it”, according to Vivienne.

“The stouts are delicious. Imperial has a high percentage, and the Astral Grains is a dry stout with chocolate and coffee notes, 7.2 per cent.

“At the moment, out there, we have an AG, Dial Tone, which is a pale ale, and Transmission, double IPA 9.4 per cent. For our second anniversary, we released two beers, including a Sundrops 3.3 per cent.”

The pair say the most important principle when producing a beer is that it is “infinitely drinkable”.

Residents can try for themselves at select stores or order via their website lineman.ie