Liam Tutty is the founder of Dead Centre, a craft brewery, bar and restaurant in Athlone. Like many restaurant owners, he is facing challenges recruiting staff, Italian pizza chefs in particular. Many of them moved home during the pandemic and never returned.

“The brewing side is great,” he says. “We’ve been really lucky. We are in the unusual situation of being at full capacity and we can’t make anything more in the brewery. We’ve made 13 limited-edition beers so far this year; it gives us something to shout about and show to our customers.

“We keg all the beer and put it out in the bar. It’s a great way to get good honest feedback. Customers will tell you straight to your face if they don’t like it.” They are currently planning a new larger brewery in the locality.

“Right now we are making a nitrogenated raspberry cream stout – like a pink pint of Guinness. It is for the Midlands Craft Festival; last time we sold the first cask in 20 minutes. The next specials will be for our Octoberfest on October 1st. We’ll have a range of German and good Irish German-style beers; Wide Street will have their Keller lager on tap, St Mel’s are bringing their Bock.

“We’ll have a schwarzbier, a brass band and lots of fun.”

Tickets are available through its website and Eventbrite. The Dead Centre beers are available through O’Briens, select SuperValu outlets and specialist off-licences.