A CRAFT BEER from a 23-year-old County Meath producer has been crowned Ireland’s champion brew, according to judges at the first Killarney Beerfest.

Organisers said over 2,000 craft beer fans attended the festival at the INEC and Gleneagle Hotel over the weekend, when more than 80 brews from across the country vied for the top gong.

In the end, judges awarded James Brown Brews the top spot overall for its Chocolate Orange Stout – which has been described as a “light, refreshing stout” with a twist of citrus.

The stout, which earlier this year took a bronze medal at the Alltech Craft Brews & Food Fair in Dublin, is the product of Co Meath brewer James Brown, who started making beer at home at the age of 18.

Great first beer from new irish brewery. - Drinking a Chocolate Orange Stout by James Brown Brews - http://t.co/hsimAC61Ds #photo — Pierce (@son0vagun) February 11, 2015 Source: Sonovagun /Twitter

The overall runner-up prize went to Kinnegar Brewing for its Black Bucket, while third place was taken by O Brother Brewing’s The Chancer.

According to craft-beer group Beoir, the entrants represented over one-third of the commercially available craft beers in the country.

Gleneagle Group managing director Patrick O’Donoghue said he looked forward to hosting an “even bigger and better festival next year” after the inaugural event.

The Killarney Beerfest

Here are all the category winners:

Pale ale: O Brother Brewing The Chancer

Belgian-style ale: Hillstown Spitting Llama

Dark ale: Torc Brewing Amber Ale

Lager: Trouble Brewing Remiz Lager

Speciality beer: Kinnegar Brewing Black Bucket

Porter and stout: James Brown Brews Chocolate Orange Stout

Wheat beer: Elbow Lane Arrow Weisse