A Carlow stout launched on the market last year has gone down well with the judges of a major international brewing competition.
O'Hara's Stout is one of three beers produced by the Carlow Brewing Company, which was set up less than two years ago.
The company has just received news that the stout is a finalist in the Brewing Industry International Awards, the results of which will be announced at the Guildhall in London in April.
The awards are among the most prestigious in the industry and reaching the final stages guarantees the Carlow brewer at least a bronze medal in the international dark milds, stouts and porters category.
It faces competition from another Irish beer, D'arcy's Dublin stout, produced by the Dublin Brewing Company, and the "original porter" brewed by Shepherd Neame Ltd in Faversham.
The 732 beers from 42 countries entered for the awards were tasted during three days of judging in Burton-upon-Trent a fortnight ago, an event which brings to mind the phrase "nice work if you can get it".
The 33 judges, brewers from various countries, survived the experience to nominate a shortlist of 60 stouts, ales, lagers and speciality beers which will take the medals at the April ceremony.
The Irish micro-brewing industry will also be represented by the Tipperary Brewing Company, nominated in the international keg ales category for its Dwan's Rich Ruby.
Two other Irish brewers also made the final stage: Beamish and Crawford for Beamish Black, Murphy's Brewery for Murphy's Irish Red.
Mr Brendan Flanagan, head brewer at the Carlow company, said it was a "huge honour" to have O'Hara's recognised by "the most experienced and accomplished" brewers in the world.
The company's three products - O'Hara's, Curim gold wheat beer and Molings red ale - are available on draught in six pubs in Carlow and Kilkenny and, on a "guest" basis, in Temple Bar's Porter House.
Its bottled products are on sale in more than 25 off-licences and the company is in talks with a number of English distributors.