Irish escargots farmer had snail beer produced from snails on his farm

Louise Walsh

An Irish escargots farmer who teamed up with Diageo to produce a once-off special 'snail beer' is hoping to get a processing plant up and running on his Cavan farm next year.

Peter Monaghan's award-winning escargots were used by the Dublin-based drinks giant in June to create a once-off special brew called Escar-Gose.

The beer, which was 6 per cent in volume, was served at the Guinness Open Gate Brewery and had a lemony zest which made you thirsty for more, according to Peter.

"I got this email from Diageo looking to buy 15kg of escargot from me, and when the man came to collect them, my nosiness kicked in and I asked what they were to be used for," laughed Peter.

"I was told they were going to make a speciality snail beer from them, and I was then invited up to Dublin to taste the beer and watch other customers order pints of it. I didn't hear anyone who didn't like it.

"I was also told that it sold out very quickly.

"It was a once-off, but I have to say it was a very proud and surreal moment for me. I got overwhelmed. Sitting there in such an iconic place, tasting something brewed from produce grown on our own family land - it brought a wave of emotion.

"I couldn't help thinking of my dad and my grandfather before him - both of whom lived and worked the land that I am now farming. I felt a little lonesome wishing they were there beside me, sharing this strange and wonderful milestone."

Peter Monaghan began Inis Escargots on his farm near Virginia in 2015 and now produces over four million escargots a year, most of which are exported to various European markets.

He then expanded into the beauty range and has a huge customer base for his moisturiser, soap and eye cream, which are made from natural snail slime and snail hyaluronic acid as well as essential oils and vitamins.

The serum from the Irish brown garden variety snail contains anti-ageing and anti-inflammatory properties, which could also help banish wrinkles and ease acne scars and other skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema.

Peter also has an escargot-topped omelette named after him by award-winning chef Richard Corrigan, and is about to start operations at Ireland's first processing unit for snails for export and for the production of snail caviar in the coming months.

And now he is also advising other farmers who are expanding into the snail market, both in Ireland and abroad.

"Snails are healthier than most foods people are eating every day, and ours are the Irish brown garden variety snail, which is one of the most popular breeds in Europe.

"Snails are low in calories and fat and rich in iron and other minerals. There is 12.9 per cent protein from a tiny 10g snail, while there is 13 per cent of protein in a boiled egg.

"We have to use an electric fence, believe it or not, to keep them contained as well as netting to stave off predators.

"People think snails are slow, but when you've 10,000 of them moving one meter an hour, they can escape pretty fast," he laughed.