If you ask people for the first thing that comes to their minds when they think of Irish beer, they’re most likely to say Guinness. While Arthur Guinness & Sons with their patented Irish stout is certainly the most well-known beer in the country, that brewery isn’t the only game in town (so to speak). Along with the United States and the United Kingdom, Ireland has experienced its own craft beer boom and ale lovers all over the country are experiencing the benefits. You’ll find five of our favorite Irish breweries below and you can let us know your own favorites in the comments.
Trouble Brewing
Coming out of Kildare, Trouble Brewing is more than a witty name. The brewery’s Deception Golden Ale came out in 2010 and they’ve added a wider selection that includes Dark Arts Porter, Sabotage IPA, Graffiti Pale Ale, and more. In fact, various forms of pale ales seem to be their stock in trade, which is lovely if you enjoy hops.
Eight Degrees Brewing
Eight Degrees has been brewing for over a decade now since it was founded in Mitchelstown, County Cork. The brewery is largely known for innovation and experimentation while also sporting a year-round slate with a heavy focus on IPAs including the Full Irish Single Malt, Citra Single Hop, Seisíun Easy Going, and Howling Gale Irish Pale Ale, amongst others.
Rascals Brewing
In the capital of Dublin you’ll find Rascals Brewing Company which arguably has one of the largest portfolios of beer selections on this list. The year-round beers include Fruitopolis Pale Ale, Yankee White IPA, Wunderbar IPA, Big Hop Red, and Happy Days Session Pale Ale. The brewery also has several barrel-aged beers and numerous special offerings. Additionally, the brewery offers tours and a tap room that serves pizza as well as offering beers exclusive to that location as well as guest beers from other breweries.
Carlow Brewing
Also known as O’Hara’s, Carlow Brewing Company celebrates its 25th anniversary in 2021 and was founded by brothers Seamus and Eamon O’Hara. O’Hara’s goes traditional for a lot of its beers, offering Irish Red, Irish Stout, Irish Extra Stout, and Irish Pale Ale. Just like Eight Degrees, plenty of their other offerings are different IPAs from their 51st State to Notorious Red.
Galway Bay Brewing
Galway Bay Brewing has produced some great beers such as Of Foam and Fury Hazy IPA, Full Sail IPA, Bay Irish Red Ale, Althea Session IPA, and Buried at Sea Milk Stout, amongst others. Similar to breweries such as Fullers in the UK, Galway Bay either owns some pubs where its beer is served or has a deal to ensure its beers are well represented at the taps of other establishments.
Whiplash Beer
Kildaire is home to Whiplash Beer and its fine selection of ales. The brewery founders Alan and Alex started small in 2016 out of some extra brewing space at Rye River Brewing Company where they both worked. They have since achieved a great amount of notoriety, including winning Best International Brewery at the 2021 Honest Beer Awards. Their offerings today include Scaldy Porter, Bone Machine IPA, Body Riddle American Pale Ale, Let it Happen Double IPA, and High Cotton Belgian Single, amongst others.
Metalman Brewing
Starting up in 2011 with Metalman Pale Ale, Metalman Brewing has quickly become one of Ireland’s leading craft breweries. The brewery was founded by a husband-and-wife team and named after one of Waterford’s greatest monuments, the Metalman that once served as a directional aid to guide ships to safety. Their year-round beers include varied palate of wheat, port, and IPAs, while the seasonal beers include Blaager (brewed with Waterford blaas bread) and Ironmonger Amber IPA.
Third Barrel Brewing
Third Barrel came out of a collaboration between Third Circle Brewing and Stone Barrel Brewing, proving that working together can be a wonderful thing for craft beer. The selections offered by this team-up include Painted Black (Simcoe and Citra hops black IPA), Makin’ Bacon (Maple Bacon Porter), The Darkness 2020 (Blended Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout), and more.
Franciscan Well
Franciscan Well is one of the older craft breweries in Ireland as it was founded in 1998. The name comes from the brewery being founded over the former site of a Franciscan monastery in Cork and their primary beers include Rebel Red, Chieftan IPA, Friar Weisse, and Shandon Stout. They also offer several special beers including a Premium Stout aged in Jameson casks.
Lineman Independent Brewery
Lineman is a brewery that prides itself on being different from the rest. Lineman is another recent addition to Ireland’s craft brewing scene and has already earned its place among giants. The brewery’s Astral Grains Foreign Extra Stout netted the brewery the silver medal in the “Beer of the Year” award of 2021 from the Independent Craft Brewers of Ireland. Other great offerings include their new Electric Avenue series, Undertone Dark Lager, Torrent Porter, Zephyr West Coast IPA, and Amplify DIPA.
